Replaced valve cover gaskets today

[ATS_Aaron]

Noticed some oil leaking from the top of the engine, especially around the coil packs on the back couple of cylinders. When I pulled the coil packs out I discovered a well full of oil. This can cause some serious misfires (but my Epic 22 was running fine). I ordered valve cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals from a 1999 Lexus GS400.

Here are the part numbers:

Left valve cover 11214-0F010
Right valve cover 11213-0F010
spark plug tube seals (you'll need 8 of these) 11193-70010

The valve cover gaskets are easy to replace, you'd just need a 10mm socket, an extension and a ratchet. The spark plug tube seals were a bigger hassle, they aren't easy to remove. There are 4 small metal tabs on the underside of each valve cover that hold them in. I used a flat head screwdriver and a pair of pliers to fold the tabs back.  I used a small hammer to tap a skinny flat head screwdriver between the seal the the valve cover and then used the screwdriver to pry it out. A 32mm socket was used as a seal driver to put the new seals in. Then I folded the tabs back and used a small hammer to straighten them.

I haven't run it much, but hopefully my oil leaks are solved.

See ya,

Aaron

[blindside]

Cool, glad it was an easy fix.  I passed by you next to corinth elementary last week when you where pulling the boat Thursday I think.

Brent

[ATS_Aaron]

I didn't see you. You should have been pulling your boat too. haha

We were either going to or coming from Lake Lewisville to try out the fat sacs that Tre gave me. He lost most of the fittings, but I managed to use garden hose parts from Wal-Mart, haha. The owner previous to Tre put in two reversible jabso pumps and plumbing. I have about 1000lbs in the back locker that fills in about 10 minutes and 440 lbs in the bow walkway that fills in about 5-6 minutes. Plus I put about 170 lbs of sand under the front seats. The wake is GREAT. I added two more "Big Blocks" (150lbs each) to the front and two side sacs (about 200lbs each) on either side of the engine. It improved the wake, but what impressed me was that the wake with just the aftermarket automatic ballast was about 90% as good as the fully loaded wake.

See ya,

Aaron

[cyclone]

You will dig the wake from that boat. It is thick and rich where it counts from 17 to 22 MPH depending on weight. Same basic shape, it's got a cup and it's solid. I like my V drive epic wake now, not totally happy with it. It's not dialed like my E22 wake was. I would put that wake up against any boat it's length for wake size and rideability.  I mean, a 2001 Nautique/superair hull does it's thing, it's just not for me. The Epic wake is rampy with a lip and it's solid. It doesn't boot you straight up like a nautique, Supra or old Xstar, it just kicks you up and across without effort. I've heard that Darin Shapiro had other boats to train behind when he was sponsored by Toyota, I can understand that. He was competing behind those boats. For a RIDER, I really like the Toyota wake, I have given at least a hundred first successful pulls with my Epic boats. That means a lot to me, it's a riders boat. Or a skiiers boat, but it is a true enthusiasts boat. No bling, just function.

[masonlk]

This is the time of the year when I get extremely jealous of you gentlemen living in the south. Talking about going too and from the lake while I sit up here freezing my butt off. Woke up to 36 degrees and tow trucks pulling 3 cars out of the ditches on the way to work this morning. Thank God we'll be in Phoenix and 85 degrees in 24hrs for some sunshine.