Valve Cover Half Moon Leak

(https://imgur.com/a/p1VKXtw)

I think I have a valve cover leak either due to a cracked gasket or improperly placed half moon.

Earlier this summer I had the bright idea to do some preventative maintenance on my 02 4wd Tacoma and replace my valve cover gasket. Well last week I started smelling burnt oil and found some oil seeping onto my exhaust manifold on the driver's side.

As you can see from these photos here, it looks like the Permatex Ultra Black Gasket Maker I used oozed out the sides. Did I use too much? I'm wondering if this is why the leak occurred?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

Did you also do the cam covers back there (full moons)?
There is a sticky above and a Youtube tutorial that's very helpful.

 

Did you try rechecking the torque on the valve cover bolts?

Did you clean and remove all of the rtv before applying the Permatex?

 

@TacoTaco02 Yeah if I remember correctly I did remove all of the RTV and yes I recently retorqued the bolts but still leaking

 

@cruxofthebisquit Yeah I did the cam covers. I got in their with my camera and didn't see any seepage near there. Mostly near the rear bolt close to the half moon. To me it looks like you can almost start to see some oil weeping out between the half moon and valve covers

 

hate to say it but you'll prob. have to go back in. Some thing not jiving and unlikely to be able to see it from outside.

 

Going to have to take them out and do it again then. It's a pain I know. This time just make sure to make sure that all of it is well coated with permatex

 

FWIW you could try cleaning it and dabbing a little rtv in there if you're not gonna have time to redo it immediately.

 

I just cleaned up all the oil, retightened again and I'm going to monitor it over the next day or so. Might use that RTV trick if I have to, thanks for the idea @Dalandser but I'm starting to think I'm going to have to do it again...

 

Probably will - I know if you're busy it might be awhile before you plan out a time for you to get to it.

 

one of these other numerous VCG threads recently was implying this is a 20 to 30 minute task?

 

This is what I used Toyota Seal Packing 103 ( FIPG ), part number

$21 00295-00103 Formed-in-Place Oil Pan Gasket - 3 oz. Tube

00295-00103, and this gasket sealant works great too.

 

If you've done it enough times you're like a Tacoma pit crew sure. Watch this video and think about trying it in 30 minutes is doable - then again if you need to read how to do it or watch it to know how to do it, I don't think 30 minutes is realistic. What would I know though, a few months shy of 4 years and my truck's not out of the driveway yet...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5fAXAuGozI&t=1585s

 

The first time I did this job I went crazy slow, meticulously cleaned everything and it took me the entire weekend. I expect I can do it in a half day now that I know what I'm doing and don't plan on replacing everything on the air intake/throttle body, etc

 

Good thing you likely do not have to replace your taco frame coating with such meticulous hahaha
I Never thought it would take so long to do this task, it will be more than 2 years to get this done , it sucks bad

 

I spray the heck out of em with carb cleaner, dry em out and get out some right stuff for those.

 

I say that. *I think your referring to the thread where the guy said his mech. wanted 1000 bux* I said it should be 2 hours book. Maybe 2.5
Each one is. After upper intake removal and not counting putting it back. I can't gauge how many beers somebody drinks in between parts of a job. Some people guzzle, some sip.

edit: I agree the spark plug seals can slow you down to.

 

I was only guestimating the time soley based on someone's estimate of the cost
Beer was not a factor lol

 

I spent probably an hour on each side or more with a dremel wire brush and a can of carb
cleaner.

If there’s any old gasket material or oil residue it will have a chance to leak.

Did you get new cam plugs and half moons?

I did and everything sealed up perfectly.


Next time get new cam plugs and half moons.