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Valve Cover Gasket Sets

By User:AllieCashel @timeAndDate(1279219006) When your engine is burning unnecessary amounts of oil it may as well be burning money. Watching your money burn away can be aggravating, but what can be even more frustratingyourself" car person to drive to the garage. If you're struggling with this same issue, take a moment to check your valve cover gasket right where it meets the cylinder valve. Although it isn't always easy to see, this is one of the most common locations of these leaks, and its replacement can prevent another trip to the car shop.

What They Do

Underneath the valve cover, intake and exhaust valves push oil through the engine at rapid rates while your car is running. The constant motion of these metal valves requires more oil to help with lubrication. It's the valve cover gasket's role to keep that oil inside the valve and out of the engine of your vehicle. Over time, the valve cover wears down and oil begins to leak out of the plastic ring. Because these rings are so small, and because the leaks are only visible when the car engine is running, this is often the mysterious cause of your falling oil gauge.

Replacing Your Valve Cover Gasket

Once you locate the leak, replacing your valve cover gasket on your own can be quick and cheap. Buying a gasket set is a good way to make sure that you have all the necessary supplies before you start the replacement process, but remember, before you buy a new set, make sure that your car company doesn't make one specifically for your make and model of car! After your purchase, take a look at the following steps for some help during the replacement process. * '''Step 1''': Before you replace anything, try gently cinching down the valve cover bolts using a torque wrench. Although overtightening bolts will not stop bad gaskets from leaking, if your gasket is just loose this could solve the problem. If your oil is still leaking after you tried to tighten the gasket, move on to step number two. * '''Step 2''': Turn off your engine and allow it to cool (now that you know where the leak is, a running engine is no longer necessary). Once it's cool, remove all throttle cables, PVC hoses and anything else in the way so that you have clear access to the valve cover. Once the area is clean, remove the bolts holding the gasket cover in place. Remember to always check your car manual to see if there is any specific process you need to follow to remove this part. * '''Step 3''': Lift off the valve cover, being very careful not to drop anything else into the engine. If a valve or nut is lost, you're going to have a lot more work to do. Mobil.com suggests that you tent the rest of the engine with old newspaper to prevent this from happening. * '''Step 4''': Remove the old valve cover gasket and replace the new one. This should be as simple as snapping all of the materials from your new gasket kit right back into the places that the old ones were. If you are having trouble doing so, there may be some oil build up in the positions, scrape off the excess oil with a plastic scraper. * '''Step 5''': Apply silicone only if your car manual or replacement kit calls for it. Make sure the whole system is clean before you replace the valve cover. * '''Step 6''': Bolt the valve cover into place. Start up your engine and, if you have no leaks, you're good to go!

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