How to Replace Valve Cover Gasket in Toyota Cars

The purpose of your Toyota car valve cover gasket is to keep your engine's oil contained. If you notice that oil is leaking from your engine, you may have a faulty valve cover gasket. Since replacing the valve cover gasket is a relatively simply project, your best bet is to change the gasket as a preventative measure, rather than waiting for oil to leak and an engine repair bill to ensue.

Under The Hood:

• How to Replace Valve Cover Gasket in a Toyota Highlander
• How to Replace the Valve Cover Gasket in a Toyota Camry
• How to Replace the Valve Cover Gasket of a 1994 Toyota Corolla
• How to Replace the Valve Cover Gasket in a Toyota Corolla
• How to Replace the Valve Cover Gasket in a Toyota Tundra

 How to Replace Valve Cover Gasket in a Toyota Highlander

Allow the car engine to cool. This can be accomplished by parking the car, lifting the hood and letting the car sit idle for a few hours.

Disconnect the battery cable. Locate and disconnect ventilation hose number one. Locate and disconnect ventilation hose number two. Disconnect and remove the engine cover sub assembly Number 1.

Locate and disconnect the engine coil plug. Locate and disconnect the engine wire assembly. Using a wrench, disconnect the valve cover bolts. Lifting straight up, remove the valve cover. Remove the valve cover gasket. This may require that a screwdriver is used to gently nudge the gasket.

Clean the gasket seating area with automotive engine cleaner, a scrub brush and a clean cloth or rag. Make sure that you remove all particles left by the old gasket and any oil that was left in the gasket seating area.

Place the new gasket into the gasket seating area. Reverse the steps used to remove the parts and put everything back into place.

Add oil to the engine and start the engine. Allow the car to run idle for 10 to 15 minutes. This will allow the oil to move to the top of the engine, lubricating the engine as it does.

 How to Replace the Valve Cover Gasket in a Toyota Camry

Disconnect the negative battery cable, the engine wire protector, the coil plug wires from the right hand side and the heated oxygen sensor bank 1 sensor plug wire.

Disconnect the PCV valve hose and connector clamp, ECT Sensor gauge connector and the USV connector plug. Unplug the EGR valve sensor connector and the IAC valve connector wire. Remove valve cover bolts and valve cover from the left hand side.

Disconnect the accelerator cable. Remove the purge hose, the high-tension cord set, the ignition coil, the vacuum hoses, the valve cover bolts and brackets and the valve cover on the left side.

Remove the old gasket. Clean the gasket seating with automotive engine cleaner. Use a scrub brush to remove any left over gasket particles that may remain. Place the new gasket into the gasket seating area.

Place the valve cover on the right side back, tightening the bolts in sequence. Put the vacuum hoses, Ignition coil, High tension cord and set and the purge hose back in place. Put the accelerator cable back.

Reconnect the EGR valve sensor connector and USV connector plug. Reconnect the ECT gauge sensor, PCV valve hose and connector clamp, the heated oxygen sensor bank one sensor plug and the coil plug wires. Reconnect the engine wire protector and the battery cable.

Scan the engine to ensure that all parts that were initially removed have been put back into place. Fill the engine with oil and let the car run a while.

 How to Replace the Valve Cover Gasket of a 1994 Toyota Corolla

Unclamp the black (negative) battery cable from your battery terminal.

Disconnect the spark plug wires, which are the blue, red and black wires located at the top of your Corolla's engine.

Remove both tube brackets and the vent hose from over your engine. These parts should all slide off easily using your fingers.

Remove the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. You should not need any tools to unscrew the valve, as it will turn much like a bottle cap.

Loosen the valve cover bolts using your wrench.

Lift the valve cover straight upward and set it aside.

Peel the old valve cover gasket off. You can use your flat-head screwdriver to remove any stubborn chunks of foam that may remain on the gasket seat.

Wipe the valve cover and the valve cover seat clean using your shop rag and degreaser.

Peel the backing off the new valve cover gasket and orient it so that the sticky side is face down.

Place the new gasket directly onto the perimeter of the valve cover.

Press on the gasket firmly to ensure that it is stuck securely to the gasket seat.

Replace the valve cover and fasten the bolts using your socket wrench.

Replace the hoses, EGR valve and tube brackets by hand.

Reconnect the spark plug wires into the same places they were originally plugged.

Replace the negative (black) battery cable by clamping it back onto the battery.

Add your motor oil slowly, one quart at a time, until you can see the fluid nearing the top of the motor oil fill port. If you replaced the gasket as a preventative measure, this step may not be necessary. However, if your engine was leaking fluid prior to the gasket change, you will need to replenish your motor oil.

Close your hood and your Corolla's valve cover gasket replacement is finished.

 How to Replace the Valve Cover Gasket in a Toyota Corolla

Allow the engine to cool. Disconnect the battery cable.

Locate and disconnect the Number 2 cylinder head cover and the wire harness protector. Locate and disconnect the ignition coil and the high tension cord assembly.

Locate and disconnect the ignition coil connectors and the ECT sensor wire. Disconnect the PCV valve and the cable bracket.

Disconnect the engine wire and the brackets. Using a wrench, unscrew and remove the valve cover bolts. Lift the valve cover off. Remove the old gasket. This may require the use of a flathead screwdriver and a little nudge to coax the old gasket out of the gasket seating area.

Using the automotive engine cleaner, the scrub brush and the clean cloth rag, clean the gasket seating area. Make sure that all gasket remnants, oil or other particles are removed from the gasket seating area.

Place the new gasket in the gasket seating area. Reverse the steps that were used to remove the parts initially. Once complete, add oil to the car and start the engine. Let the car run idle for about 10 to 15 minutes. This will allow the oil to move to the top of the engine, lubricating the engine parts as it does.

 How to Replace the Valve Cover Gasket in a Toyota Tundra

Disconnect the negative battery cable. Locate and remove the battery clamp cover, the throttle body cover and the air cleaner and intake air connector assembly.

Locate and remove the ignition coils, the nine bolts, seal washers and the right cylinder head cover. Remove the oil dipstick for the transmission.

Locate and disconnect the PCV hose and the engine wire clamp from the wire bracket on the cylinder head cover. Remove the nine bolts, nine seal washers and the left cylinder head cover. Remove the nine bolts, nine seal washers and the left cylinder head cover.

Remove the old valve cover gasket. Clean the valve cover gasket with a rag and automotive engine cleaner. Place the new gasket into place. Place the valve cover back into place. To put the engine parts back, reverse the steps used to remove the parts initially.

Place oil in the car. Start the car and let the car run idle for 10 to 15 minutes allowing the oil to move to the top of the engine, lubricating the engine parts as it does.