How to Supervene upon a Valve Encompass Gasket Leak in iii Steps

Replace the leaking valve cover gasket on a iv-cylinder engine in less than an hour

Introduction

Replace a leaky gasket cover on a iv-cylinder engine easily and in less than an hour for less than $25. We show you lot how to exercise it, step-past-pace.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • Restriction cleaner
  • Valve comprehend gasket kit
  • Vulcanizing (RTV) sealant

What Happens if My Valve Comprehend Gasket is Leaking?

On a Five-type engine, the leaking oil usually just drips down the side of the engine (and onto your driveway) and turns into blackness muck. But 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. Simply the valve cover gasket replacement price on a four-cylinder engine is less than $25 and tin can be washed in about an hour.

Project footstep-past-pace (iii)

Stride 1

Remove the Leaky Valve Gasket Cover

Tap the cover loose fix a valve cover gasket leak

Start the job by removing the decorative plastic embrace on the top of the engine (if equipped). Remove the bolts and tap around the valve embrace with a soft-faced mallet to break it loose. Never pry with metallic tools—they tin gouge the aluminum cylinder caput and cause permanent leaks. Side by side, remove (and characterization) any hoses, cables and electric connectors that attach to the valve cover. Then remove the spark plugs.

If you see any oil pooling in the spark plug tubes, clean information technology out with a rag wrapped around a screwdriver. Get out every bit much gunk every bit you lot tin and then remove and, if necessary, replace the spark plugs with new ones earlier proceeding. Once the new plugs are in, remove the valve cover concord-downward bolts, noting the length and location of each bolt. And then break the valve cover loose and elevator information technology off the engine.

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Step 2

Replace the Former Gasket

install new gasket valve cover

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

Finish off the job past snugging upward the valve cover bolts to the torque specifications in your shop manual. Go along in mind that valve cover commodities specs are usually shown in inch/lbs., not foot/ lbs. To convert inch/lbs. to foot/lbs., simply divide past 12.

Reinstall all the cables, hoses, ignition components and electrical connectors and fire it up.

Keep your engine clean with these tips.

Stride three

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 it was from a leaky valve cover gasket. A valve comprehend gasket cost $twenty and we had it installed in virtually 20 minutes—information technology was really piece of cake.

Just a few weeks subsequently it was leaking again. We didn't know nosotros had to smear silicone sealant over the timing comprehend articulation. We redid the whole job, including the broth step this time, and it's been leak-costless always since.

The best part is, I figure I saved about $100 on valve embrace gasket replacement price! Morgan Larson

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Originally Published: October xv, 2022