Valve Cover Gasket?

[mdominic]

My mechanic told me that I should replace the Valve Cover Gasket because it is leaking oil.

I read on here that a lot of people had loose bolts. I checked mine and they could be turned with my fingers. So I tightened them and cleaned off the leaked oil.

HOW LONG will it take to see new oil leakage if they do indeed need to be replaced?

 

[nc-grayson]

Depends on how bad the leak was, and ultimately if the loose bolts were your only cause of leakage.

Oil spreads everywhere, so a small amount looks like quarts.

Just give it a day or so and look again

 

[animator]

How tight did you tighten them? Reason for asking is because if they're too tight, in addition to needing new seals, you'll need new covers as well...


FWIW, I tightened mine down to spec after they started leaking and it helped a lot. Seals still need replacing, but it'll get me by another year...

 

[mdominic]

How tight did you tighten them? Reason for asking is because if they're too tight, in addition to needing new seals, you'll need new covers as well...


FWIW, I tightened mine down to spec after they started leaking and it helped a lot. Seals still need replacing, but it'll get me by another year...

I read that the cover was easily broken. I didn't tighten them with force. I just made them snug.

 

[ocreptileguy]

If your going to dive in and tighten the bolts save your self a lot of grief and replace the gaskets.
Along with the following:
Spark plugs and wires
Spark plug tube seals
Pcv valve and grommet
Re-seal half moons
Cam shaft plugs
Intake plenum gaskets
And get yourself the TRD supercharger throttle body gasket (it's O shaped as opposed to D)
Since you will be taking of vacuum lines spend the couple dollars and replace them as well.