i bought this 2001 TL for my wife a few month ago, and it worked fine, untill recently i had some issue with start and stall.
So i had open the hood to check for the FPR, and i found something that looked like oil leaks and splattered all over near the engine block. on looking closely i found an open thread which looks to me like a bolt is missing. Its right below the engine oil fill cap.
Can someone please confirm that there should be a bolt there and it is missing in my car.
Given below are the pictures of the threads with the missing bolt.
I similar photo from your car would be really helpful.

 

That's a Production Line Hole.. Its there so the guys in the manufacturing line can move the Head between stations..
Its not used for anything once in the car.


Oil must be coming from a Valve Cover Gasket failure.

 

Thanks for clarifying this.
As of the gasket, i check the service manual, but did not find anything called valve cover gasket.
I found "Head cover gasket" for the cylinder head cover, two "Cylinder Head Gaskets" for the cylinder head, "Gasket" for the injector base. Which one you are referring to.

Also is it something i can change or i need to give it to the mechanic? what would be the approx cost?

Thanks again.

 

Yes It's confusing, the parts site refers to it as a Cylinder Head Cover. It's really a valve cover.

It's a DIY job that I haven't done yet (but need to do) but I've been assured that it's very easy to do.

Remove your Throttle Body, set aside, remove Intake Manifold, set aside, then you can get the bolts out of your valve covers and replace the gaskets. I've seen really reasonable prices online for the set of gaskets (cheaper than an oil change if I remember). With your intake manifold off you might as well clear out your EGR ports for better fuel economy and power.

Reassemble everything and smile knowing you saved yourself hundreds of $.



If I remember correctly the gasket set comes with #4, #5, and #10. #5 I believe is easier to remove and seal with a special gasket tool (probably dirt cheap at parts store), I'll bet some folks around here can speak to that. But I've heard that usually #5 don't need to be replaced. My car has a leak at #10 front and back.

 

i would say i am an entry level guy, so i hope when you say easy, that would be for me.
I guess i need some special tools, especially the torque wrench, which i dont have.

 

Yep there's plenty of info around here to get it done.

Just make sure you know the torque values beforehand, the torque values on the valve covers are surprisingly low.

 

If you don't know what you are doing- take it to a honda/acura private/small shop
You do want to perform a a valve adjustment as long as you have gone that far- they are under the valve covers~
Important to overall running of a fuel injected engine, and we all need some of them reset to spec by 150,000 miles

also note the rubber seals for the bolts holding valve covers on, those like to dry up and leak too, loose bolts lead to main gasket leaking

 

the intake manifold and throttle body must be removed to reach the covers
Both of those parts need service/cleaning and are critical to running

our EGR passage and port system inside the manifold clogs badly,
needs cleanout every 75kmiles= per our mega moderator with 650,000 miles on his TL!

 

The Valve Cover Gasket is Easy to Replace.. Getting there is the hassle as you need to remove the whole Intake Manifold which is not a big deal just time consuming.


IMO Get the #1 (12030-P8A-A00) Kit which Includes the Valve Cover Gaskets #4 + Spark Plugs Grommets #5 + Valve Cover Bolt Washers #10..
Costs 33 bucks and it ensures you wont repeat this endeavor in a long long time.


And You don't need a special tool to remove the #5, You can remove them with a simple Needle Pliers.

 

adjusting the valves just requires a special GO/ NO GO feeler gauge- 10 bucks, torque wrench from sears 25$ or harbor freight tools 10$ work for the job

Self calibrate the number shown by testing settings before removing any bolts
see where it shows- 15 = 15 or 15 = 19, then you know what to use
reset to same as removed

 

searching for mega moderator car...can you link please ?

 

^ Main Forum: https://acurazine.com/forums/second-...m-i-up-636644/


The thread with the +86K posts.

 

Coming back to this same issue, i have decided to change the Cylinder Head Cover gasket, and in the process, do some other mods, as suggested by some of you.

Given below is the list of part that i would be ordering.
Please check and let me know if i should order any other part or special tool, that would be handy, before i start this project. (remember the car is 270K miles, and i dont know what has been replaced and when)
Please feel free to comment.


1. Cylinder Head Cover Gasket Set, qty.2






2. Throttle Body Gasket
3. IACV Gasket
(others = Throttle Body and Air Intake Cleaner)






4. Intake Manifold Gasket (upper)
5. Intake Manifold Gasket (lower)
(others = Carburetor cleaner for EGR ports cleaning)






6. EGR Valve Gasket
(others = Carburetor cleaner for EGR valve cleaning)






7. Spark Plug, qty.6
(others = spark plug removal socket)






8. Valve Adjustment Feeler Guage

Add anything else that i should be replacing, since i would be opening a lot of stuff anyways.

After this is done, i am planning to order 2 cans of Seafoam and do the treatment. (any hints/tips on that)
Should i do it before this project or after this project (i am thinking after)
From what i read 1 can for the gas tank, 1/2 can for the engine oil (change engine oil/filter in 50 miles) and 1/2 can for the PCV

 

That site is nice because it has everything in one place but I find it doesn't always have the best prices.

For the valve cover gaskets, look at something like this:

Fel-Pro VS50576R - Valve Cover Gasket Set | O'Reilly Auto Parts

here's a write-up on the Valve cover gasket replacement: Link
Pay special attention to the bottom post - the valve cover bolts require a small amount of torque. On our cars the Intake manifold covers some of the bolts for the Valve Covers so you'll have to remove that but it sounds like you'll have yours off anyway.

Regarding the plugs, get NGK Irridium IX plugs - about $7-8 each from O'Reilly. Claims to be better than the NGK Platinums OE that came with our cars, and much better than the extortionate $16/ea from that site. But the head cover gasket set from the oem parts site is a pretty good price.

I know some of the gaskets don't need to be replaced - check with some experts around here. I believe the IM/TB gaskets don't need to be if they're in good condition.

 

Thanks for you quick response, Chojun.

Yes, the site is good, and the price vary. some are cheaper than elsewhere, and some are expensive.
If i am buying multiple items, i would prefer to buy it from one place.

Thanks for the link on gasket removal. i have seen a few other, so this will be helpful too.

i found the Platinum NGK plugs on ebay for $9 each. which is better you think?

As of the IM/TB gaskets, i just want to order those, since the car is 270K miles, and i dont know the condition. if i open and its in bad shape, i dont want to wait for those parts.
Thats the reason i am asking, if i should order anything else that you guys think, before i start the project.

 

I did some checking around, it looks like the TB gasket does need to be replaced if you remove the TB, I'm still not sure on the IM. Some people replace the gasket with a thermoblock. I'm not sure if it makes sense to do that on a '00-'03 model. I'm not an expert in this particular area.

Around here people pretty much universally recommend the Irridium IX plugs. I bought mine for $7 each and my car gave me a big thumbs up My old plugs were about 55K miles overdue.

I'd wait for more advice than mine because compared to others around here I'm really novice.

 

My TB gasket completely disintegrated into a sticky powdery mess when I removed it. It was probably the first time it had been touched in 160k miles though.

 

^ YES!


The TB Gasket OEM will destroy itself when removed.
The Upper and Lower Manifold Gaskets are Aluminum which can be re-used countless of times but the TB? Guaranteed to be damaged.


No need to get 005 and 010! those are RE-USABLE Aluminum Gaskets.

 

Ok, if you say, i will not order the intake manifold gaskets.
i read it somewhere, that it is very common that people put is upside down, and it gets damaged. so i was panning for the worst.

but i will order the 005 and 010; TB and IACV gaskets.

Anything else i should order.

 

Adding to the order list

1. Oil filler Gasket

 

The 010 IACV Gasket can be re-used too. Its actually made of hard rubber which I think might outlast the whole car.

 

The gasket that can be commonly placed upside down is the upper IM cover, it will block an EGR port and you'll get CEL and your car will run like a Ford so it's nothing that will sneak up and bite you down the road - you'll notice right away.

 

nor will it get destroyed.