Wrong washers on valve cover

I replaced the passenger side valve cover gasket today, along with the 3 tube seals and camshaft seal. I made the mistake of ordering the wrong washers, metal cylinder head washers instead of the grommets that have rubber. The metal washer holes are too big for the bolts. I ended up using them anyway, carefully centering them under the bolts, and torqued to spec. I test drove it. Looks ok so far.

I assume what's going to happen is the bolts will work loose due to not enough friction, which is the reason for the rubber grommets?

I'm considering ordering a set of the OEM grommets, and reinstalling each bolt and washer one at a time, torquing the bolt before loosening the next bolt. I figure this way the gasket should stay in place and the RTV sealant spots won't break apart. What do you think?

If it's a really good idea to replace them ASAP rather than in (hopefully) the few days shipping it takes from the dealer, I can get a compatible set of valve cover grommets from OReilly locally. Are those any good?

I plan on doing the driver side valve cover gasket job too, once I'm satisfied that I did a good job with this one and the leak is gone. If you think the metal washers might hold for at least some weeks, I could just wait until I dig in to do the drivers side and replace these on the way through taking the throttle body etc off again, which would be less work.

 

Me personally, I’d swap them for OEM. I don’t think it’s an emergency and has to be done tomorrow.

 

The rubber washers just help keep the oil from leaking around the bolts.

I have used a dab of Toyota Fix it in place on the bolts with good results

You might be lucky and have no problems at all.

 

You should put the right washers in. I am usually all about OEM but I bought some OEM’s a year ago and they looked precisely the same as these, at 3x the cost.

$13 FEL-PRO ES 72422 Grommet Set

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009SZT3ZG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Put the money you save towards a in-lb torque wrench to properly set them!

 

I think the rubber on the OE grommets is factored into the torque spec. Same torque spec on metal could yield different results. I’d change them when you can but agree it shouldn’t be considered overly urgent.

 

Be mindful when torquing them down. I believe they should be 53inlbs. I noticed that as you get closer to that figure, it won't actually hit it but the bolt will keep turning because it is compressing the rubber. I have a torque wrench that let's me see the torque as I tighten. You won't know this if you use a clicker type of wrench.

 

Rubber side of the washers (Toyota calls them grommets) goes down against the valve cover, right? I looked around to try to confirm this but couldn't find an example. edit: Nevermind, I found the answer on another forum, rubber side down!

Good tip on torquing, Nessal! I have a clicker torque wrench. I'll just be careful and slow I guess.

 

Wrist tight

 

I use my 1/4" ratchet after these few years I have a feel to keep things even.

 

Ya after a while you acquire the feel of the right torque specs haha

 

Yes rubber side down. If it doesn't feel right, stop. 4ftlb is not much. Criss Cross pattern from center out.