How to Change a Valve Cover Gasket

[ereeves116]

This was written for a Valve Cover gasket on an LC Accent but this applies to any car, any gasket.

first off, at least on the Alpha, you need to take off the timing belt cover with a 10mm socket


once removed, it'll look like this


Then take off the valve cover, again, these bolts are 10mm and you'll need an extension for your rachet


once removed, it'll look like this


even with all the bolts taken out, you may need to pry the valve cover off. take a flat head, insert it under the cover, and gently pry it off. i found the best place where we took the timing belt cover off. be careful NOT to mar the metal here, it needs to stay as smooth as possible.


You'll see the gasket here on the valve cover. in most cases it should be black and silicon. i didn't take a picture of the removal but run a flathead along it to remove it. you'll need to take a razor blade or anything else you can think of to take the original gasket COMPLETELY off. you don't want ANY of the original gasket to be left. take it off the valve cover, and the block.




you may find it necessary to sand the metal to make it smooth in case it got dinged or cut in any places. once both surfaces are completely clean, either lay your new gasket in (i believe you need a gasket sealer also, but i've never done it this way), or as i prefer, use a silicon gasket maker. if you're confused on the type to get, ask someone at the store and they should help you out.

With the gasket maker apply an even bead of silicon around the whole groove. make sure it is large enough to bubble out from the groove, but not too much. it will seep out from under the cover as you reinstall it. let it cure for a bit as per the instructions and then reinstall. do not tighten the bolts TOO much or the cover may crack depending on how old it is.

ALSO, i cannot stress how important it is to keep things out of the engine at this point. anything that falls into the motor will cause serious problems so do your work away from the engine and cover the valves to keep dirt and dust out when you aren't working on it.

Good luck. anyone else feel free to chime in with anything also

[Coal_forge]

about those bolts
when removing the valve cover
take the bolts out starting with the corner bolts and work your way in

say there is 8 bolts on the valve cover

1-2-3-4 <these are the bolts (intake side)
5-6-7-8 < exhaust side

Remove the bolts in this order/pattern
1,8,5,4,2,7,6,3

When re intalling install the bolts in reverse order
3,6,7,2,4,5,8,1

Crazy huh... there is a reason for the madness... keeps the gasket from buckling upwards.


oh and torque the bolts to proper specifications in that order.

[wyt_assassin74]

torque the bolts? and im going to video this precedure to help anybody else out and to also see if i did anything wrong so you guys can spot it!! Thanks much everybody!! and expecially ereeves i would be lost without you guys. I respect the wise very much and the ability to learn is the ability to listen and take advice not think you know everything. Not directing it to anybody but thats what i learned much love!!

Now one more thing before i get started is there any possible way i can get most the rust out of the engine bay and part and completely clean it up ? i want it to look pretty much like new or am i screwed? I am willing to do any amount of hard work just gotta know how to do it properly thanks guys once again!!

[ls33]

how do you torque bolts?

[ereeves116]

torque wrench

[whitegoose]

good write up, should come in handy. i think my girlfriends is leaking around there too. whats the torque spec on the valve cover bolts?