A car ride where you notice engine misfires and a burning oil smell signals a faulty valve cover gasket.
But what’s the role of this gasket in your engine block?
And how does it develop a leak?
Let’s understand the valve cover gasket in detail and explore a few symptoms indicating a leak. We’ll also review the steps to replace the faulty valve cover gasket and its potential costs.
This Article Contains:
- What Is a Valve Cover Gasket?
- 6 Symptoms of a Leaking Valve Cover Gasket
- How to Replace a Leaky Valve Cover Gasket
- How Much Does a Valve Cover Gasket Replacement Cost?
- 3 FAQs on Valve Cover Gaskets
What Is a Valve Cover Gasket?
The valve cover gasket is a vital engine component that acts as a seal between your car’s cylinder head and the valve cover. This gasket ensures the engine oil doesn’t leak from the cylinder head. It is typically made of either silicone, rubber, plastic, or cork.
A properly sealed gasket ensures your car has enough engine oil to lubricate essential parts such as the piston pins, crankshaft bearings, and valves. However, constant heat exposure and engine debris can cause the gasket to develop a small leak, which can eventually contribute to a low oil level.
But how do you determine the valve cover is leaking oil?
Let’s find out.
6 Symptoms of a Leaking Valve Cover Gasket
Here are a few telltale signs of a faulty valve cover gasket:
- Low engine oil: A car with a gasket leak won’t have enough oil for lubrication, increasing friction amongst the engine block parts. Gradually, your vehicle will overheat and stop working altogether.
- Frequent oil changes: If you observe that you’ve been getting oil changes more often than needed, there might be a valve cover leak.
- Burning oil smell and smoke from the engine: When leaking oil spills over hot engine parts like the exhaust manifold, it heats up. After a while, you’ll notice a burning smell and smoke emitting from under the hood.
- Engine misfire: A valve cover oil leak can cause fluids to spill into the spark plug wells and soak the plugs, meaning they won’t ignite properly. This may lead to engine misfires or loss of power during acceleration.
- Rough-running engine: Without sufficient oil, the metal components will start rubbing against each other, creating friction. Eventually, the increased friction will overheat the engine, making it run rough.
- Oily and dirty valve cover: Normally, the valve cover gasket area is supposed to be clean. However, if the gasket is damaged or leaking oil, you’ll notice dirt and debris deposits near the valve cover.
Note: An oil pan and valve cover leak often present similar symptoms. So, if you notice oil leakage, call an auto repair mechanic to verify whether an old gasket or pan is causing the leak.
Once the mechanic confirms the source, they’ll fix the leak.
Let’s have a look at the gasket replacement process.
How to Replace a Leaky Valve Cover Gasket
The mechanic will start by checking the oil pan for cracks or tightening the valve cover bolts with a torque wrench. But, if the leak continues, they’ll replace the faulty gasket.
Here’s how they’ll do it:
- Allow the engine to cool off: The mechanic will switch off the car and let the engine cool down completely.
- Access the bad valve cover gasket: They’ll refer to the service manual to locate and access the bad gasket. Then, they’ll remove components such as the engine cover, PCV hoses, electrical connectors, valve cover bolts, and spark plug tubes (in older engines).
- Remove the valve cover: The mechanic will use a rubber mallet (a hammer-like object with a rubber head) to gently tap the valve cover and lift it off with their hands.
- Replace the old gasket with the new one: Next, the mechanic will remove the old unit and clean the spilled oil in the surrounding valve cover gasket area. Then, they’ll fit the new piece into its groove.
- Apply silicone to the new gasket: If your manufacturer recommends it, they’ll apply a silicone sealant to the gasket (otherwise, they’ll skip this step).
- Reinstall the valve cover: Finally, they’ll reinstall the PCV hoses, electrical connectors, bolts, spark plug tubes, and engine cover. Then, they’ll tighten each valve cover bolt using a torque wrench. The mechanic will refer to the service manual for the recommended torque to ensure no bolt is over-tightened.
Note: While working with a rubber, cork, or silicone gasket, mechanics avoid using metal tools to prevent damage. So, while replacing the bad gasket, you’ll mostly notice them using their hands and a torque wrench to tighten the bolts.
Wondering how much installing a new gasket will cost you?
Keep reading.
How Much Does a Valve Cover Gasket Replacement Cost?
On average, a valve cover oil leak repair service will cost around $110 and $340, depending on your vehicle’s make and model. This cost covers:
- New gasket: $10 to $40
- Labor: $100 to $300
If you’re curious about valve cover gaskets, check out these frequently asked questions to learn about them.
3 FAQs on Valve Cover Gaskets
Here are answers to some common gasket-related queries:
1. How Long Does a Valve Cover Gasket Last?
A valve cover gasket can last for 20,000 and 50,000 miles. Unfortunately, it may require a mini repair if:
- It’s incorrectly installed
- The valve cover bolts are over-tightened, which affects the gasket’s shape
However, you’ll need a replacement if:
- It shrinks or expands too much due to changing engine temperatures
- It’s damaged by debris during an oil leakage
2. Is a Valve Cover Gasket Leak Serious?
Yes!
A small leak won’t cause immediate issues, but your car may run out of engine oil if not fixed.
Without enough oil, friction among the moving parts will increase, overheating the car and causing severe engine damage. Eventually, you’ll have to spend extensively on engine repair.
So, you shouldn’t delay replacing a bad valve cover gasket.
3. How to Prevent Valve Cover Gaskets From Leaking?
Here are a few measures you can take to ensure your valve covers last longer:
- Monitor the oil level once a month to ensure there’s no leak
- Replace the gaskets when you see signs of an oil leak or physical damage
- Purchase a good quality valve cover gasket set that can withstand high engine temperatures and chemicals in the oil
Keep the Valve Cover Gaskets Leak-Proof with AutoNation Mobile Service
The valve cover gasket is a crucial engine component that keeps the oil sealed. However, once it cracks or wears, it’ll eventually start leaking. Ignoring its replacement can lead to severe engine damage, which can be dangerous for you.
But if dealing with gasket repairs seems overwhelming, mechanics from AutoNation Mobile Service can come to you and replace the faulty gasket right from your driveway.
We’re a mobile auto repair solution that offers easy online bookings and upfront pricing. We also offer a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty on all repairs, including valve train, exhaust manifold, and transmission repair services.
Contact us to get a valve cover gasket set replacement or any other engine repair.