Toyota Highlander rear valve cover gasket --

[goodfellow]

Not having too much luck with the family fleet these last two weeks. Last week it was the wife's 2012 Traverse AC system; this week it's the daughter's 2005 Highlander with a leaking rear valve (right side of engine) gasket. The thing started leaking pretty heavily within just a few weeks and got progressively worse. So I had to pull the the rear cover. It's not an easy job. It took me almost seven hours to finish everything up and clean the rear of the engine of grime and oil.

The gasket and tube seals were toast. Everything was hard and brittle. Considering that this gasket has never been changed, it's a miracle that it lasted this long. Kudos to Toyota for that small favor. That said, replacing this gasket is a true PITA because of the rearward tilt and slope of the right cylinder head. Without a good set of 1/4" drive tools and swivel sockets, this job would have been a true mess.

[goodfellow]

The tube seals were like concrete. it took a lot of time to get all the material out of the seats.

[Lookin4_67GalaxieConv]

Your daughter has to be spoiled with dad saving her all this money on car repairs!   

[goodfellow]

Your daughter has to be spoiled with dad saving her all this money on car repairs!   

LOL -- That's true! She's never had to pay for auto repairs. Same story for my wife. My wife's father was an "old school" professional mechanic and serviced his family's fleet regularly as well. So my wife never really had to worry about any car repairs her entire life.

[muddy]

Nice work Ray!

Sent from my Twisted Mind Of The Mudman

[Uncle Buck]

 Well done Ray, that looks like it was a real PITA!

[goodfellow]

Thanks guys! I'm feeling my age today though. All that extreme leaning and bending for almost 7 hours put my tired old back into "limp mode". Just sitting in the easy chair today, drinking coffee, and working some amateur radio traffic.

Hope you guys have a great weekend.

[slip knot]

The bending and leaning over a fender is murder on my lower back. A few years ago I bought a topside creeper. Thats a game changer for me. I actually enjoy engine work now.

[Lookin4_67GalaxieConv]

I went up on the roof Thursday, then wondered why I was so sore Friday.  Went back on the roof today, and already feeling it.   

[oldnslo]

Great job!

I hear you on the lower back. My past few days have been a constant bending over and picking up limbs for feeding into a chipper from downing a 80ft pine tree. I paid someone to take it down (it needed to come down in pieces), but I saved on the haul fees by using my chipper. Ohhhh...the aches!

[goodfellow]

The bending and leaning over a fender is murder on my lower back. A few years ago I bought a topside creeper. Thats a game changer for me. I actually enjoy engine work now.

That creeper seems like the ticket for me. Thanks for the advice. Amazon has a few to choose from.

[john k]

I hear ya, any work on a transverse V-6 is a pain.  The 3.8 Taurus spark plugs always left me sporting new band-aids.  Even worse was a Ford Probe V-6, engine renewal took nearly double book time.  Touched on some of the Japan imports, but today it would take severe threats to make me wrench on one.   Glad you got daughters vehicle back together in a day.

[goodfellow]

I hear ya, any work on a transverse V-6 is a pain.  The 3.8 Taurus spark plugs always left me sporting new band-aids.  Even worse was a Ford Probe V-6, engine renewal took nearly double book time.  Touched on some of the Japan imports, but today it would take severe threats to make me wrench on one.   Glad you got daughters vehicle back together in a day.

Yup, the scrapes and cuts from doing these cars are punishing to the hands and forearms. I finally decided to invest in a pair of black $17 Kevlar forearm sleeves from Amazon. They do wonders for resisting abrasions and cuts, and will launder easily. I usually wear 5mil nitrile gloves, so the hands are somewhat protected, but the forearms and elbows do take a beating without those Kevlar sleeves. The sleeves make a big difference.

[wantedabiggergarage]

I hear ya, any work on a transverse V-6 is a pain.  The 3.8 Taurus spark plugs always left me sporting new band-aids.  Even worse was a Ford Probe V-6, engine renewal took nearly double book time.  Touched on some of the Japan imports, but today it would take severe threats to make me wrench on one.   Glad you got daughters vehicle back together in a day.

Yup, the scrapes and cuts from doing these cars are punishing to the hands and forearms. I finally decided to invest in a pair of black $17 Kevlar forearm sleeves from Amazon. They do wonders for resisting abrasions and cuts, and will launder easily. I usually wear 5mil nitrile gloves, so the hands are somewhat protected, but the forearms and elbows do take a beating without those Kevlar sleeves. The sleeves make a big difference.

Just wondering how you launder them? 

I picked some up decades ago, when I found them for under $5 each, but always hand washed and line dried.  (was worried about the stuff transferring to "good" clothes)

[goodfellow]

I hear ya, any work on a transverse V-6 is a pain.  The 3.8 Taurus spark plugs always left me sporting new band-aids.  Even worse was a Ford Probe V-6, engine renewal took nearly double book time.  Touched on some of the Japan imports, but today it would take severe threats to make me wrench on one.   Glad you got daughters vehicle back together in a day.

Yup, the scrapes and cuts from doing these cars are punishing to the hands and forearms. I finally decided to invest in a pair of black $17 Kevlar forearm sleeves from Amazon. They do wonders for resisting abrasions and cuts, and will launder easily. I usually wear 5mil nitrile gloves, so the hands are somewhat protected, but the forearms and elbows do take a beating without those Kevlar sleeves. The sleeves make a big difference.

Just wondering how you launder them? 

I picked some up decades ago, when I found them for under $5 each, but always hand washed and line dried.  (was worried about the stuff transferring to "good" clothes)

We keep a separate washer in the garage that's meant for extremely filthy items (i.e., dog towels/blankets, small rugs, rags, grimy work clothes, etc..) and I just throw them in with my oily work clothes.

[fatfillup]

Ray, is your daughter still single?  I would like to apply for Son in law status to take advantage of your family maintenance plan?

Great job!!

[Crispycritter]

Ray, is your daughter still single?  I would like to apply for Son in law status to take advantage of your family maintenance plan?

Great job!!

take him up on this offer he'll supply you with tools....

Id apply but i dont have much. To offer im old and as i say 'i cannot poo , i cannot chew and i cannot screw.

[goodfellow]

Damn - that's a hoot guys! -- Haven't laughed like that in a while. Showed it to the wife, and she cracked up too.

[fatfillup]

Glad you got a chuckle and Dustin's comment about supplying tools was a hoot too. 

[stokester]

If I remember right the early 2000 Equinox and other 6cyl transverse engines called for a strap to rotate the engine after loosening or removing an engine mount to replace the spark plugs and or the spark plug wires.

Been there and continue to be the family mechanic!  Good on you.

[muddy]

If I remember right the early 2000 Equinox and other 6cyl transverse engines called for a strap to rotate the engine after loosening or removing an engine mount to replace the spark plugs and or the spark plug wires.

Been there and continue to be the family mechanic!  Good on you.

I know the later lumina and Buicks were like that.

Sent from my Twisted Mind Of The Mudman

[goodfellow]

Not four days after I did this job, a great tutorial of the same repair (actually same vehicle and color to boot) was posted on YouTube by "Rainman Ray". Granted, it took me 7 hours (which included thoroughly cleaning the back of the engine), but this guy makes it look soooooo much easier. Just goes to show the difference between the experienced and organized professional mechanic vs. a DIY guy like myself who does a job like this once in a blue moon. I'm also amazed that his back held up through this job --- ahhhh youth!! 

watch this young man in action -- he's really good.

[slip knot]

I've been a fan of Rainman Ray for quite some time. Glad he finally broke out on his own.