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Replacing a Valve Cover Gasket

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From Quick Guide: All About Gaskets

Summary: Replace a valve cover gasket to prevent gasket leaks and better maintain your car, as our expert mechanic explains in this free car-repair video.

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Presenter
By Mark Blocker
eHow Presenter

Mark Blocker is a semi-retired ASE-certified master mechanic with more than 20 years of automotive experience. He has been a state-certified emissions specialist for more than 15 years...read more

Series Summary

Changing your valve cover gaskets is an important way to keep your car running properly. The valve covers prevent dirt from contaminating your engine oil and the gaskets underneath keep oil from leaking to other parts of the engine, such as the spark plug wires. If you have an engine oil leak for example, it can cause contamination to the outside environment, the loss of oil and the emission of irritating smell through your heating system.

In this series of home car repair videos, our expert mechanic takes you through each step of repairing your valve cover gaskets. He demonstrates how to remove and replace valve cover hoses, spark plug wires and ultimately the gasket itself. Our expert will demonstrate how to clean the valve cover and how to put it back safe and sound. He will also show you how to check for leaks when you are finished with the job.

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Comments  

jimspriggs said

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on 10/17/2009 Thanks, Mark. You put a lot of work into this, and I appreciate your effort a great deal. While my particular situation was slightly different (2000 Eclipse GT) I got a lot of confidence from the information you supplied.

I just did the the front valve cover of my 6 cyl. engine, after a mechanic pointed out that it was leaking oil out one or more of the 3 spark plug tube seals on top of the cover, and then down onto the exhaust manifold to burn up in smoke. I hope the rear valve cover isn't leaking because that looks like a full weekend job--IF I'm even successful--what with all the manifolds, wire and tube gizmos on top of it.

I used the blue Permatex RTV that I still had from years ago (sensor safe!). So I coated the 3 seals and gasket as you advised. Let it be known that the valve cover was extremely difficult to pry off the engine I hope I didn't damage the machined surface of...

nidge1 said

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on 10/18/2008 How do I stop oil from flooding the spark plugs? I installed all four o rings . Should a additional seal be put on over the o rings? This would be for a 1993 Honda Accord.

Tham said

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on 11/20/2008 Anyway, I guess I will have to apply some Permatex on
the rubber. Which do I use, which won't stick on to the
cyliner head perimeter and can be removed easily along
with the rubber next time ?

Might it be the grey type ?

Tham said

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on 11/20/2008 Hello Mr Blocker,

I drive an old 1981 Toyota Corolla KE70, 1,290 cc "4K"
overhead valve engine, Malaysian model.

I was wondering why my engine oil level seemed to be
going down much faster than usual.


Just now, I spotted wet oil oozing out from the rear
part of the engine, or valve, rubber cover. This rubber
had been replaced by the mechanic recently when he
adjusted my tappets.

The oil was leaking on the right side of the rubber, at
the lower part of the 4K's inclination, i.e. the manifolds
side.

This Toyota engine is inclined, towards the right, if viewed
from the front.

Strange, I thought these rubber covers were designed to
seal without gasket sealers. The bolts seemed tight enough.
The mechanic had not applied any gasket sealers.

Anyway, I guess I will have to apply some Permatex on
the rubber. Which do I use, which won't stick on to the
cyliner

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Video Transcript

"Hello! My name is Mark Blocker and on behalf of Expert Village, today we are going to discuss and go over the procedure required for replacing a valve cover gasket. It is important for us to stay with the rising cost of fuel and oil products for us to keep our vehicle maintained and operating correctly. If you have an engine oil leak for example, it can cause contamination to the outside environment, the loss of oil and also irritating smell can come through your heating system. So it is extremely important to keep the vehicle operating correctly and the engine free of leaks. We are going to discuss how to replace a valve cover gasket and stop a valve cover gasket leak. Please stay tuned and watch our next segment on safety. "

eHow Article: Replacing a Valve Cover Gasket

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