Maybe I should've posted an intro, but I've done it so many times on other forums I'm over it so I'll just kill 2 birds with first post.

Hi, I'm Dawly. I live in San Diego and currently own a 98 montero sport XLS. My main car specialty is the 3rd gen Toyota Supra. There done. lol.

Thread starting...

The valve cover gaskets on these cars are such a pain. It took me 1.5 days and lots of beer to get it done. Sadly, today I have to do it again because it's leaking from the opposite side because more than likely of the beer. lol.

Here's a couple pics while I get back to working on it.











Thanks for looking and reading. I'll update

- Dawly

Welcome to the Wire!

Is that a 3.5L?

Cheers,
Russell

I think it is the 3.5L. It looks identical to my 1997 SR also with the 3.5L.

Count the valves. That looks like a 12v 3.0.

I like to run a bead of rtv in the gasket groove in the valve cover. Make sure you put a smear of rtv at the "corner" where the rear and front cam bearing hump rises off the flat part of the head valve cover gasket surface. If you don't, you are almost sure to get a leak there.

It's just the 3.0 V6.

Well, I got it back together after tearing it apart for the second time. It's easier than the first. This time it took only half a day even though my high school buddy stopped by(whom I haven't seen in 10+years).

I did put some RTV around the driver's side gasket since it leaked after replacing it with a new one.

As of right now there's no leak, but tomorrow who knows since I fired it up and went to Carl's Jr and got a burger 20mins ago. It stalled at the driv-thru but when I got home I adjusted the throttle cable and that seemed to do the trick for now.

I still smell some oil burning. I got home from work today and I still see little drips of oil on the alternator. Does anyone have any clues to where oil on the passenger side block is leaking from?

Could it be from the camshaft seal?

John B.

.... I'm not really sure. It's really difficult to see in the area. I'll try to take a few pics and maybe spray some brake cleaner to get all the dirt off and watch for leaks.

Wow, so definitely oil burning from a leak. While at a stop light I can clearly see smoke coming from the right side. I gotta find this annoying leak. I see some lines near the alternator so I'll start with replacing those.

grrr. figured it out. Rear main seal. Looks like I'm going to be pulling a tranny soon.