Valve Cover Gasket? -maybe-

BadSax

BadSax

enjoys 3 martini lunches
Hi :D

Ok, so I seem to be getting a little oil down in the back spark plug wells on both side of the motor (engine?) [whatever] on the grey car...

So here come the litany of questions... :D

What are the gaskets I need called?
Are they the same as the valve cover gaskets? (all one thing?)
-if not, should I replace all of them anyway?
And the most important question... is this a job I can do? :D :D :D

Thanks! :D
 
FWIW, I didn't replace mine one time I did the passenger side. I just cleaned everything and resealed it with the old gaskets and a Permatex sealant.

The gaskets should be available as a kit at most parts places which includes the "donuts" which seal around the spark plug wells.

You can do it but beware that the drivers side is a PITA to do.

Use Hi-Temp silicone on both sides of the gasket. Permatex used to make a special sealant (Hylomar?), but they discontinued it.

A torque wrench and proper tightening sequence is recommended upon reassembly.
 
I was lucky and found a complete set of Fel-Pro valve cover gaskets in the trunk of a Continental at the junkyard. They let me have it for free. Looked it up when I got home and they go for about $50 a set from the parts places.
 
i guess new. when i did mine the manual says to add a dab of silicone at the 2 spots where the front cover meets the heads. The manual did not mention adding silicone on both sides of the gasket. I said 4 earlier but it is 2. tehre are 4 spots on the oil pan.
 
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Haha Jay...so random!
 
if you remove the driverside 13 mm bolt from the motor mount, changing the driverside valve cover gasket is very easy after using a jack to lift the driverside of the motor up a little. if you try without removing the bolt, it can be done but i learned it was something i wished i never touched! when i swapped on my powdercoated valve covers i had the driverside cover off in 15 minutes it was a breeze.
 
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Says the guy a guy that can turn a complete Mark 8 into a shell in 2 hours.....
 
when i put my chrome valve covers on my 98 lsc, i had never removed valve covers in the car, it took me 40 minutes to take the pass side off and put new one on, it took me 8 hours on the driverside, removing the master cylinder, wiper cowel, hood, distribution box, wire harness's, the battery, power steering res and bracket, omg it was a nitemare, i went at it completely different when i did them on my current 97, took me about 4 hours total to remove and replace both valve covers and the entire intake!! it was worth it for the look i have now i think.
lightningandfreshdetailpics003.jpg
 
beerdog said:
i guess new. when i did mine the manual says to add a dab of silicone at the 2 spots where the front cover meets the heads. The manual did not mention adding silicone on both sides of the gasket. I said 4 earlier but it is 2. tehre are 4 spots on the oil pan.
Click to expand...

Again, I re-used my old gaskets. I used the Permatex product to 'glue' them to the valve cover and then a light film of high-temp silicone on the other surface.
 
Ok... :confused:

So... I can reuse the gaskets...?
(I think if I'm going to bother taking the valve covers off, might was well use new ones)

I need to jack the motor up to take the driver's side cover off?
(cause that doesn't sound like something "I" do...)
 
Well, if Jay found a complete set of gaskets in the trunk of one in a junkyard, I'd have to guess somewhere between "hard" and "impossible." :D
 
BadSax said:
Ok... :confused:

So... I can reuse the gaskets...?
(I think if I'm going to bother taking the valve covers off, might was well use new ones)

I need to jack the motor up to take the driver's side cover off?
(cause that doesn't sound like something "I" do...)
Click to expand...

Yes, if you go to the trouble, I'd use new gaskets.

The best way is to jack up the side of the motor that you're working on. And no, Joe, I don't think it's a job that you should tackle alone.
 
Joe, for what it is worth I have had leaky wells for years now, mostly the front 2, the back two get moisture, I just clean them out on occasion, like once a year. I don’t know if it has any negative impact, mine are not drowning in oil, maybe yours are. I guess it is something you should fix but I don’t know if it is something you must fix. :confused:
 
Mine were "drowning" in oil.... I think only the middle 4 (2 each side) didn't have a LOT of oil in them. But all had some. I did have a helper...rephrase that - I did help!

It was a PITA! Didn't remove the motor mounts or their bolts. Used a length of 2X4 and jacked the motor up and away from the brake booster......cover lifted right off.
 
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