How to Seat a Valve Cover

Working under the hood of your car can often lead to stress. However, seating a valve cover is a job you can do under the hood of your car and enjoy yourself. Replacing a valve cover yourself can stop an oil leak, keep your car running properly and out of the shop.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Valve cover
• Gasket seal
• Bolts
• Torque wrench

1. Take a good look at everything under the hood before you start your project. Inspect your cam journals for pits and other damage. Also, check your timing belt for wear.
2. Clean off all remnants of the old gasket material before replacing the head gasket and seating the valve cover. If you do not need to replace the head gasket, just remove the valve cover.
3. Apply gasket seal to both sides of the gasket. Gasket seal is a black, sticky substance that comes in a tube.
4. Line up the holes for the bolts by sight. Once you get one or two in place, the rest should easily follow.
5. Install bolts on each of the four sides of the valve cover. Torque all of the bolts into place using a torque wrench.
6. Seat the valve cover tightly and evenly to prevent oil leakage. Remember that you must be precise in torquing your bolts, as over-torquing or under-torquing can cause seepage. Consult your owner's manual for your car's requirements.