OHlexus

Left side of the engine, right above the exhaust manifold



Underneath the plastic engine cover, at the front of where the spark plugs are


1999 GS300

I am a busy college student, so I took my car to a local shop to replace the spark plugs & wires, and exhaust valve cover gasket. I looked it over after I got home and saw these shiny holes, like something used to be there. I had not noticed them when I looked under the hood earlier in the Summer, and given how clean they looked, I reasoned something had to have been there, I just do not know and cannot remember what was there. If anybody could fill me in on what was there, if it was important, if I should go back to the shop and ask them to replace it, etc. I would greatly appreciate it!

Also I apoligize, I could not figure out how to resize the pictures.

KTGS300

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but for the stock GS300 those holes on both of your pictures are not used. I believe a valve cover stud bolt goes into that bottom hole in your second picture for certain version of the 2jz that has a slightly different valve cover.

OHlexus

oh good. So I don't have to worry then? Thank you.
Any idea as to why they would be so clean/noticeable now (when the shop did not really clean the rest of the valve cover)?

KTGS300

They need to clean the mating surface off any debris left behind by the old gaskets so the new gaskets will form a tight seal. So if I had to guess, those places you mentioned are close enough to the area to get the benefit of the clean up job.