How to Supersede a Valve Cover Gasket Leak in 3 Steps

Replace the leaking valve cover gasket on a 4-cylinder engine in less than an hr

Introduction

Replace a leaky gasket cover on a 4-cylinder engine easily and in less than an 60 minutes for less than $25. We show you how to do information technology, stride-past-step.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Brake cleaner
  • Valve cover gasket kit
  • Vulcanizing (RTV) sealant

What Happens if My Valve Cover Gasket is Leaking?

On a 5-type engine, the leaking oil usually simply drips downward the side of the engine (and onto your driveway) and turns into black muck. Simply on a four-cylinder engine, it can actually leak into the spark plug tubes and cause misfires. Replacing the gaskets on a V-type engine is a job for the pros. Just the valve embrace gasket replacement price on a 4-cylinder engine is less than $25 and can be done in about an 60 minutes.

Project step-by-step (3)

Step i

Remove the Leaky Valve Gasket Embrace

Tap the cover loose fix a valve cover gasket leak

Start the job by removing the decorative plastic cover on the superlative of the engine (if equipped). Remove the bolts and tap around the valve cover with a soft-faced mallet to break it loose. Never pry with metal tools—they tin can gouge the aluminum cylinder head and cause permanent leaks. Next, remove (and label) any hoses, cables and electrical connectors that adhere to the valve encompass. Then remove the spark plugs.

If you see whatever oil pooling in the spark plug tubes, clean it out with a rag wrapped around a screwdriver. Get out as much gunk every bit you can and so remove and, if necessary, supercede the spark plugs with new ones before proceeding. One time the new plugs are in, remove the valve comprehend concord-down bolts, noting the length and location of each bolt. So break the valve embrace loose and elevator it off the engine.

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Step 2

Replace the Old Gasket

install new gasket valve cover

Peel off the old gasket and clean the valve cover with brake cleaner and clean rags. Next, clean the gasket mating surfaces on the engine. Utilize the plastic putty knife (never metal) to remove whatever traces of old RTV from the timing belt cover-to-cylinder head. Take hold of the sometime RTV with a rag then it doesn't fall into the engine. Once the cover and mating surfaces are make clean and dry out, apply new RTV in the same locations and install the new gasket. Valve comprehend gaskets are designed to seal "dry out," and so don't utilise sealant to the face up of the gasket.

End off the task by snugging up the valve cover bolts to the torque specifications in your shop manual. Keep in listen that valve cover bolt specs are commonly shown in inch/lbs., not human foot/ lbs. To convert inch/lbs. to foot/lbs., simply divide by 12.

Reinstall all the cables, hoses, ignition components and electric connectors and fire it upwardly.

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Step 3

Adding Silicone Sealant

new gasket

When my dad and I were changing the spark plugs on my Saturn, we noticed oil leaking around them. My dad said information technology was from a leaky valve encompass gasket. A valve cover gasket cost $20 and nosotros had it installed in about 20 minutes—it was really piece of cake.

But a few weeks later it was leaking again. We didn't know we had to smear silicone sealant over the timing comprehend joint. Nosotros redid the whole chore, including the broth step this time, and it'southward been leak-free always since.

The best part is, I figure I saved near $100 on valve cover gasket replacement cost! Morgan Larson

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Originally Published: Oct fifteen, 2019