- 1). Remove the leaking valve cover. There may be vacuum hoses or wires that need to be removed to gain access to the valve cover. Refer to a service manual and follow removal procedures. In the event that a manual is not available, label the hoses and wires with tags or use a digital camera to take pictures for future reference.
- 2). Scrape the mating surfaces clean of the old gasket material. Wipe the surfaces with lacquer thinner to ensure they are oil-free. Be patient and very thorough. Clean mating surfaces are essential to a good gasket seal.
- 3). Apply a thin coat of gasket sealer to the valve cover and lay the gasket on the sealer. Make sure that it aligns and bonds, and then invert the cover and let it sit on a flat surface until the sealer tightly holds the gasket in place. Maneuvering the valve cover into tight places can dislodge a poorly adhered gasket. If the gasket is rubber, do not use any sealer. Follow the gasket maker's instructions for installation.
- 4). Install the cover and tighten down the bolts. Do not excessively tighten the bolts and deform the gasket. This will create a leak. Start the car and let it warm up. Check for leaks.
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