Valve cover gasket replacement
The valve-cover gasket is a common source of oil leaks at the top of the engine.
Symptoms
- A smell of burning oil in the cabin, oil streaks on the block.
- Ignition misfires caused by oil in the spark plug wells.
What's included
- The signs are recognisable: a burnt-oil smell in the cabin and oil running down the block; oil in the spark-plug wells also causes coil breakdown and misfires. We replace the gasket together with plug-well seals and inspect the cover: plastic covers often warp, so a new gasket alone does not help. We always check crankcase ventilation: if blocked, pressure forces oil past even new seals, making the replacement only a temporary solution.
Additional checks
- Replacing spark-plug well seals along with the gasket
- Checking ignition coils for oil-caused damage
Why it matters
Plastic covers often warp, so a new gasket alone doesn't fix the problem. A clogged crankcase ventilation system forces oil out even through new seals within a few weeks.
More details
The valve cover gasket is the most common source of oil leaks on top of the engine. The symptom is recognizable: a smell of burnt oil in the cabin and streaks on the block, while oil getting into the spark plug wells damages the coils and causes misfires. We replace the gasket along with the spark plug well seals and inspect the condition of the cover itself — plastic covers often warp on the sealing surface, and a new gasket won't fix that. We always check the crankcase ventilation system: if it's clogged, pressure inside the engine forces oil out even through new seals, and the gasket replacement only lasts a few weeks.
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