![]() ![]() Many high-mileage cars have some "sweating" around the valve cover area which is normal. What will happen if you continue driving with a leaking valve cover gasket? Mechanics use sealant to seal tight spots and corners of the valve cover gaskets. The valve cover gasket is sold as a kit and can be ordered from a dealer, online, or purchased from a local parts store. How easy is it to replace valve cover gasket DIY? If it's a simple 4-cylinder engine, with proper tools and necessary skills, it's a "3" job on the difficulty scale from 1 (easy) to 10 (leave it to pros). If it show signs of leaking and your spark plugs are due for replacement soon, it does make sense to combine both services, as a large portion of labor overlaps.įor example, for the 2012 V6 Ford Edge we mentioned above, replacing all 6 spark plugs together with both valve cover gaskets will add the cost of spark plugs and a small amount of extra labor. It's not necessary to replace the valve cover gasket if it's not leaking. Should the valve cover gasket be replaced as part of a tune-up? For example, in the 2012-plus Ford Edge, the intake manifold needs to be removed to gain access to the rear valve cover bringing the labor cost to 3.1-3.5 hours to replace valve cover gaskets on both banks of the V6 engine. ![]() Replacing valve cover gaskets in a V6 or V8 engine involves more labor. Valve cover gaskets are very common to leak in many Subaru engines. For example in the 2012+ Subaru Forester with a non-turbo engine, replacing a valve cover gasket in a repair shop will cost 1.3-1.5 hours of labor plus the cost of part for one side. In a Subaru "boxer" engine with two separate valve covers it's a bit more expensive. In a simple in-line 4-cylinder engine, the valve cover gasket replacement may cost from 1.0 to 1.5 hours of labor plus the cost of the gasket kit which is not very expensive. How much does the valve cover gasket replacement cost? A valve cover gasket kit (part) cost $20-$65. O-rings that seal spark plug wells are usually included in the valve cover gasket kit. This issue is often discovered during the spark plug replacement. In some cases, a leaking valve cover gasket or O-ring may result in oil getting into the spark plug well. If the engine shows oil leaks, but the source of the leak is not clear, your mechanic may recommend cleaning the affected area and re-checking it in a few days to see where the fresh leak is coming from. How do mechanics diagnose a leaking valve cover gasket? To repair an engine oil leak, the source of the leak must be identified first. There are many other engine components that can also leak oil, including cam and crank seals, front engine cover seal, PCV system, oil pressure switch and other parts. Of course, the valve cover gasket is not the only source of possible oil leaks. Symptoms of a leaking valve cover gasket include oil drops under the engine, burnt oil smell under the hood and visible traces of oil coming down the engine. What are the symptoms of a bad valve cover gasket? If the valve cover gasket is old, it's also often replaced during major engine repairs. When does the valve cover gasket need to be replaced? There are no mileage requirements, the valve cover gasket only needs to be replaced if it leaks. Over time and under high temperatures, the gasket hardens and becomes brittle, which might cause it to leak oil. In most modern cars, the valve cover gasket is made of rubber. The valve cover gasket seals the gap between the valve cover and the cylinder head. ![]()
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