Symptoms
Loud ticking from the top end (loose valves), or poor running and burned valves (tight valves, which are the ones to worry about).
The fix, step by step
- Warm the engine.
- With it idling, use go/no-go feeler gauges to find the tight and loose valves.
- Shut down and adjust only those: turn the engine until a cylinder's intake valve has just closed, rotate a few degrees more, then set both valves for that cylinder.
- Valve layout front to back is E-I-I-E-E-I-I-E-E-I-I-E.
- Pulling the spark plugs makes turning the engine by hand easier, and a long screwdriver in the plug hole finds top dead center.
- Use the clearances in your service manual.
Tools & part numbers
- Feeler gauges (fresh ones; soft gauges bend)
- 17 mm wrench (a 17/19 mm socket-ended flex wrench helps)
- new valve cover gasket and acorn-nut washers
Where to buy the parts
Valve cover gasket, FJ40/45/55 1958–74Cruiser Corps ↗Amazon ↗
Valve cover gasket, FJ40/45/55 1975–80Cruiser Corps ↗Amazon ↗
Valve cover gasket, FJ40/45/60 1980–87Cruiser Corps ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.