Valve Cover Gasket Replacement Cost
The valve cover, not to be confused with the head gasket, is a piece of plastic or metal, and is designed to cover the top of the cylinder head, essentially sealing the surfaces found between the valve cover(s) and the cylinder head(s). This part will help prevent the motor oil from leaking out as it travels through the valves, rockers and the camshafts. In addition, many vehicles will have many of its spark plug ports sealed by the valve cover gasket as well.
If you’re finding oil leaking, which is producing a burning-like smell, coming from a valve gasket cover beneath the hood, then it needs to be replaced before the oil leaks start to damage other engine components such as coolant hoses, spark plugs or in extreme circumstances — a fire due to the oil leaking into the exhaust manifolds.
The reported valve cover gasket replacement costs
The costs of a valve cover gasket replacement, as with any car repair, will greatly depend on the car you drive and the mechanic/dealership you take into. From our research, the costs of the repair, including both the parts and labor, will be in the $125 to $350 range.
In some cases, however, your luxury brands, such as BMW or Lexus, can be double this amount, but this is often the case with most car repairs.
With so many differences in prices based on the vehicle you drive, we searched the Internet for popular brands and included the costs we had researched and found in the table below:
| Vehicle | Reported Price |
|---|---|
| Audi A6 | $325 |
| BMW X5 | $359 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1600 | $125 |
| Ford Explorer | $225 |
| Ford F-150 | $255 |
| Ford Focus | $125 |
| Ford Fusion | $225 |
| Honda Accord | $175 |
| Honda Civic | $145 |
| Honda CR-V | $165 |
| Jeep Liberty | $185 |
| Kia Sorento | $175 |
| Mini Cooper | $180 |
| Nissan Altima | $175 |
| Nissan Xterra | $155 |
| Toyota 4Runner | $180 |
| Toyota Camry | $125 |
| Toyota Corolla | $125 |
| Toyota Sienna | $325 |
| VW Passat | $375 |
Now, as for the parts, the cost, like the repair, will greatly depend on the make and model of your vehicle, but most parts, regardless of this, will be in the $10 to $35 range. On Amazon.com, for instance, the best selling parts retail for about $15 to $40, whereas AutoZone has .
YourMechanic, via its mechanics in its system, state the average estimate can be anywhere from as little as $149 to as much as $655.
How does a valve cover gasket work?
This valve cover sits atop of the cylinder head, and the valve cover gasket, generally molded from rubber and designed to specifically fit this area, is sandwiched between the two, allowing to the oil to circulate. In most cases, when this part is deemed faulty, the spark plug gaskets, part of this part, will need to be replaced at the same time as well.
The repair process
The bolts holding the valve cover together will first be tapped loose in order to access the gasket. Depending on the vehicle setup, any hoses, cables and other electrical connectors, which attach to the valve cover will be removed as necessary.
Next, the spark plugs will be removed and the tubes will be inspected for any signs of oil pooling. If any oil is noticed, then each tube will be cleaned with a washcloth, often attached to a screwdriver. If any of these spark plugs are in poor condition, then the mechanic will replace the spark plugs at this time.
Once the spark plugs are back in place, the valve cover will be removed, exposing the gasket. At this time, the old gasket will be removed and the cover, while its often, will be cleaned with a brake cleaner and dried with a rag. Next, the mating surfaces on the engine will be wiped down and any traces of old sealant on the timing belt cover-to-cylinder head will be cleaned as well.
When all the parts are cleaned and dried, new vulcanizing (RTV) sealant will be applied to the same locations and the new gasket valve cover will be installed, followed, lastly, by bolting down the valve cover.
Symptoms of a poor valve cover gasket
In most cases, oil leaking down the side of the valve cover tends to be the largest red flag. As oil is acidic, it can begin to eat away at anything plastic or rubber, putting other parts in jeopardy if you ignore the problem.
Via a visual inspection, the gasket, which seals the spark plug port, can begin to look “weaker” than it should, and over time, if left ignored, can lead to an oil leak, which can cause multiple issues as we mentioned.
Debris and oil found around the valve cover can often indicate a faulty part.
A slight or burning oil smell may come from beneath the hood when the engine is running.
Tips to know
While there is no “set” interval when this part will go bad, the part, eventually, will degrade to a point where it will begin to leak. In most cases, the leak, when it starts slow, may be noticeable during a normal servicing appointment, making it easy to repair before it gets out of hand.
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Average Reported Cost: $0
