by Daniel J. Gansle

Created on: August 28, 2008

Two major culprits for your car's oil leak are the oil pan gasket and the valve cover gasket. The oil pan gasket seals the oil inside the oil pan where your engine oil resides. This is located underneath the car and is a bit trickier to change. However, the valve cover gasket is fairly straightforward to change and can save you upwards of $150 in materials and labor costs as opposed to having your mechanic perform the work.

Identifying a leaky valve cover gasket is quite simple. The gasket sits between the engine's head and the rectangular valve cover, right in the middle of the engine compartment. If you see wet oil around the valve cover where it meets the head, that's a telltale sign of a leak.

Valve covers differ per each car. Some have spark plugs going into them, and others are essentially free of clutter. While we can't speak to each and every make and model, here are the basic steps to changing out the valve cover gasket.

What you'll need:

New gasket
Acetone or Lacquer Thinner
Gasket Scraper
Room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone sealant
Rags

1) Disconnect the battery cable from the negative battery terminal.

2) Disconnect any items in your way: these could be spark plugs, PVC hoses, air ducts, plug wires, throttle cable, etc. Push the items to the side.

3) Using your socket wrench, loosen the nuts around the valve cover.

4) Remove valve cover, taking care not to pull or tug at any wires or cables. Note: do not pry off the cover using a screwdriver; this could mar the surface and lead to irreparable oil leaks. If the valve cover becomes difficult to remove, try using a block of wood and a hammer to bump it in an attempt to jar it loose. If that doesn't work, try slipping a plastic putty knife between the head and the cover to break the seal.

5) Remove the valve cover gasket and inspect. Note its stiffness and wear; this is normal deterioration from the engine's heat.

6) Using your rag, wipe the grime off the engine head. Note: be careful to avoid wiping dust, dirt, or bits of metal or gasket into the engine. If you do, it may be circulated through the engine and cause damage.

7) Using your gasket scraper, remove all traces of old gasket.

8) Using your acetone or lacquer thinner, wipe remaining oil from the head surface. Let dry.

9) Apply RTV silicone sealant to the gasket and the engine head.

10) Lay the new gasket in the groove inside the valve cover.

11) Reinstall the valve cover.

12) Tighten valve cover gasket bolts. Do not overtighten as this could break the seal.

13) Reinstall wiring, hoses, air ducts, etc.

14) Re-attach negative battery cable to battery terminal.

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