Toyota - Sienna :: Get Rid Of Sand Like Crystals From Valve Cover Where Oil Is Added?
Oct 20, 2012
This is regarding a strange occurrence in my wife's 2004 Toyota Sienna. We took her van on a 7,000 cross-country journey in June and July of this year, right in the middle of the heat wave. I used synthetic oil, 5W-30 as recommended by Toyota, and everything seemed to be fine. The problem came after I had the oil changed by Jiffy Lube in Denver, CO before my 1700 mile trip home to Washington, DC. Jiffy Lube costs a bundle when you use synthetic so I had them put in petroleum-based 5W-30 oil, knowing I would change it when I got home. During trip home (850 miles/day) I passed through temperatures as high as 110 degrees. When I got back and went to change the oil I noticed what looked like sand in the valve cover area where oil is added. I was able to scrape some out of it and rubbed it between my fingers, and it had the consistency of grit. My question is what is it, and should I be concerned? I changed the oil, and again used synthetic. Did the heat cause the petroleum based oil to boil and then crystallize like sugar? What can I do to get rid of it?
View 5 Replies
Advertisement
After taking my 2001 Toyota Tacoma into my Toyota dealer for a routine oil change they informed me that I had a leaky valve cover gasket and that it needed to be replaced. The repair would have been expensive, and since it was just a leak I decided to not make the repair. I have been driving with the "leak" since May of 2013 and have put about 29,000 miles on the truck. I have never had to add oil. There is no oil spot on the concrete where I park the car and I do not smell burning oil when the truck is running. If this thing is leaking, what the heck is leaking out of it? And if I haven't had to add oil or any other fluids do I even need to replace it?
View 14 Replies
I have a 2003 Toyota Camry with 210,000km on it. Today I popped the hood, noticed the coolant was slightly low in the over flow reservoir so I looked around the engine bay. Now I know generally coolant does not go up that far and it's just oil... But this has got my head turning. There's a crusty coolant residue drip that looks to start at the valve cover. At first I thought maybe the water pump was leaking, and the pulley was spinning it farther up, or spraying back from a rad leak when driving. but the fact it's crusty and A clear line that looks like a drip that's a slow leak and has crusted over time makes me wonder.
I mean generally coolant wouldn't come out of the valve cover unless it was right full of coolant, causing enough pressure to push it out... Am I wrong ? Once I get to the shop on Monday I'm going to pressurize the cooling system and pull the spark plugs and the valve cover to look at the head, The highest spot I see the drip start is the valve cover, only thing I could think of is the intake leaking, and traveling over there but even then, it doesn't make sense to me. The thermostat housing is about 2.5" under so it can't be that... It's such a small leak, the reservoir is only down about maybe half an inch and the oil looks clean as can be.... There's some pictures below that you can somewhat see it.
View 12 Replies
I just had my oil changed and was told that my rack and pinion was leaking also my valve cover leaked I had the gasket change about a year ago an the leak is so slight it wont even show up in my dip stick, is it possible the valve cover leak is getting on the rack boot. Also can I change just the boot car has 15000mi in great shape an well maintained.....
View 7 Replies
Own a 2000 Camry XLE 6-cyl. Both valve cover gaskets are leaking. Rear one leaks onto the manifold and causes stench. Have been quoted $350. to replace because the job is complicated. Have any of you done this on your own, and if so, would you recommend it or go to a qualified mechanic?
View 9 Replies
Truck was running a little rough before valve cover gasket replacement. Replaced gaskets and it ran rougher than before. Found a burned out spark plug coil and replaced coils, plugs, and wire. Runs smoothly now, but there's very, very low power, probably tops out at 35 mph. What gives?
View 19 Replies
My uncle has a 1997 Corolla that has been sitting on his garage for about 2 years. We jump started the car and after a while recharging the battery, we saw fumes coming out from the engine. I then noticed that there was oil all over the front of the engine.. From what I have found in google it seems that this is a valve cover leak. How serious can these be? Are they easy to fix? because my uncle is thinking on calling the junkyard.
View 13 Replies
Saw this topic addressed, but not resolved to my satisfaction, in a post made some years back by the owner of an '03 Corolla. The comments suggested a water leak was the cause. But the sound is definitely DRY (think Etch-A-Sketch vs. waterbed). And the small amount of water that is leaking on the front passenger side floor didn't start until about a month after we started hearing the noise.
My VERY amateur guess is that it is some sort of breach in the air bag system, since that's where the noise sounds like it's originating. I searched the internet and didn't find anything on this topic of a sand noise coming from the vicinity of the glove compartment. Since the local Toyota dealer service department also thinks it's a water leak (not covered by our warranty, apparently) and that it could be potentially very expensive to locate and fix....
View 14 Replies
I had it checked out at the dealer and they called it a "weep" so they went on to tell me that VW probably wont approve warranty work for it. I pushed for them to take pictures and send it in anyway.
Now assuming they won't do it, I have been looking for a DIY or a technical order on the job but I can't find anything.
View 7 Replies
Just found valve cover of my Tiguan is leaking out oil this morning. Will go to dealer tmr for gasket replacement. My car is just over 50k miles. What happened to VW's car quality control???
View 5 Replies
I want to have my oil cap sit close to the valve cover rather then have that long funnel.
I want to go from this:
To this:
View 7 Replies
Haven't had the engine cover off for about 25k now (cleaned it up under there last time I changed plugs.) Took it off today and noticed it's a little oily on all four sides around the valve cover.
Pretty sure I can account for the oil that's near the filler cap... I don't recall spilling enough that would completely go around the entire valve cover though...
But how did it end up so high on top of the valve cover on the corners? It's even a little wet looking on the back if you look hard enough..
I only have 4600 miles left of the 10/100 warranty so I'm glad I caught this and hope the dealer can do something about it... or are they going to tell me this a "normal" amount of seepage? I haven't owned a vehicle with plastic valve covers before so I don't quite know what to expect.
View 7 Replies
So with about 70,000 km on my 3.3 V6 I'm noticing some oil seepage from the valve cover gasket. It's not enough to budge the oil level on the dipstick, and frankly not the sort of thing I would bother having fixed (especially with a leased vehicle). The only thing bugging me is that the alternator is getting pretty grimy and dirty from it, and I'm wondering how much it can take.
View 12 Replies
I was loosening the bolt that holds down the number one spark plug wire when it just spun off leaving less than half the bolt in the valve cover. I tried using the grabbit extractor but that did not work.
View 8 Replies
when replacing valve cover gasket, using the cork based one. Do you use any gasket sealant or any kind of silicone or just put it in by its self.
View 5 Replies
so I have a 2azfe engine
So there's an oil leak coming from the valve cover gasket (just purchased vehicle dirt cheap with 220k)
found this
Notice all the oil sitting on top of the exhaust mani gasket
In the left(lower) part of the picture it appears to be scraped.
the gasket appears to be newer, I did NOT use a screw driver to remove the valve cover, which is what this appears to have been done..
Can this be sanded down then filled with jb weld, and then regasketed?
View 7 Replies
So I'll be taking on a project to replace the valve cover gasket on my 2002 Camry V6. There's a bit of leakage through the gasket. And while I'm at it, I'll replace the spark plugs as well. I'm looking for a write up on this project. did a lot of searching but couldn't find anything.
View 14 Replies
I changed my leaky valve cover gasket today, along with my spark plugs and PCV valve. Now after driving a few minutes my CEL and oil light come on.
the car was/is low on oil from the leak. I was going to change the oil but it has been pouring rain today and it was all I could do to get the valve cover gasket done.
I put two quarts in after the oil light came on, I haven't had a chance to check the level since then.
I don't see oil leaking anywhere on the engine. I cleaned it up pretty well around the valve cover and should see any new oil easily.
How low does it have to be for the oil light to come on?
View 1 Replies
2007 2.4L Camry LE.
Took the plastic engine cover off and found that there are two rubber gasket/washers that stayed stuck to the valve cover (around the threaded rods that stick out of the cover). When I tried to remove them, they disintegrated. Now, my plastic engine cover is having problems tightening on properly, if that makes sense.
So, if you look at the engine cover, you take the two nuts off and remove the cover. There are rubber isolators/gasket that is there. Mine have disintegrated. Call to the Dealership says I have to replace the entire cover as you cannot get those separately.
View 1 Replies
I took it to the stealership to get the alternator and some vac. lines replaced all under an extended warranty. They informed me that both valve cover gaskets and right side cam adjuster gaskets are leaking. By no means am I a mechanic or close to but I am trying to get this stuff done as cheap as possible so I am going to try to tackle this myself.
View 3 Replies
I've got a coolant leak here (I wiped away some of it before taking the picture):
Close up
This is the only place I can find coolant leaking and it's running down all the way to the water pump:
When I wiped away from just below the valve cover gasket it flaked right off and it doesn't appear there is any oil mixed in. I changed the oil today and it didn't appear to have any coolant mixed in either.
The coolant doesn't appear to have any oil in it's nice and pink as it should be. I started the car from a cold start and sat and watched the area waiting for it to leak but nothing ever came out, of course.
I know there shouldn't be coolant leaking from this area anyways but I don't know how else to explain the trail pictured. I definitely have a small leak somewhere as I've found coolant on the floor of the garage before.
Do I just replace the valve cover gasket and move on or is there something else I should be concerned with here?
View 11 Replies
