3.4 L V6 5VZ-FE Toyota 4runner, Tacoma, Tundra Valve Cover Gasket Tutorial

Did our video help you? If so, consider buying us a beer: bit.ly/3feE6tJ
*NOTE - Please Read First* - In the parts list at the beginning of the video, we show (4) Cam Plugs, you only need (2), one at the back of each head. We also forgot to list the part number for the (6) Spark Plug Tube Seals. The part number is #11193-70010. The part number for the throttle body gasket is actually for people who have a supercharger or are planning on buying a supercharger. If you don't have a supercharger, use this part number for the throttle body gasket #22271-62040.
**This video explains how to change your valve cover gaskets on a 3rd Generation Toyota 4runner. This engine was also used in the Toyota Tacoma and Tundra. In this video, we also cover replacing the cam plugs, replacing the spark tube seals and resealing the 4 half moons on the heads. Actual footage was completed on a 2002 4runner engine as engine types may vary slightly. This video includes part numbers, the tools used, and a detailed description of what is involved in doing this repair.
**Warning, when cleaning the throttle body, don't let the cleaner run off go down into the small air port down into the IAC (Idle Air Control Valve). The dirty runoff that gets in the IAC is known to cause a high idle issue. If this happens, you will have to remove the IAC, clean it up really well and reinstall it. A good way to go is to spray a rag with the throttle body cleaner and then wipe down any dirty surfaces. This will prevent runoff going where you don't want it too. If you don't use the rag technique, turn the throttle body upside when cleaning it so the runoff doesn't drain down into the IAC.
*Parts*
If you're looking for a kit that has most of what's listed in the individual parts listed below, this is a good one from this Ebay seller: ebay.us/sHz0Wx
*Individual Parts List*
*Spark Plugs #K16TR11 - (Need 6)
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*Spark Plug Wires #19037-62010
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*Throttle Body Gasket (Not for Supercharged engines) #22271-62040
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*Throttle Body Gasket (For Supercharged Engines) #PTR29-60030
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*Intake Plenum Gaskets #17176-62040 - (Need 2)
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*Valve Cover Gaskets #11213-62020 - (Need 2)
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*PCV Valve #12204-62010
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*PCV Grommet #90480-18001
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*Semicircular Plugs #11183-62010 (You can reuse your old ones if you want. Just clean off the old sealant) - (Need 4)
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*Valve Cover Bolt Washers #90210-05007 - (Need 16)
www.toyotapart...
*Camshaft Plugs #11188-62010 - (Need 2)
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*Toyota FIPG #00295-00103
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*Spark Plug Tube Seals #11193-70010 - (Need 6)
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*Helpful Tools*
If you're looking for other tools not used in this video, check out Timmy's Master Tool List.
www.amazon.com...
*CDI 3/8" Drive Inch Pound Torque Wrench
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*1/4" and 3/8" Flex Head Ratchet Set
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*Milwaukee Mi12 Cordless Ratchet (Helps speed up removing fasteners once they are broken free with a regular ratchet)
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*Milwaukee Cordless Drill
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*Milwaukee M12 Battery
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*Milwaukee M12 High Capacity Battery
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*Milwaukee M12 Battery Charger
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*Plastic Mallet
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*32mm Socket
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*Right Angle Needle Nose Piers
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*Adjustable Spark Plug Wire Puller
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*Channel Locks (For this job, the 9 1/2” size would be about right)
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*Inspection Mirror with LED Lights
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*3/8” Drive Swivel
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*3/8” Drive Regular Extension Set
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*3/8" Drive 6 Point Metric Standard Socket Set
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*3/8" Drive 6 Point Metric Deep Socket Set
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**As Ebay Partner Network members, we earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
**As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

*Please read this comment for some helpful information* After watching the video again, I realized I forgot to mention a couple things. In the beginning at 3:42 play time, I mention removing a fuel harness off the lower plenum on the driver side. You also need to disconnect the fuel line at one point whether it's the connection near the driver side fender or one of the connections at the metal harness that attaches to the lower plenum. It's necessary to disconnect because that fuel line will make it very difficult to remove the driver side valve cover if you don't. Another thing regarding the driver side is the clamp (Air Chamber Stay) that attaches to the upper plenum that I mention at 3:50 play time. On my 2000, I didn't have to do anything else other than remove that top bolt to free the upper plenum. On the 2002 engine in the video, I had to loosen a lower bolt that attaches that clamp to the motor so we could move it around to get the driver side valve cover out. *Further Helpful Tips* The hoses that people commonly mess up on are the ones that go to the throttle body that has a detachable IAC valve (1996-2000 4runners and later model 1st Gen Tacomas). There's two coolant hoses and one vacuum hose that attaches to the IAC. People mess up and connect one of the coolant hoses to the vacuum assist hose going to the injectors and they end up flooding the cylinders with coolant. Don't make that mistake. Pay particular attention to that. The ones that are coolant hoses have a hose clamp. The vacuum hose doesn't have a clamp. One vacuum hose that is easy to forget is the one that goes to the fuel pressure regulator. Don't forget to plug that one back into the lower plenum before putting the upper plenum on. To get a little more movement from the engine harness on the passenger side, you can make an engine harness disconnect at the water neck that houses the thermostat. One of the nuts captures a wiring harness anchor point. With that disconnected, you'll be able to lift the harness up higher to give you an easier time getting that driver side valve cover out and back in. Good luck with the job! Hope it goes smooth for you. Happy Wrenching!

[@michaelt9558]

Timmy just a simple question cause I'm about to tackle this job! When torquing head gasket down to 56 in. lbs. would it be ok if I torque it down to 5lbs. since 56 in. lbs. converts to 4.7lbs.? Btw, I enjoy watching your videos man. Very detailed and informative! 🤙🏽

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@michaelt9558 Hey Mike, if you have a foot pound torque wrench that goes that low, then yes, that will work. My foot pound torque wrench doesn't go that low. 10 foot pounds is the lowest it goes.

[@michaelt9558]

@@TimmyTheToolman yes I have the harbour freight one that goes from 5 to 80lbs. Thanks for responding Timmy 🤙🏽

[@maxodorestant9053]

Hey Mike, did you reuse the cam caps?

[@michaelt9558]

@@maxodorestant9053 no I replaced with new ones. It's best to replace with new ones because because outer part of cam caps is some sort of rubber. The only ones I reused is the halfmoons just make sure you clean then good

[@ryansmith616]

I can't explain how much fustration you are saving for so many people. Of all the tutorials and videos I have watched on youtube for so many years, these are by far the most thorough, concise, and perfectly paced videos ever.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Ryan. We really appreciate your compliment. Every once and a while somebody will make me question our style of making videos, but the high majority do seem to like what we're doing, so I reckon we'll keep on the same path. Happy Wrenching!

[@love2hvac]

Thank you very much for this! #1 it saved me a lot of cash that I need to other things like food and rent #2 I know the work was done correctly, too many shops cutting too many corners #3 Really built my confidence, now I know I can do some of these "scary" other projects #4 I learned new skills, I can use this in the future and to get myself out of possible emergencys

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey Ty, we appreciate you taking the time to comment. What you said is the reasons why Sean and I are doing this. We want to empower people to handle their own automotive work so they can save money, learn about auto mechanics, and make sure the job is done right. We know, when people are armed with the Right Information, Right Tools and they possess the Right Level of Patience, they can handle most of their own automotive work. It's people like you that make this venture worth while because not everyone will take the time to let us know how much a video helped them out. Producing these videos takes a ton of personal time from Sean and I and we aren't doing it for the money. We're doing it because we want to help people. But, a little acknowledgement goes a long way to keeping us motivated to make more videos. So, thanks Ty. Have a nice Holiday.

[@redgreen610]

Great video. It inspired me to rip mine apart today. Mine is a 96 with 395,000 km. It still runs perfectly, but was having the typical oil leaks. One of the comments mentions the trick where deforming plug tube seals and then turning the valve cover over and tapping with a screw driver from the other side. Worked like a charm. They were out in 5 minutes. Judging from the way these seals shattered, I'd say they were original and really needed to be replaced. I'm sure some of the caked on grease on valve cover tops was coming through these degraded seals. I found one other point that might help others: In order to get far more clearance between wiring loom and drivers valve cover cut the tie golding small attached harness by the alternator. You can put another on after. This gives about 2 inches more clearance at the front of the valve cover. Also, at the back of the engine block passenger side there is a steel bracket that extends upward and supports the main harness in the middle. You can feel a 10 mm nut on a stud, and a 10mm bolt. I was able to undo both of these by feel and ratchet wrench and pulled the bracket off the stud. This allows you to raise the whole main wiring harness and creates an additional 2 inches of clearance between the looms and valve covers. Once I did this, the drivers valve cover was easy to remove. I think you could pull this harness off the central support, but I didn't want to break the plastic. Just be careful to lift the front of the drivers side loom off the plastic support which inserts into loom just under the timing belt cover. This made things so much easier. I used the suggestions of the aluminum tape on both sides. Thanks! It's a time consuming job, but you explained it so well and saved me $600.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks for sharing the tricks you learned doing the job. Anything to make that driver side wiring loom easier to deal with is definitely a plus. Glad our video helped you complete this job on your own and save yourself a decent chunk of money. Success stories like yours makes us smile.

[@flying4thrills]

Had to do this job on my ‘97 with 382,000 miles and the first place I headed was your KZbin channel! As always, the detail you provided along with torque specs and tips made the job go much smoother than the last time I did this 10 years ago. For those of us who plan on keeping our 3rd gens for a while, your channel is is a first stop for repairs. Thanks again! I owe you a beer (or 10)! 😉

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Glad our video helped you out and thanks for the vote of confidence in our channel. We appreciate it! Happy Wrenching!

[@hunterjessup]

Timmy you're the man! Saving so much money thanks to your videos. Everytime a job comes up on my tacoma I get excited and come straight to your channel. Thank you!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Hunter. We love hearing back from people letting us know how they handled a job on their own and saved a bunch of money. It's great to hear our channel is your go-to channel when you need to get something done on your rig. We appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Wrenching!

[@beaubromley942]

This is one of the best automotive tutorials that I have seen. Thank you for making my life easier and saving me some money.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Beau and you're very welcome.

[@vulcan6940]

I just finished this job on my 2002 Tacoma Prerunner (purchased new in 2001; love this truck!) with 272,000 miles. The valve cover gaskets had never been changed and both sides had small leaks. Thanks for the instruction in this video. One thing I might add is in regard to the cleaning of the throttle body. I cleaned with the appropriate cleaner (TB Cleaner available at any parts store). When I put everything back together I experienced a high idle even after the engine warmed up. I allowed time for the computer to re-adjust everything but it wasn't long before I got the check engine light. I put my scanner on and got codes for both the Throttle Position Sensor and the Idle Air Control Valve. I knew it wasn't the TPS as I'd replaced this a couple months ago. I took the throttle body off again (remove negative terminal on battery first) and proceeded to remove the IAC (held on with 4 brass screws). It was clogged with crud I suspect drained in through the port at the bottom of the throttle body throat. I would encourage anyone attempting this to take the extra time to remove the IAC and clean this separately to prevent my experience. Not a huge deal but.... After putting everything back together I started the engine and start up and warm Idle worked perfectly (computer adjusted very quickly).

[@TimmyTheToolman]

We also used actual Throttle Body Cleaner to clean the throttle body. I guess maybe we didn't show the actual cleaner in the video. And, we used Mass Air Flow Sensor Cleaner to clean the MAF. I have heard people having issues after cleaning the throttle body but we didn't experience any with Sean's truck. With my own truck, I just sprayed throttle body cleaner on a rag and wiped mine clean that way because I didn't pull my throttle body off. I think the problems occur when you end up spaying crud down into the IAC, like happened to you.

[@doyleredwine1683]

This is the most thorough video by far I found on replacing the valve cover gaskets on a Tacoma. Many thanks for your great work on it!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome Doyle. Keep watching because we all kinds of good stuff coming down the pipe. Tell your Tacoma and 4runner friends about us. We want our videos to help as many people as possible.

[@doyleredwine1683]

None of the other vids showed the rear cam plugs needing attention. As per your suggestion I checked them with a mirror and found the source of my leak which just changing the valve cover did not fix. My '96 Tacoma has 268,000 miles and still running great. The valve cover leaks have been a real pain in the putooty though. I am going in for the 3rd time now and am going to do it right this time thanks to your vid. Previous tries did not include removing the cam plugs and the half moons. Thanks again!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Glad our video helped you identify the real source of the leak. Yes, getting the job done right the first time is ideal. This is why our videos are longer than than most because we try to make them as comprehensive as possible so people are successful the first time around.

[@doyleredwine1683]

Also I really appreciate you including the torque specifications in your vid as well. I am a subscriber now!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

I'm stoked we earned your subscription to our channel. Happy Wrenching!

[@ethanbrandt6344]

100% best/most informative video I’ve ever watched. Was extremely nervous about undertaking this after I smelt burnt oil and saw deposits on my exhaust manifolds - coming from my valve covers. This video restores my confidence and is extremely detailed and helps, especially the camera angles focusing on key areas in the engine that are hard to see. Thanks Timmy!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome Ethan. Glad the video helped you out. We appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Wrenching!

[@zachg5876]

I'm no mechanic but this video inspired me to take on the job. It took 8 hours to complete and I'm happy to say no more leaks. Thanks again for this video!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good job Zach. Great to hear our video inspired you to tackle this job. I think it probably took me 7 hours the first time I did it. You're very welcome and Happy Wrenching!

[@williamhutto782]

Tackled this project last week. Went back and forth with myself as to whether I should do it or let a mechanic take a shot. This video not only saved me loads of money but gave the confidence I needed to go at it. Everything went smooth and runs better than ever. Your channel is a valuable source of info I go to for any repairs. Thanks ✌🏼

[@TimmyTheToolman]

This is EXACTLY why we started this channel! to give the average Joe a chance to tackle the job on their own, save some money, have confidence it was done right and learn a thing or two. we are stoked you used our video AND you came back to the video to comment and share your success. Good job William! - Sean

[@michaelstern934]

Nice job boys, thanks! Y'all make it look easy with that fast motion. Mine only took me 2 days but most of that was cleaning 20 years of filth off :D

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Mike. When you get more wrenching experience, you'll be able to turn a wrench that fast too. Just kidding.

[@supra9532]

Finally I found a in depth detailed video on how to assemble and disassemble parts to get to the valve covers., cam plugs etc... Your video is really helpful well explained - together with reference to the repair manual.... Now I have a better understanding to fix my '99 4Runner .... 👍 thank you

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good luck with the repair. When I did it the first time on my truck, I took my time. I labeled hoses and electrical connections, wrote down notes of the order I took things off and even took pictures of the engine before I started so I could reference them if I forgot how something went back together.

[@supra9532]

Tim can you recommend any online site that sells OEM toyota parts hopefully discount price? or the dealer is the only way to go...thanks

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Camelback Toyota in Arizona is awesome. Their prices will be much lower than your neighborhood dealer and they charge next to nothing for shipping. I think they charge $3 per shipment unless it's a very large piece, and then they are forced to charge more. I was charged $30 shipping for the metal piece of the front bumper because it was an oversized package. Here's a link to their site. Compare their prices with your local dealer and you'll see their prices are very good, just as good as any other online seller. partsfactory.camelbacktoyota.com/?.com&.camelbacktoyota.com

[@supra9532]

hi timmy, i just want to thank you on the info website on oem toyota parts ..all i can say is WOW! huge price difference and savings...im so happy i asked you first...im in cali and man their prices were so expensive compare to camelback...with these savings i can get other replacement parts needed...Again thanks and keep up the good work on your vlogs :)

[@TimmyTheToolman]

No problem. Saving money on parts is definitely a good thing. I still use my local dealership for things that I'm having difficulty finding online or I just want to get it right now. The people that work the parts counter at my local dealership are really cool and have been helpful so I don't mind giving them some business.

[@rcrelichunter8598]

Tim this video is 5 years old but full of great information. I just finished my valve cover gasket replacement by following your steps. Went flawlessly. Thanks for the video. It helped me greatly!!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Great to hear the job went well for you using our video as a reference. You're very welcome and Happy Wrenching!

[@johnschaefer4129]

HUGE shout out to this video and creator, it is by far the most comprehensive detailed video on this subject. It totally helped me do this job. I offer one suggestion: when replacing the spark plug tube seals you can deform them and remove them without trying to get a grip on the tabs. Once they're out you can flip over the valve cover and use a punch to deform the tabs upward and outward to get enough clearance to insert the new ones.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Glad you like the video and thanks for sharing your tip to get the spark plug tube seals out.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks a bunch for the kind words. This was basically the main video that got us started on our KZbin journey and we have learned a lot since we started, both from the quality of production to little tips and tricks our viewers share along the way. We hope you consider subscribing to our channel and giving us a thumbs up! - Sean

[@abrahamhorball1143]

Timmy you are the best mechanic that I had ever see . God bless you sir

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey Abraham, I have hard time believing that but thanks for the compliment. There are people Wayyyy better than me out there. However, maybe Sean and I are just good at making detailed and informative videos for people to follow. I really believe my mechanical ability is pretty average. That's why I believe when people are armed with the Right Information, the Right Tools and the Right level of Patience, they can be successful with Automotive Mechanics. We appreciate you taking the time to comment. God Bless you too and Happy Wrenching!

[@echologged85]

Just finished up my 1997 Toyota T100 Valve Cover Gasket job. I really appreciate the part numbers and the detail you put into it, awesome job man! I think I had a little more room in my trucks engine bay being a older vehicle, so that was nice. It really wasn't a bad job, it took some time, but I also took my time. Thanks again man! Also, you guys have some good looking 4Runners!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks. Glad the repair went well for you. Yeah, it's really not a bad job. I also took my time when I did it on my truck before making this video doing it on Sean's rig.

[@curtisf1276]

Almost six years after you posted this I used the video over the weekend to do this on my 2000 4Runner. From the parts lists to all the tips it made the job a breeze. Never did anything other than normal maintenance, belt changes, and minor repairs before this. Thanks brother!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good to hear Curtis. The making of this video is how Sean and I met and was the beginning of our channel. I had posted on the T4R.org forum about my experience doing the valve cover gasket job on my 2000 4runner and he messaged me asking for help doing the same job on his 2002 rig. I had a GoPro camera I rarely used and asked Sean if he would be interested in filming it so we could help people. He said yes and he edited the video using iMovie. We came up with the channel name which was a play on the Tim Allen Home Improvement show, (my nickname is Timmy, and the rest is history. It's been a fun, interesting, and challenging ride over the almost 6 years we've been at it. Thanks for the comment. We appreciated it and you're very welcome.

[@DonBMW]

Just did this job and it was not too difficult but definitely many steps. Labeling all hoses with numbers was a life saver. I used Aisin AB1270B1 gasket maker for everything and replaced many gaskets (plenum, valve cover, camshaft, and PCV valve). Also replaced many air hoses (1/4 and 5/16). Best tools, small 3/8 stubby ratchet, hose pliers, brass brush for old RTV and extensions in various sizes. No leaks and running like a champ. Thanks Timmy!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Solid don! Thanks for coming back to comment and offering your advice with tools. Sicmods!

[@davespence4912]

Hey Don, did find a full set of hoses or have to buy individually? I want to replace all my hoses (25 years old getting brittle & cracking).

[@DonBMW]

@@davespence4912 Had to buy individually. I just took the hoses and went to Oreilly. They sell it by the foot. I did bring along my measuring digital caliper ( a little overkill) but didn’t want to make multiple trips. Use a little silicon paste around orifices which makes hose install ultra easy.

[@1toedrag]

Thanks for the video. Very helpful! Nice touch with the torque specs at the beginning of the video. One tip on removing the spark plug tube seals: after deforming the outer metal ring, I flipped the valve cover and used the hammer & screwdriver on the now-exposed deformed metal ring. The seals popped out easily. Had all three out in about 20 seconds.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Sounds like a good technique to get the tube seals out. Thanks for sharing and I'm glad you found our video helpful.

[@backroadseeker08]

Drinking my morning coffee with the FSM and your video preparing for this repair. Beautiful video as always, Tim! No doubt it'll be invaluable. Also, bet you're enjoying whatever microphone upgrade you got...

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey James, hopefully the job goes smooth for you. The upgrade we did for the sound is just using an external mic, nothing fancy. The internal mic that comes with the GoPro gets muffled in the case you put on the camera. The GoPro Hero 5 we got did require a very very clumsy adapter you had to use to hook up the external mic so I ended up gluing it to the case so if wouldn't be flopping around. Good luck with the job and Happy Wrenching!

[@r.painter]

I just finished up on my grandsons 2000 4runner, thanks to your video, it took me a few days to complete as i went very slowly. I had a slight huge delay as i was removing passenger side valve cover, one of the bolts fell off and went in camshaft. I had a very small space that i located it and did not think that this was going to be possible to get this out. Only a very small magnet extension , and a miracle from God that i was able to retrieve this, all of them are stuck on there, but one came off. My son in law who is excellent mechanic said it had to come out, or tear the engine down. Thank you again.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Man, that must have been stressful losing that bolt into the engine. Glad the story had a happy ending. You're welcome and Happy Wrenching!

[@lawrenceomara3849]

Great tutorial. Replaced my "leaking for much too long" valve cover gaskets on my 99 Highlander 4runner yesterday. I was mostly concerned about the removing cam plugs and if I had to remove the bracket behind them but your video eased the concerns and helped guide me along.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey Lawrence, glad our video helped you out. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@shahsmerdis]

thank you for spelling this out for newbie. Every write up I see, skips a billion steps. this spells it out thanks so much.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

+Bardia Ghajari You're welcome. My friend Sean and I wanted to make a better video for people to use to do this repair. The videos in existence before ours were decent but they lacked the detail that we wanted in tackling this repair so we decided to make our own. And, we enjoy working on our trucks and doing the video documentation so there will be more videos to come.

[@shahsmerdis]

+Timmy The Toolman I truly appreciate that, Great looking out for us. Can't wait till your video gets more views so it gets pushed to the top. any type of bushing repair, upgrading to poly should make for good videos. I am going to replace my rear diff breather, Im going to try and record it this weekend. Lets see how it goes :)

[@TimmyTheToolman]

+Bardia Ghajari Interesting you should ask about bushings. We actually installed polyurethane bushings from Energy Suspension in my steering rack and front sway bar today. Went pretty smooth. My bushings weren't really worn out, but I replaced them anyway. I can detect more responsive steering though which is good. The end link bushings that came with the sway bar kit had the wrong internal diameter so they don't fit as well as they should and squeeze out a little past the washer due to the oversized hole. I called the company and they are going to get the right ones out to me. We did video the whole process and we'll probably be posting it by the end of the week.

[@shahsmerdis]

+Timmy The Toolman Woah! Awesome thank you so much. Yeah, looks like no matter what you got to measure the diameter of the sway bar, vin number alone wont determine if its right one. Im glad you recorded it. Any chance lower control arms, or rear control arms coming out soon? Being a little anxious here =P. Glad the new bushings helpped. I got it done on my 3rd gen, now gotta go get it done on 4th gen.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

+Bardia Ghajari I got the right bushing kit for my truck from Energy Suspension but I think the Prothane company that makes them puts the wrong end link bushings with the package. I'm thinking they've been doing this for a while and maybe people just assume that's the way it is. We might do some front end work on Sean's truck one day soon. He's talking about getting aftermarket upper control arms. If we do it, we'll probably replace the upper and lower ball joints while we're in there. He also do for some new or refurbished CV axles. I've seen some people talking about how to replace the bushings on the control arms. Looks like some work to get them out without damaging the control arm.

[@joeflynn4276]

I just did this job this weekend. Your video was super helpful and easy to follow. Thanks for giving me the confidence to do this job Timmy!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good to hear you found our video informative and it gave you the confidence to tackle this job on your own. Good job and you're very welcome. Happy Wrenching Joe!

[@darekpeterson5538]

Honestly Timmy.. I’ve learned more from you than all the automotive classes I’ve taken.. thank you Timmy 😅😅

[@TimmyTheToolman]

That's cool to hear Darek. I took a auto shop class in high school and didn't really learn a whole lot either. I learned more at the Chevron gas station I worked at for a few years and also turning wrenches on my 68 Bronco.

[@0341stroker]

Thank you Timmy for this video. I just got doing this last night and it was a pretty easy job, just lots of things to remove. Took me 6 hours but that was me watching this video and cleaning the valve covers, installing spark plugs and being very careful to not mess anything up. She fired fired right up! My 2000 is at 276k miles and Thankfully your videos have helped me replace every suspension component 😃. Thanks Timmy 🤙🏽

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey Josh, great to hear our video helped you get this job done. Like you found, it's not hard, it's just a lot of steps to perform. It's also great to hear our videos helped you with suspension work on your rig. You're very welcome and thanks for taking the time to comment. Happy Wrenching!

[@israelrodriguez6986]

Thank you again! Really appreciate it. Pretty soon I'll be putting all this information into action. I feel it'll be a success.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Well, when you finally do it, I'll be interested to know how it went for you.

[@Cali_Suaze]

Im dreading having to pull mine. I dont have a garage right now and work a tiring job already 😩 But I definitely need to get down and get this out the way.

[@jamesdaniels3582]

Excellent video.....I have a 1998 Toyota T100 3.4, and I am about to change my gaskets as well. If you still have your pages of notes, I would appreciate if you could email me a copy. It looks very intimidating with all the stuff you have to take off, but I'm up for the challenge. ThanksJames

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey James, I might have that list of notes somewhere but you don't need it. Yes, it can be an intimidating repair but if you take your time you'll be fine. The way I did the repair took a long time. First, I took pictures of the engine from all sides so I would have a reference of how everything should look when I'm all done. As I took things off the engine, I wrote them down in my notes as a reference of the order I took things off so I could reverse that order putting everything back together. When I disconnected a hose or electrical connection, I labeled the hose or electrical connection and what it was connected to with a corresponding letter or number designation. When I took the plenums off, I made a diagram on a sheet of paper and put the bolts and nuts on the paper so I'd know where they'd go back. If I took a single bolt or nut off something, I put the bolt or nut on a post-it note letting me know where it came from. Doing a repair this way slows down the process but it will keep you very organized and will reduce the chance of making a mistake by a lot. I recommend starting early on one of your days off, take you time using the suggestions I gave you and you shouldn't have any problems. It looks intimidating because you're taking so much stuff off the engine but it's really not a hard repair,. It's just time consuming. If you have any questions, just ask. Good Luck and Happy Wrenching!

[@thescottishhammer7570]

Photographs. Lots of photos prior to removing stuff as well as during the removal of stuff. In the age of camera phones, we always have photo-taking abilities in our back pocket. Can't count how many times I've had to refer to a photo on my phone to reference the specific routing of a hose or a belt or wiring, etc. It really comes in handy if you don't have the time to do a project like this all at once and instead have to do it over the course of a couple days. Great video. I'm picking up my new (to me) 1999 Limited 4Runner later today. I'm a new subscriber and have been absorbing as much as I can from all your videos.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yep, taking a picture before tearing things apart could save you and it's smart to take the time to do it when you're doing something for the first time. This job intimidated me at first, but now that I've torn down the top part of these engines multiple times, you start to realize how straight forward and easy it is. With the electrical plugs, they are different, like the ones on the throttle body and there's no way you can mix them up. For the vacuum hoses, they are different diameters and can only stretch so far so it becomes obvious where they need to reconnect to. The one area that I've heard of people making a big mistake is mixing up the coolant lines under the throttle body with the vacuum line that also connects there. This is one area to be very careful and pay attention where those lines connect to. The lines with the hose clamps are coolant lines and the one without a hose clamp is a vacuum line. Have fun with your new used rig. Happy Wrenching!

[@jonybgoode1]

this is absolutely the best video on changing out v/c gaskets,on you tube..i watched a few others,and I gotta say yours is by far,superior,to every video on you tube..it was like watching a factory tech,go thru the motions...I highly recommend this video to anyone who is planning on doing this job themselves...locally,this job runs over 700 hundred dollars,so if your slightly mechanical,and can follow these great steps,just think of the money you will have saved...tim is excellent...what a great video...

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks for the very nice compliment. We appreciate it.

[@iamoutofideas13]

Thanks for another great tutorial. You have proved an invaluable resource once again while I get way in over my head on repairs I've never done before. So far you've walked me through a timing belt, lift kit, front bumper, and now this.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey Robert, great to hear you're finding our videos helpful. I'm pretty sure you're finding with the right information, right tools and right level of patience, you can handle your own automotive work. Thanks for taking the time to comment. We appreciate it!. Happy Wrenching!

[@TheStepCats]

97 4runner SR5.... Only needed to swap out a cracked valve cover on the drivers side... saved some time by "pealing" back the upper plenum and using zip ties off the underside of hood to hold it out of the way... didn't have to address the throttle body. (Already did the passenger side a few weeks ago so didnt need to go there either. Saved a little time by not having to disconnect a bunch of stuff)... took me a few hours as I dont do this everyday. Cracked the plastic wire harness as expected..... Labeling every thing made it that much easier. You can do this!!!! Im not super experienced, only experience is been watching guys work on cars for years, not super strong, 47 year old Female, not a gear head... made sure I had the right materials and tools before starting the job with a clean space and good tunes playing. Bonded a little deeper with the 4runner and saved a good amount of money thanks to this awesome video. Thanks Tim.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks for sharing your success story. Anyone can be successful at auto mechanics. You just have to be willing to learn and invest in some needed tools. The internet has definitely helped with working on vehicles. Back in the day, you had to know someone with some automotive experience or rely on the auto parts store manuals like Chiltons to figure out how to fix something. Now, you have a wealth of information right at your finger tips with KZbin videos and forum write-ups on how to maintain, repair or modify your vehicle. Happy Wrenching my 3rd Gen Sister!

[@benzoil0453]

I am about to tackle this job on my 97 4Runner. I will also be doing my 2000 Tacoma shortly after that. Great job guys I really appreciate it. Between this video and one other that I watched on KZbin I am feeling cautiously optimistic about tackling this.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good luck with the job. Take your time and you'll get it done successfully no problem.

[@mlb6d9]

Timmy, I have an '03 Tacoma 4 x 4, and I appreciate your many informative videos on these Tacoma trucks. They give me good insight into various repairs and to decide whether to tackle myself or not.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Great to hear you appreciate what Sean and I are doing and our videos are helping you out. Thanks for taking the time to comment and let us know.

[@larryrodriguez3991]

Thanks man. I was able to successfully complete this project by following the instructions offered in this video. I had a check engine light upon first firing up my truck after completing the repair. I disconnected the negative battery post, waited about 30 seconds, reconnected it then fired up the engine and the light went out.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome Larry. Good job getting it done.

[@elpatron925]

I took my time and watched many times your video, labeled all things as I worked, and took own photos for guidance. Also I made sure to get original Toyota parts - spent about $225. Finding some free hours here and there I managed to disassemble it. Finally yesterday I got some free time and I put everything back. Then I took it for a ride and it all worked fine! The misfire also went away. A shop wanted to charge me $840 which included some parts (spark plugs, gaskets, and new set of cables) but not all the parts I ended buying on my own, and who knows if the shop was going to use original parts. Also they did not want to guarantee that the misfire was going to go away... Timmy, thanks so much for the video and the answering questions or comments. This was first time doing this and I did it out of curiosity and learning. Now I can use my 4runner to carry stuff and fix a bedroom closet for my daughter. I feel very happy of all the things I learned. Thanks again!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Great job Victor! You saved yourself a lot of money and learned something in the process. Thanks for sharing your success story using our video as a reference to get this job done. You've got to be feeling a great sense of accomplishment like I had when I did this job for the first time. Happy Wrenching Victor!

[@marxccc]

Hey Timmy. Once again your video has encouraged me to do something that never in a million years I'd be able to do. Now that I have completed it successfully I feel really proud of myself and it has encouraged me to keep working in my car. I could not have made it without your video. You are awesome! I also wanted to add a few things that I had to struggle that were not in the video that may help others when they do this job. 1. The one thing that was really hard for me was to actually remove the spark plug seals. I tried your recommended method but was not able to do so without causing some small scratches to the cover. Not big scratches or anything that I would think would cause problems in the long term, but definitely left some marks on there on every single one of them. Maybe I was not careful enough or did not have the correct technique, but I was not able to do a single one of them clean. Just want to give a heads up to others to be very careful on this step. 2. The second problem I had that was not in your "script" and threw me a curve was on tightening the manifold back again. The issue I ran into was that some of the nuts there are held by a stud. I kept torquing and after a few turns I realized something was wrong cause I was not getting to the spec. Seems like for some reason the nut on the other side was removed or fell or something, I don't know. I was just lucky that I stopped before the stud came off. But it could have been a pain to have to put the stud back in. So watch out in case anyone has the same issue! 3. Finally, something silly but that really turned out to be a pain was to put the spark plugs back in! I am guessing my spark plug socket was not very good and when it was torqued and I tried to pull the socket out, it stayed in! So I had to loosen it and then try to get it aligned so that the socket would come off. Had this happen in at least 3 of the spark plugs. Pretty annoying cause it was supposed to be something simple. Guess my recommendation is to get a good spark plug socket.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good to hear our videos are inspiring you to turn wrenches. Thanks for sharing your experience with this job. You need to get yourself a magnetized spark plug socket. The ones with the rubber grommet eventually wear out.

[@Abes523]

Just wanted to say thank you! I never had the courage to tackle this job...until I found your video! I have an 01 4Runner and it had been blowing oil for about a year..... or 3 🤣 Your upload prepared me for literally everything I encountered. I even bought a GW Torque wrench for this job! A few things that did surprise me was how long it took me to do this...about 10 hours. I definitely didn't rush, and had no problems putting everything back together....but damn I feel like I've been beaten up by the neighborhood bully. I was stunned with how LOOSE my valve cover bolts were.....it was kind of scary. I didn't need a ratchet to get them off, I wonder how common that is. Thanks again!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Great job Jason. Glad our video empowered you to get it done. It's a big job especially if you're new to turning wrenches. You did it right by taking your time and not being in a rush. All these valve covers over time will have loose bolts. I don't think it's actually the bolts backing out but rather the rubber on the washers shrinking over time and causing the tension on the bolt to lessen. That's at least my educated guess. You're very welcome Jason and Happy Wrenching!

[@Pimpzillafication]

Very comprehensive video, guys. Made the job on my 99 Taco SR5 a breeze (although it took an afternoon). Please keep making more videos! You’re saving me so much money....

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey Jack, good to hear our video helped you out with this job and doing your own wrenching is keep more money in your pockets. We will of course keep making videos. Happy Wrenching!

[@jamesherlyck]

I just finished this on my rig. Between your videos and the FSM, it didn't seem like too hard of a job. That said, I sure hope the new gasket and FIPG did the trick! I would prefer not to repeat this task for another decade. I want to add that last month using your videos I replaced both front wheel bearings, lower ball joints, re-booted the upper ball joints, new bushings in the upper and lower control arms. new steering rack and tie rods, new front end links, re-booted the CV Axles, new extended SS front brake lines, 199MM TBU, installed Bilstein 5100 shocks all the way around, and new OME 906 springs in the rear (my '99 highlander coils in the front aren't sagging, so I left them). Next week it will be the timing belt, water pump, etc, and then hopefully a break for a while. Thank you for your videos!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey James, I'm with you. The valve cover gasket job isn't hard, but it is time consuming and a little tedious cleaning off the surfaces like the half moon areas in the heads. I've now done this job 5 times. Once for Sean, twice on my 3rd Gens and another two times for some other guys. Great to hear you're using a lot of our videos to fix up your rig. Thanks for taking the time to comment. You're very welcome and Happy Wrenching.

[@keelysims7712]

I like how your showing the people in details on every thing that's needed to do this job thanks

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome. Glad you appreciate the detail we offer in this video.

[@cal48koho]

Timmy is so good. This early video isn't up to the quality of his later ones because of the shaky camera work but it's gud enuf to see the sequence, Tim is the mechanic's mechanic!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Hugh! Yeah, our original videos were a bit on the shaky side. This video launched our channel. The day we shot this video was the day Sean and I met. The rest is history.

[@dakotamaynes4236]

Timmy the tool man is the GOAT i appreciate your videos so much! I rebuilt my 5vz watching you're videos. Thanks 💯

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're very welcome, Dakota. Great to know our videos are helping you out.

[@kylemccarthy5942]

Thank you so much for this video and all the others on 3rd gens. Just completed this job with no problems and you instilled a lot of confidence with how thorough this video is. Watched it about 25 times before tackling this beast. Cheers!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey Kyle, you're very welcome. Glad you got the job done without any issues and our video helped give you the confidence to tackle it. I bet if felt good to do this all on your own. This was my first big job on my 4runner and I felt great when I was all done. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Happy Wrenching!

[@downforwhatever67]

Timmy, your videos have been super helpful to my son and I as we work to keep our 1999 loaded 4 wheel drive Tacoma on the road. We got it in 2015 in Florida with 192,000 on it and it’s at 217,000 now. Since getting it no one but us has turned a wrench on it. I’ve been dreading this valve cover job though. It’s been two years in the making and I limped along by torquing the valve cover bolts I could reach. It got to the point where I stopped driving the truck because a fire seemed like a very real possibility. Just before that though I had an injector on cylinder 3 go bad and I diagnosed and replaced it using your videos. While in there I did all three injectors on the side and spark plugs. I was able to do it without removing any of the intake plenum and only the throttle body. This project built confidence that I could do the valve cover gaskets. Over the last few days my son and I have tackled the job! Your new video on valve clearances popped up just a few days before we started. We had planned on checking valve clearances while we were in there but it was great to have your new video to show the way! Everything has gone well. Everything is disassembled and cleaned. We bought new tappet feeler gauges and got lucky that all 24 valves were in spec! We used your spreadsheet and video! We had gotten mentally prepared to swap a bunch of shims but dodged that entirely. We only have a few hours a day but tomorrow we begin reassembly. We did two things a bit differently. First we took the drivers side valve cover off by going toward the firewall and fender and then going forward over the wires. It was way smoother and tremendously easier than going under the wires. It also looks like reassembly will be vastly easier this way. Second, we used a medium size pair of needle nose Vice Grips to remove the tube seals. One just came out with out needing to be deformed. The other 5 we deformed opposite the tab (which we did not bend upwards) with a rubber hammer and a screwdriver like you do. And then gripped the bent metal with the Vice Grips and levered back against the cover. They all popped out. I spent 15 minutes wrestling with the first one until the needle nose Vice Grips came to mind. I spent an entire 5 minutes on the last 5. It was that easy. No marring. I have a pair of bent handle needle nose pliers like yours but the Vice Grips do the work of holding and free you up to finesse the seal out. By the looks of them I’d say it was all original. The new seals are slipped under the unmolested tab and pressed in with thumbs. All done and a piece of cake. No hammering, no socket. While we were this far in we also swapped out for three brand new fuel injectors so now all the injectors are new. Of course we also did the drivers side spark plugs. Doing the two rear cam plugs and the reassembly tomorrow. Thanks again for your amazing KZbin channel! Be well Timmy.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good job with all that work and it's cool you can share the experience with your son. Happy Wrenching!

[@johncrawford3184]

Thanks for the awesome tutorial! I would have never been able to get those gaskets swapped out otherwise. It took a long time to do it, but I was being careful not to screw anything up.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks John. What you found out is it's not a tough job but it's just a whole lot of steps you've got to do. Once you know that engine better, the vacuum hose and electrical connections will become very straightforward. I just did this job on a friends 1st Gen Tacoma and I didn't have to mark any of the hoses or electrical connections to jog my memory. I did however label and individually bag the hardware as it came off the engine to not mix any of the bolts or nuts up. Great job getting this repair done. Happy Wrenching!

[@justinhobbs8694]

Thanks for the great video. It is by far one of the most thorough, informative, well filmed automotive tutorials I have seen to date. I have a 98 4runner with 289k miles, thanks for your help with keeping it running smooth!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're very welcome Justin and thanks for the nice compliment. We appreciate it. Happy Wrenching!

[@kaimcbride1553]

Thanks for this! I must have watched it at least 4 times before doing the job, and three time while doing the job. Just started up my 1996 Tacoma 30min ago and all's well. The tip about that crumbling plastic really helped me to not fill the valves with tiny pieces of black brittle wiring loom. Whew!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're very welcome. We're stoked to hear our video helped you get the job done on your own. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Happy Wrenching!

[@kramidanalub]

Best channel for Yotas! thank you for all the help. If not for this channel there would be a lot of frustration and cussing while doing the job. My 01 Tundra thanks you too! :)

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks for that very nice compliment of our channel. We really appreciate it! As for cursing, I do plenty of it when we film. We just don't usually include any of it in the final draft of the video. We're happy to know our videos are helping you out. Happy Wrenching!

[@JasonAhleman]

Tim-just found this video again, as it was invaluable when we did this job about 18 months ago. Searched for it again because I just found 2 spark plugs saturated in oil. So this job is in the near future for my ‘99. Thanks again!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome Jason. Did you replace the spark plug tube seals last time?

[@JasonAhleman]

Timmy The Toolman sorry that was a confusing post. We did plug seals last time and it has kept a good seal. I found the oily plugs on the ‘99 I just brought home last month!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@JasonAhleman Oh gotcha. Well, have fun doing the job again. You joined the Multiple 3rd Gen 4runner Owner Club. Congratulations!

[@ronnyg1492]

Thank you Tim... great video. I didn't do it in 5 hours but took me closer to 16, not counting the time spent running for parts. Being in the great southwest, the heat turned the hoses into brittle so I replaced a lot of them. I woke up the last two nights at 2AM wonder what I've got myself into. Finished, it started and didn't catch on fire. I'm strutting my stuff, but if I had to do it over again, I'd let the garage. I thought I took great notes but when it came to putting back together, didn't make as much sense as went I wrote them. Morale of the story is take extensive notes and explain where it came from, where it goes and take a picture to accompany it.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome Ron. I'm not the quickest mechanic either. Now that you're a little more familiar with your engine, taking it apart another time will be much easier. I'm really comfortable with these engines now since I've worked on them so many times. The difference between you doing it and a garage doing it is you KNOW it was done right. When you hire a garage to do your work for you, you are at the mercy of the guy performing the work. Is he a good mechanic? Is he having a bad day? Is he going to rush through the job because he's a flat rate mechanic looking to make more money if he works really fast? I know for the most part I'm going to do a better job than a garage mechanic because I'm not in a rush and I'm going to make sure everything is done right. It is quite common for mechanics to screw things up while charging a lot for their time. I think you should keep doing your own wrenching if you have the time and patience for it.

[@cliffhob7204]

Very informative. I just did my passenger side without even removing the throttle body. I just wanted to get some confidence do the easy side first and do the other side another weekend. I did put spark plug and pvc grommets in freezer a few hours that helped. I did tape up that loom, my was broken and may have given me more room that way. 2000 Tacoma 207k

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good job!

[@josephagosta7554]

Just finished installing valve cover gaskets, cam plugs, half moons, etc. on my 2002 Tacoma. Thanks for another great, well detailed video. Even had time to paint my valve covers!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome Joseph. Good job getting it done.

[@chrisp7165]

Hey Timmy, I just want to thank you for the detailed video. Your video was a massive help in getting this job done. The cover was leaking in spots but those old cam caps were leaking like a sieve. Took me a good long while (8 hours) but I was taking my time to make sure every step of the process went to plan. And sure enough, everything went by the book as far as I can tell. While I was in there, I replaced my plug wires, PCV valve, and cleaned the throttle body and IAC. I do have a high idle after cleaning the TB and IAC but many have told me that the rig needs to relearn the idle values since I cleaned all the gunk out. I also used your video for that process as well. Used carb cleaner and Qtips for cleaning the IAC as well as making sure to use a new gasket as well. I think I'm really close to getting this rig to where I want it to be. And just about all of that is due to your videos. I always reference your vids to everyone in the 3rd gen Reddit sub and other forums. Thanks again Timmy!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey Chris, great to hear the job went well and that you're making good use of our videos. Thanks for taking the time to comment and share this with us. We appreciate it! If that high idle doesn't go away, make sure all your vacuum hoses are intact and properly connected. Happy Wrenching Chris!

[@chrisp7165]

@@TimmyTheToolman Thanks Timmy, yeah, I double and triple checked my vacuum lines. Everything is where it's supposed to be. If it doesn't settle, I'll probably have to chase the IAC valve. I've read posts from others where after they cleaned the old one, it never operated properly afterwards. But we shall see. Holding hope that it's just in need of an idle relearn.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@chrisp7165 Yeah, hopefully it does settle back to normal for you.

[@stevanrose7439]

Just today I went to Toyota and bought all the gaskets I needed for my Tacoma it cost me 225.00 dollars for everything. The little washers for the cover bolts were kinda pricey at 1.95 each. But I’ve been saving up for this job so I got what I needed.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good luck with the job. Try buying online for your next job you need parts. You'll save money.

[@southernyankee1519]

Finally a normal guy using common sense to fix a car. Great vid exactly what I wanted.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Brother. Glad you like the video.

[@robertkubrick3738]

Great video! After watching this I'm just going to live with the small leak of a quart every 3 months or so. My brother asked me why I didn't just change the valve cover gasket and told him it isn't a 283 chevy!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Robert, have your brother help you and knock it out. Yes it's a little involved and time consuming but I guarantee you'll have an incredible sense of accomplishment afterward. I put off this repair for months but I was so glad I finally got off my ass and did it. It's not a hard job at all. Just take your time, label hose and electrical connections, and you won't have any major problems. With any repair, you'll have something that will hang you up but you'll get through it and be stoked afterward for fixing your leaky valve covers. Hope my pep talk worked!

[@donemmanuel4226]

Timmy thank you so much for this video. Because of people like you and videos like yours you have encourage newbie like myself to DIY. I did this job on my rig. (2001 Taco) Took me 2 1/2 days😅.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're very welcome Don. It's good to hear our video encouraged you to tackle this job. Turning Wrenches isn't a race unless you're a Flat Rate Mechanic at a shop trying to increase your earnings. You got it done, and done right, and that's what counts. Happy Wrenching!

[@ihbase]

Pro tip: The passenger-side injector / coil harness will swing out of the way (toward the vee / center of intake ports) by simply unclipping three plugs on the front passenger side of engine (the A/C compressor plug is the most difficult). This step makes it a lot easier to remove and install the passenger-side valve cover. Bonus tip: With the harness out of the way, vacuum all debris away from the injectors BEFORE pulling the injectors. Vacuuming before rather than after pulling the injectors reduces the likelihood of dirt and debris falling down the injector ports after removal. Edit to add: Depending on accumulation on injector seals, you may have to vacuum again after injector removal. This step, along with wiping inside of ports with a rag soaked in carb cleaner, will help ensure a good seal on reinstallation.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks for adding helpful tips to this video! We appreciate the comment. - Sean

[@DonBMW]

Timmy! Great detailed video. Excellent walkthrough and you actually show the work. Helps to have a buddy. Thank you for not skipping over anything.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Don Z that is the entire premise of our channel, don’t leave anything out and provide too much detail so you’re left guessing what happened. Thanks for the comment

[@ponchoape]

Timmy, another fantastic video. Last year I followed your Timing Belt video, and this year with the help of this wonderful Valve Cover Gasket video I've completed another big job on my 2000 4Runner. I did purchase a number of parts using your Amazon links - it's the least I could do. Thank you very much!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks and you're very welcome. Great to hear you're benefiting from our videos and we do appreciate you using our Amazon links. Happy Wrenching and we hope the job goes smooth for you.

[@cheesewhiz32]

Thank you for the video! I did my gaskets today and your video really helped me through it. Took me about 6.5hrs + a few parts runs.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're very welcome. Glad our video helped you out. It's a good feeling to do an involved job like that all on your own, isn't it? I know I felt a pretty big sense of accomplishment after completing this job. Great job and Happy Wrenching!

[@ronnyg1492]

Good points Tim. When I did look at the finished product, I felt like I did a better job than the mechanic did. I certainly do know my engine now.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yep. I truly believe in most instances it's better to do your own work. If you're talking specialty work like rebuilding an engine, rebuilding a transmission, installing different gears in a differential or maybe a locker, paying a shop or individual with good reviews is probably the smarter option. Another thing I'm willing to pay for is welding and fab work. Since I don't know how to weld or have the tools necessary to do custom fab work, it's much better for me to pay for this type of service.

[@LuisHernandez-bx8oq]

Great video. I was able to fix my car with no issues after watching this video.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Luis. Great to hear the job went well for you.

[@Minderbender94]

Just finished replacing the valve cover gaskets on my 97 4runner. Many thanks for this video, super helpful!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good job Miles. Glad your found our video helpful. Happy Wrenching!

[@stevegannonhandmade]

Another project done with the a big Thanks to you! I had 2 broken bolts that needed to be drilled out, and found an already rounded one that took a while to get out. Just Diff's and transfer case fluids and I am all caught up and good to go for a while!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're very welcome Steve. Good job doing all the work on your own.

[@brendanlidral-porter8071]

Really appreciate this video, I'm in the middle of the job and could not have done it without this, thank you! I don't see any mention of torque specs for reassembly of the lower and upper plenum, which would be very useful. I searched through the FSM and for anyone later on the torque spec for all fasteners on the lower/upper plenum are 13 ft-lbs (156 in-lbs). If you're looking through the FSM the plenums are called the "Air Intake Assembly" and can be found in the Engine Mechanical service specifications. Tim if you're able to add those in the description I think it would take an already very good resource to a comprehensive reference.Thanks again!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

All the torque values are listed in the video at the very beginning, right after the parts list scrolls by. 13 foot pounds for all the plenum bolts and nuts.

[@TheWallsocket]

The parts list at the beginning is missing the spark plug tube seals. You need 6 and the part number is 11193-70010. Hope this helps someone out. Also putting the part numbers in the video description would be more helpful than in the video, that way we could copy-paste them. Thanks for posting this video, it's been very helpful.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Seems we made a few mistakes with the parts list. Thanks for catching that.

[@gregcallas2378]

Thank you Timmy for the video! I just worked on the same job and found the RH valve cover to be cracked... Gotta wait until Toyota opens on Monday and beat the rain. Again, I appreciate your help! you saved me about $600+ just giving me some confidence that it can be done. Cheers

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey Gregory, Great to hear our video gave you the confidence to tackle this job. The reason why these valve covers crack is somebody didn't tighten it down correctly. You have to slowly and evenly tighten them down so you don't force the valve cover to try to flex. The valve cover is a cast piece so it won't flex, it will break. Do yourself a favor and see if a local PickNPull or Auto Wrecker has a vehicle with a Toyota 3.4 Liter V6 in it. Obviously search for 3rd Gen 4runners but also search for 1st Gen Tacomas (1995-2004) and T100 trucks. You have a good chance of finding a wrecked one that still has the engine in it and you could pick up a valve cover for pretty cheap. The dealer price is probably going to be pretty high. If you can't find one at a wrecking yard and you don't need your rig for daily driving, I'd order from an online seller like Camelback Toyota out of Arizona. You'll save quite a bit of money ordering online as opposed to buying it straight from your local dealer.

[@craigoller9283]

Hey Tim! Just completed the valve cover job. I ran into a small problem. When I was pulling the semicircular valve plug front driver side I broke it. I believe I didn’t pull straight up. Luckily, I’m good friends with the manager at the local NAPA and he had one. O’Rielys. Autozone, and Advanced Auto where special order only. Other than that it went well. My 2001 is running great now. Thank you again for the great videos.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You wouldn't be the first to break one of those semi-circular plugs. Glad the job for the most part went well for you. You're very welcome and Happy Wrenching!

[@TKDchessMan]

Thank you. Did this several years ago and botched it. I have more leaking now than I did before. Going to give it another try with your guidance.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome. Hope everything goes smooth. Happy wrenching!

[@andrewferree1463]

TKDchessman, feel like sharing your difficulties on your first attempt? Something you would have done differently, looking back?

[@johnlindgren278]

Just did this over the last few days. Excellent video and helped a immense amount. Took my time and did some extra things while in there. So helpful as a reference if I felt I wasn't sure on something and helped me with the confidence to do it myself and save a ton of $$$. Thanks for putting this on KZbin.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey John, great to hear our video helped you get this job done. You just learned a valuable lesson that a intimidating job like this really isn't that hard if you have the right info, right tools and right level of patience. Good job and thanks for taking the time to comment and share your success story with us. Happy Wrenching!

[@israelrodriguez6986]

Thank you again for answering, it's motivation enough tht thrs people out thr that are patient enough to help you out and asnr real questions and real concerns, Thank you!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome Israel. Helping empower people to fix their own vehicle so they can save themselves some money while gaining knowledge is why I'm doing this. Wrenching can be fun and frustrating at the same time but the sense of accomplishment doing your own repairs and modifications is pretty awesome. It's proven everyday that DIY mechanics can do just as good of a job and often times better than a certified mechanic because guys like you and me aren't in a hurry. We're taking our time and making sure it gets done right. Many times paid mechanics are trying to finish the job as quick as possible because they make more money the quicker they work. When you work quickly, you're more prone to making mistakes. Also, these paid mechanics work on many different vehicles. If you do a lot of research, you are quite often more knowledgeable regarding a repair or modification than the paid guy. I've been helped by people willing to take the time to upload helpful videos on KZbin so I guess I'm paying it forward. Good luck with the repair and don't hesitate to ask if you have future questions. The only time I won't get back to somebody's question fairly quickly is if I'm somewhere without internet like when I'm camping, mountain biking or backpacking in the mountains.

[@thepitpatrol]

This guy is a genius!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks. We're not geniuses though. We just do our homework.

[@thepitpatrol]

@@TimmyTheToolman well it sure helps us out here. Your channel and hard work are greatly appreciated. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@thepitpatrol I appreciate your comment. Thank you! I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as well.

[@SURFtheEARTHguru]

Perfect video THANK YOU! NONE compare. I've been fighting with my old ring gaskets for an hour now. Man they suck to get out. Watching you shows me the right angle to wack at it with out damage. Or minimal damage lol. Your the best! Thanks again

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome Giovanni. Glad our video helped you out.

[@ko_medic]

Timmy you really are a life saver. Especially a time saver. Thanks man for the video. Next time you work on a 3rd gen make a video please

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Glad you like the video. My buddy Sean and I are making videos all the time. If you haven't subscribed to our channel yet, you should. We currently have 64 videos and most of them are related to working on 3rd Gen 4runners.

[@relaxeful]

love the way you work on this truck making sure you understand everything before going in and taking note is something i need to start doing

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks and glad you approve of my methods. Taking notes and taking pictures as you go can really save you especially when you're doing a very involved job.

[@guygarot9624]

Thanks again Tim - Just replaced my daughters 2000 4runner valve cover gaskets and spark plugs.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're welcome Guy.

[@CantSitStillforREAL]

Another great Timmy the Toolman video. I’m getting after this, the timing belt, radiator, and full rear brakes and e-brake this coming vacation week. All thanks to Tim’s parts lists and videos! Fingers crossed. I may even clean and test the IAC too!!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Todd. Good luck with all the work.

[@nachtjager77]

Great video, totally convinced me to bring my 4Runner into a shop to have this done - no way I could do that without breaking everything or losing my faith in God. Well done.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Glad you like the video. I guess you had the opposite reaction to what what many have had after watching the video. A lot of people gain the confidence to tackle this job because we show you step by step what you need to do and show all the necessary tools needed to get it done. But yeah, if you don't feel comfortable with it, I guess you pay a shop to do if for you and hope they do it right. Just make sure you choose a shop with good reviews. The reason why I do most of my own work now is shops do screw up a fair amount and I'd rather have the piece of mind doing my own work because I know I'm going to take the time to make sure it's done right.

[@nachtjager77]

@@TimmyTheToolman Still contemplating it actually! I'm just old school. I've fixed most things on my truck before and thought this would be a much easier job. I grew up in the days where to change valve cover gaskets, all you had to do was take the valve covers off, you didn't have to take half the engine apart to get to the valve covers. The lower bolts on my valve covers were pretty loose, I tightened them, it made the leak even worse! Guess I over-tightened them! Thanks man!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

@@nachtjager77 If you take your time, take pictures or label hose and electrical connections and make sure you keep all your fasteners organized so you know what belongs with what, you can do this job no problem. It's just time consuming, that's all.

[@nightdipper5178]

Great Video! I took many cellphone photos along the way. It helped when reassembling, especially when it came to routing hoses and wires correctly. Thanks for the work!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks for the compliment. Yes, taking photos is a smart move. Great job getting it done.

[@mattwernecke2342]

5 min in and I'm already exhausted.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Maybe some exercise will boost your stamina. There's shorter and less detailed videos out there on this subject. I think one of those would better suit you. But, if you get lost with one of those express videos, you can always come back to ours.

[@ericshun3331]

Thank you. Im going on my 3rd day of working on this, but i am a complete beginner so im really taking my time and being cautious

[@TimmyTheToolman]

eric shun take your time, follow our lead & ask any questions you may have along the way. We hope everything goes smoothly

[@ericshun3331]

@@TimmyTheToolman thanks for the reply, i actually do have a question! Installing the spark plug tube gaskets... ive been watching various videos of this job and many people seem to put the gaskets in the opposite orientation you did. The forums show people saying both are correct. The ones i have look slightly different than the ones you used, so i am thoroughly confused. Mine look like this. www.toyota-4runner.org/attachments/3rd-gen-t4rs/169192d1439580638-valve-cover-spark-plug-grommets-gaskets-need-help-20150814_152834-jpg (Not my photo) my instinct says the top option is the correct orientation ? 🤞 the gasket fit over the lone tube when i was testing much better using the top orientation, just seemed to make sense. But i am really good at second guessing myself

[@anthonyk5496]

You missed a very important step after removing the lower plenum!! STEP 14: SPEND 40MIN SCRAPING IMPACTED MOUSE TURDS/NEST FROM TOP OF CYLINDER BLOCK. Tim, you are a HERO. You've walked me through 4 big jobs on the 4runner. This is the first place I come to when there's another job to be done. I know it takes a hell of a lot longer to film and edit than to just do the damn job! Kudos to Sean too.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Hey Anthony, consider yourself lucky one of little fuckers didn't chew through a bunch of your wiring. Rodents in your engine compartment can do tons of damage. Great to hear you're finding our videos helpful and you appreciate the effort Sean and I have put forth to make them. You are correct that filming a job makes it take much longer and then the editing is a huge time suck as well. Thanks for taking the time to comment. We appreciate it. Happy Wrenching!

[@76089randy]

I’m bout to do this job in a couple days on my 2000 Toyota tundra. Not going to lie I’m nervous but I can do it I’m sure patience is key

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You can do it, no problem. Take your time, use the tips we gave you, and you'll be golden.

[@BeasterBoard]

TIMmmmAyy and Sean thanks again man. You made this project very easy to follow and I appreciate your time and effort when making these videos. They mean at lot to us weekend mechanics.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're very welcome Brother. Great to hear you found our video helpful. It's our goal to empower more people to take up the challenge of wrenching for the learning aspect, the money savings and the sense of accomplishment it offers. Happy Wrenching!

[@laepierce]

Gonna tackle this on Saturday on my '96 T100! It has 265k and the valve covers have just started to leak a bit. Parts at Camelback totaled $202 with free shipping to Tennessee. Thanks for the video!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Your welcome and good luck with the job. You can't go wrong with ordering from Camelback Toyota. Great prices, they ship quick and the shipping is free if your order is $150 or more. They will charge you a shipping fee if the package is oversized, but that's not that common of an occurrence.

[@joebodkin6534]

Getting ready to do 95 T100.This helped a lot.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Joe Bodkin Hey Joe, glad our video helped you out. Good luck with the job. If you have any questions, just ask. Happy Wrenching!

[@TwoFingerCrimp]

Thank you so much! Just did my valve covers this weekend and your video was really in-depth and your parts list was made it easy. Cheers!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You're very welcome Dave. Glad to hear our video helped you out.

[@jim6368]

Hi timmy thanks for this video it really help me complete this on my toyota prado 3.4L v6 year 2000. It took me a long time but was great when I finished, we then done a 3800 km road trip after. My mistake was buying a cheap torque wrench and cranking the rocker cover up too tight which did crack after the replacement I felt it by hand and was another better.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yeah, cracked valve covers is a fairly common result of people over-tightening the valve cover bolts. But, glad the video helped you out. You now know a lot more about your engine and I imagine you feel much more comfortable working on it. Good job and Happy Wrenching!

[@Miles-wy1zr]

I’m gonna try my best to tackle this job on my own. It looks way waaay out of my DIY league but it has to be done. It’s leaking oil to the exhaust and causing smoke. And a fast ticking sound so it sounds like the valves need to be adjusted. :( I’ll be rewinding this video over and over. Thanks brother.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

You can handle this Miles. You should check the valve lash while you're in there, but it's a bit more work, especially if you find valves out of spec. The ticking sound could be an exhaust leak, not necessarily noise from the valves. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4DPnp2qobRqiqssi=9WnR1vzYL-6iwQ6R

[@wildmustangart1577]

I'm about do do that since we can't go anywhere, hoping to stop an oil leak. It's astounding how much junk is on modern engines. I remember with my 67 Cougar (4bbl 289cu V8), the only thing I had to pull out was a filler cap/breather in one Valve Cover and a PCV Valve on the the other... some bolts and BAM it was out. smh... as always, thanks for the guidance. :)

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Yeah, it was much easier back in the day. I had a 68 Bronco that was very simple to work on so I understand what you're talking about. Hope the job goes smooth for you.

[@arturolozano3976]

Excellent video. Your going to put Toyota out of business with videos like this. Your a great resource. Thanks for the time.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Arturo. Nice of you to say but most people don't turn wrenches these days which is kind of sad. So, Toyota service departments are always going to be busy. My local dealer now charges $200/hour and there's always a line of cars waiting to get into the service department every time I visit the parts department. I love the guys and gals in the parts department, all very cool people. But, I stay well away from the service department because they rape you hard. I learned my lesson and will never bring one of my rigs to them ever again unless it's in the future for warranty work for a newer truck I buy well down the road. When I was a teenager in the 80's, most of my friends turned a wrench at some level. I work as a firefighter and help train new guys hired by my department. I'm amazed at the number of young guys who know absolutely nothing about auto mechanics. Times have changed for sure. You're welcome Arturo and it's our pleasure to make these videos to help people out. Happy Wrenching Brother and thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@im.Lewang]

Wish we had a mechanic like Tim in town... 👌🏼...

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Quang Tran Thanks for the compliment Quang. But you must know I'm just a DIYer Mechanic. No professional training or certificates for me but It just goes to show you don't need formal automotive schooling to be a competent mechanic. If you have a willingness to learn, have tools of are willing to buy tools, and you have the right information, you can be successful. Happy Wrenching!

[@israelrodriguez6986]

o ok,,,thank you so much for answering. I'm doing some studying to get the courage to do this as well on a 2002 toyota 4runner sport edition 184,00mi. ...and so far your video is helping me get there. Thank you!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Israel, this is not a hard repair but it does look intimidating. It took me 6 months after buying the parts for this job to find the motivation to do it. When I did this for the first time, I took pictures of the engine at different angles so I'd have a reference to look back on in case I forgot where something went. I also used strips of tape and labeled every hose and electrical connection I took off so I'd know where it went back on. I made sheets of paper as a template to remind me where the bolts and nuts went for the intake plenums. If I took a single bolt I took off something, I put it down on a post-it note letting me know what it was for. Make sure the first thing you do after getting the lower intake plenum off is cover those intake holes with tape so you don't accidentally drop something down in there. If you're not in a rush and just take your time, you'll get it done no problem and you'll have a great sense of accomplishment afterward. It was doing this repair that got me back into wrenching more. When I was in my teens, I wrenched a lot on a 68 Bronco which was my first car. I also worked at a Chevron gas station where I did some work on cars too. Anyway, good luck with the repair. If you have any more questions, just ask.

[@HeyUncleA]

Great video! Thanks. I could totally do this... but with a new born and recovering from surgery I think I’m just going to have my buddy do it. I’ll do it next time.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

you gotta pick & choose your DIY battles sometimes. Congrats on the baby & we hope you have a speedy recovery from your surgery & get back to some #sicmods soon.

[@BushdoctorsLab]

For anyone tying this spring/summer 2021!! For the Valve cover washer/grommet ... Not many available online any more and are $3-4 ea. I called local toyota dealer and gave them part #, they said they had like 30 in stock and only $1.50ea. If you have trouble finding these parts call dealerships in your area! Cheers and happy wheeling in 2021!

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Good to know. Thanks for sharing.

[@curtmontag4654]

This as all of your videos are excellent. Very easy to follow and good visuals. Thanks for saving me time and money.

[@TimmyTheToolman]

Thanks Curt. Glad you approve of what Sean and I are doing. We love hearing how people save money using our videos. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Happy Wrenching!