On a V-type engine, the leaking oil usually just drips down the side of the engine (and onto your driveway) and turns into black muck. On a four-cylinder engine, it can actually leak into the spark plug tubes and cause misfires. Replacing the gaskets on a V-type engine is a job for the pros but the valve cover gasket replacement cost on a four-cylinder engine is less expensive and can be done in about an hour. When peeling off the old gasket, a good tip is to clean the valve cover with
brake cleaner and clean rags. This helps to fully dissolve any remnants of old adhesive. Use the plastic putty knife (never metal) to remove any traces of old RTV from the timing belt cover-to-cylinder head. Catch the old RTV with a rag so it doesn’t fall into the engine. Once the cover and mating surfaces are clean and dry, apply new RTV in the same locations and install the new gasket. Valve cover gaskets are designed to seal “dry,” so don’t apply sealant to the face of the gasket.
