What does the valve / rocker cover gasket do?
Modern engines utilise several gaskets in order to keep the motor’s interior sealed. An important gasket is the valve or rocker cover gasket, which sits between the cylinder head and its valve cover. The role of the rocker / valve cover gasket is to prevent oil leaking from the valve train assembly between the cylinder head and the valve cover, thus preventing oil from leaking out of the engine as you drive.
Over time, the valve cover gasket will be subject to continuous heating and cooling. This can eventually cause it to harden, perish, split, wear and fail. Problems such as hardening of the valve cover gasket can cause the valve cover to come loose from the cylinder head. This can cause leaking oil, which can seriously damage your engine if left unnoticed. A lack of oil can create excess friction inside the engine, resulting in parts wearing much more quickly. It can also leak onto your exhaust system, producing toxic fumes, a fire risk and embarrassing / frustrating oil stains on driveways or where ever you park.
Causes of valve cover gasket problems >
Depending on the severity of the oil leak, you can simply top up your engine with oil. However, this does not fix the cause of the problem. A valve cover gasket replacement will keep the oil in your engine, meaning you won’t have to regularly fill it up.
Symptoms of a leaking valve cover gasket:
- Visible oil leaks – When the valve cover gasket leaks, you may notice oil appearing on the valve cover or cylinder heads. It may also leak onto the spark plugs or from underneath your car where ever you park you car.
- Burning oil smell – Since the engine exhaust manifold and surrounding components reach very high temperatures, oil can burn when it touches them. This can produce a noticeable burning smell and the risk of fire under your bonnet
- Oil warning light – If enough oil leaks from your engine, the oil warning light will appear on your dashboard. This is your car’s way of warning you that there isn’t enough oil left to properly lubricate the engine. This can lead to severe damage to your cars engine, and if left too long could require an engine replacement.
- Engine misfiring – If oil leaks from the valve cover get onto the spark plugs and their associated leads and coils, it can affect their ability to ignite the air/fuel mixture in your engine. This can lead to engine misfires, increased fuel consumption, increased exhaust emissions / harmful green house gases, as well as reduced engine performance.
Misfire inspection and diagnostics >
New Valve / Rocker Cover Gasket Installation & Replacement in Hamilton
Is your car in need of a new valve / rocker cover gasket? If so, we can help! At Grimmer Motors, our team of experienced mechanics can fix your engine’s oil leaking problem. We can do this by washing down the oil oil and dirt from your engine, then replacing your old, damaged valve cover gasket with a new one. This will prevent damage from occurring in your engine over time due to insufficient oil, and those embarrassing oil stains on the driveways.
For valve / rocker cover gasket replacement in Hamilton, contact Grimmer Motors today!