I'm planning on doing some cleaning/fluid changing soon and I've been wanting to address my valve cover. I believe it's leaking a bit, since when you rub your finger over it, it's really black/oily. I'm just wondering if it's an easy unbolt, swap, bolt. And if there's any other cleaning I can do while that's off. I'd also like to know how easy it is to paint the cover if I wanted to. Would I need to sand or anything? Cover in primer then my paint? And rubber is recommended, right? Opposed to cork.


Thanks

 

It is a simple job, you may need to move some heater hoses to get the cover off. Other than that, just throttle cables to move out of the way and the hoses coming off the pcv valves or whatever those are on top. A few wobble extensions too. Get the rubber gasket, you can use it over and over again and it seals really nice. you can paint the cover, just clean it up and sand/prime/paint like anything else. May need high temp paint iirc.

just make sure not to drop any gunk down inside after the cover is off, i suggest cleaning up around the lip before you remove it.

 

Yes, unbolt, replace gasket, reinstall.

The leaking may be coming from the vent outlet grommets in the top of the valve cover.

 

Great! Sounds simple enough! I was going to go with high temp paint regardless, too.

Oh OK, nice! And I can check the vent outlets when it's taken off right?




Thanks

 

I think you can, I didn't take the time to check when mine was off. the orifice can be cleaned with a paperclip, but to actually replace, i hear it can be a pain. If only the gasket was bad, the top of the cover should be mostly dry while below would always be damp. if the whole thing is oily, im betting both top and bottom are leaking.

 

My trackbar and tie rod do get dirty. They're red, and when I go to clean them, they're black.. Think it's related?

 

I wouldn't think so, the valve covers seep oil instead of a full on leak that drips to the ground. The oil pan gasket is what gets everything under mine all dirty. Still can't tell what is dirty from what, my engine is just now starting to dry up enough to notice after the valve cover gasket was replaced about 500 miles ago lol.