Lift the hood and disconnect the battery cable before starting the maintenance. Locate and remove the PCV valve connector clamp and the hose. Locate and disconnect the ignition coil wires and plugs. Locate the valve cover gasket bolts and, using a wrench, remove them. Remove the valve cover gasket.
Remove the old gasket. The gasket may be hard to remove. If you find this to be the case, using a flathead screwdriver, gently nudge the gasket to coax it out of the gasket seating area.
Clean clean the gasket seating area with the automotive engine cleaner, scrub brush and clean cloth rag, clearing it of all debris, oil or other particles that may have been left when the old gasket was removed.
Place the new gasket in the gasket seating area. Replace the valve cover and using the wrench tighten the bolts in sequence, starting in the middle and working outward.
Put the parts back into place by reversing the steps used to remove the parts. Make sure that everything is reconnected. Add oil to the car and start the engine. Allow the car to run idle for 10 to 15 minutes. This will allow the oil to move to the top of the engine, lubricating the parts as it does.
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To know more about gaskets please read as follows:---------------
What is a valve cover gasket?
Valve covers sit on the edge of the engine block covering the very top of the valves or pistons. Directly inside the valve covers and the only visible portion of the valve, the lifters or rockers move up and down with the firing order of the engine. Valve covers insure that your valves retain proper pressure, heat, and oil circulation while the car is running. The valve cover gasket is a thin gasket that goes between the edge of the valve cover and engine block.
Why are they so important?
Valve cover gaskets are important because they create the seal that keeps oil or air pressure from escaping through the valve cover while the car is running. This keeps the car running smoothly, reduces any loss of horsepower, keeps the exterior of the engine and its components free of oil corrosion, and keeps the valves properly lubricated so they don't get warped or destroyed by friction while firing.
How do I know if a gasket needs to be replaced?
When valve cover gaskets need to be replaced, they will typically leak oil and possibly air pressure out the valve covers. This may result in a slight loss of horsepower and the occasional lifter knock noise which indicates improper lubrication. Most often, you realize that you have a bad gasket because they leak oil down onto your engine block, the oil burns and creates a foul and noticeable odor, and you smell that coming in through the vents. It's a good idea to check your engine block at the first sign of the smell of burnt oil. Leaked oil from valve covers can lead to costly engine steam cleaning, corrosion or corruption of other components attached to the engine block, and in extreme cases, the oil can get into the spark plug reservoir and corrode your spark plugs.
Are they easy to replace?
The gaskets themselves are fairly easy to replace. Typically, you wait until your engine has cooled down, remove the bolts on your valve cover, detach parts like respirators and spark plug wire brackets, pull the valve cover off, clean the gasket from the inside with solution and a wire brush as the gasket is usually cooked on, put the gasket sealer around the cover once the cover is clean, affix the new gasket to the sealant, and re-attach the cover to the engine block. The tough part is getting to the engine's valve covers to remove them and actually do the work. In older cars, it was much easier as there were fewer components in the way, but in today's vehicles, there are many parts that need to be moved or removed to access the valve covers.
Are there different kinds of gaskets?
There are different kinds of valve cover gaskets. Premium gaskets are usually made of thicker gasket material and have been tested at higher rates of temperature and pressure. If you are driving a performance vehicle with increased horsepower, it's a good idea to get a heavy duty gasket to accommodate the extra temperature and exertion of pressure on the valve cover. They also have gasket maker which is a compound you place around the rim of the cover and it forms a gasket as it changes temperature and stabilizes. Typically, any dealer, mechanic, or expert will recommend a traditional gasket with a strong, dependable sealant.
