If you can see inside the valve cover at the top of a running engine, you will notice a lot of oil splashing around. Over time, the valve cover gasket shrinks, hardens, and begins to leak oil. In an engine, the leaking oil usually drips down the side of the engine (onto the driveway) and turns into black crumbs. But on a four-cylinder engine, the oil leak can seep into the spark plug tube and cause a misfire. Let’s take a look at how to replace a valve gasket on a four-cylinder engine in less than an hour.
Replace the valve gasket on a four-cylinder engine.
Tools needed to replace the valve gasket
- Plastic
- Putty knife
- Rubber hammer
- Socket/ratchet set
- Torque wrench
Materials needed to replace the valve gasket
- Brake cleaner
- Bonnet gasket kit
- Vulcanized (RTV) sealant
Replacement of Valve Gasket Procedure
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Step 1: Remove the valve gasket
Remove the decorative plastic cover on top of the engine (if equipped) and tap the valve cover with a soft-faced hammer to loosen it. Do not pry with metal tools, as this will chisel the aluminum cylinder head and cause a permanent leak. Next, remove and label all hoses, cables, and electrical connectors on the hood, then remove the spark plugs.
If you see any pools of oil in the spark plug tube, clean it with a rag wrapped around a screwdriver. If necessary, replace the spark plug with a new one. Loosen the valve cover and lift it off the engine.
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Step 2: Replace the old gasket
Strip off the old gasket and clean the valve cover with brake cleaner and a clean rag. Then clean the gasket surface on the engine. Use a plastic putty knife (do not use metal) to remove any traces of old RTV from the timing belt cover to the cylinder head. Catch the old RTV with a rag so that no fine foreign matter falls into the engine. Once the cover and mating surfaces are clean and dry, install the new RTV in the same location and install the new gasket. The hood gasket is designed to be a “dry” seal, so do not apply sealant to the gasket surface. Retighten the hood bolts to the correct torque, then reinstall all cables, hoses, ignition assembly, and electrical connectors and start.
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Step 3: Installation
Tighten the valve cover bolts to the proper torque, then reinstall all cables, hoses, ignition assembly, and electrical connectors, then start the engine. Ok, the engine valve gasket installation is complete, did you learn how to do it?
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