Can anyone who has changed their own valve cover gaskets, tell me what you used and how you went about tightening/loosening bolts at the bottom?

 

1/4" drive ratchet and a variety of (different length) extensions with either a swivel adapter or a swivel 10 mm socket

 

Gotcha on that!

 

I followed this video when I did mine

 

Yeah I've seen these and they all seem to show after the cover has been removed and not installing them back on the heads. Thanks though!

 

Use genuine Toyota gaskets and apply FIPG where the gasket changes direction. See pic.
Also be mindful of the very low (4.4 foot pounds) torque spec on the valve cover bolts

 

That picture is not of our engines, that's a 4cyl

 

Yep
Just illustrating the point of potential spots for FIPG

 

I'm still amazed that nobody has done this job and created a tutorial. Shops charge 400-500 for this and either folks have paid it or never recorded it until after they pulled the valve covers. Just weird...

 

step 1 remove the positive battery wire
step 2 disconnect all ignition coil packs and the coil packs rubber seal first than remove them and keep in order
step 3 un bolt cables to create room to wiggle the covers off passenger 1 person job, driver side 2 person job (for me) that oil dip stick was a b
step 4 remove all 10mm bolts with a i think its called a 1 foot extension and swivel and two 3 inch extenshions and a short 10mm, use pry bar or screw driver to lift it up, change your spark plugs as well if you need to
step 5 clean valve cover and put the seal on and the new spark plug tube seals
step 6 clean the surface on the head where the cover sits on
step 7 fpig the 2 half moons at the back should be 4 spots
step 8 fpig the front corners
step 9 reassemble and move on to the other side same order

 

Uh I can sorta walk you through it if you want since I have some pictures of when I did mine, it's kinda hard to remember to record everything honestly

 

Once you've tackled this you'll realize removing the old tube seals is by far the most time consuming task. They'll be baked in, hard as a rock, and rather stubborn to remove.
Initially thinking you would do both sides in one endeavor suddenly becomes put the tools away and revisit the second side in a couple days...
It's ok we've all been there the second side goes much quicker after the learning curve.
This is why shops charge 400-500.

 

Good step by step instructions. Thank you!
Pics would be great thanks!
I can imagine the tubes would be petrified at this point as well as the seals. I may have to deal with the other side in a week hahaha! Thanks!

 

the ghetto method I did was to put a 10 mm small wrench on the one side of the hole and rest my screw driver on it so I don’t bang up the metal around the circle and force it put and out with my hand the tube seal will crack in many places just keep going at it than after they are all out pry up the tabs and reseat the new tube seals carefully bend the tabs back down you I did both sides within 4-5 hrs with dad knowledge complications

 

4Litre....Considering the effort required to change the valve cover gaskets, I'd definitely advise using OEM parts for everything needed. Besides following the advice given above, take your time being extra careful in reinstalling the covers, making sure you don't pinch the gasket when reinstalling, Having the gasket adhering properly to the cover before reinstalling should avoid pinching the gasket. Good luck.