HELP!!!! Valve Cover Gasket Help please everyone.

[simo711]

Okay. I've posted help about this a few times and not many answers come back to me. I'm basically new at this stuff. And my valve cover area where the gasket is, is leaking very very small oil amounts from it.<P>I have the fel-pro gasket for my car, now what the hell do I do? The people at autozone said I don't need to buy any sealant since that is what the gasket it basically, a sealant.<P>If anyone could lead me 100% through this, I would be greatful. Barry, Jeff, anyone please.<P>Thank you so so much, Chris

[Custommx3]

Well, is this a rubber gasket or a cork one? DOHC? YEar?<P>once you tell me that then I can tell what to do next.<BR>You will need a small torque wrench , and look in the shop manual jeff has put online, and look at the screw tightening order. Torque it down to the specs suggested and thats it, I did mine in less than 5 mins..

[bslenderpeak]

I've seen you post this a bunch of times what is the problem? Here is Exactly what you do(how about a good rating for it?) You have a DOHC 4cyl(forgot the year) Take the valve cover off and clean every spec of the mating area. Any residual gasket sealer(there should probably be some around the corners)HAS TO COME OFF. clean oil off of gasket take the gasket out of the ridge in the valve cover and clean everything up dry use lacquer thinner on head and valve cover don't use it on the rubber! and you might as well clean the inside of the cover it makes the job cleaner. OK now take some gasket sealer and use it around these areas: <P>use it over the cambearings on the pass. side just a medium thin film over smooth area, then JUST A LITTLE heavier where bearing caps meet the flat spotaround the edge don't over do it. do the same for the distributor hole, go over the top of the hump with a medium thin film and leave it a little heavier where it goes from hump to flat. Also you will want to leave a medium film around the immediate area around the spark plug holes 1/8 inch wide. Using your finger apply a medium thin film all around the edge on the head(not the valve cover) put your gasket back into the groove on the valve cover then put the valve cover on the car. Instead of torquing it right down just push down on it lighty. You want the surfaces to meet while it's all still wet but you don't want to squish it all out. Wait 7 or 8 minutes and the tighten the valve cover bolts evenly.

[renef]

I have a SOHC MX3 and all I do is take off the old gasket and pop in the new one. It's rubber and it should seal itself without any additional gunk to seal it.<P>...ahhhh! Did you tighten the bolts in the correct order?<P>did you use the correct torque?<P>And finally (Jeff, this should be worth extra credit), your oil leak may not be from the valve cover! You should check the O-ring for the distributor cap housing. Notorious oil leaker.<P>...If I'm right, you owe me a strip-o-gram.<P>-RF

[bslenderpeak]

right on with the O-ring renef. I also don't have the SOHC so things are a little different I'm sure. When I did my timing belt though I replaced the gasket on my DOHC and had leaks around the cam gears and the distributor. After looking in my book(the same as the online one) it said to go ahead and use gasket sealer on three little spots and for me it worked so I was happy.