valve cover gasket leaks????
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kensmith
valve cover gasket leaks????
The car had been sitting for a few weeks and when I started it up, I noticed some smoke coming off the top of the motor. I looked around the spark plugs and the last plug near the firewall appears to have some oil or fluid around the plug hole. After the motor ran for awhile, it stopped smoking. Must have burned off the oil from around the plug??? So maybe I need a new valve cover gasket as I notice the passenger side valve cover looks a little wet or dirty VS the driver side which is clean and dry. See photos. It looks fairly easy to replace the gasket on the passenger side. I don't think the driver side needs one. Opinions on the problem if valve cover leak or something else? Also, tricks to replacing the gasket if needed? Thanks
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SouthSwedeSpider
Re: valve cover gasket leaks????
If you're lucky, it's only the valve cover gasket that leaks. It's very easy to replace, you'll do it in 15 minutes even if you're inexperienced. Just remove the hoses and leads that are in the way, losen the two bolts and remove the cover. If it's stuck, just take a piece of wood or a rubber hammer and tap gently until it comes loose. Change the cover gasket and the two small gaskets under the bolt heads. Just do not overtighten the new gasket, it may cause the cover to bend, if that has not already happened. In your pictures it seems as if the gasket is creeping out in a few places, suggesting that the cover might have been overtightened after the last gasket replacement. I suggest you check if the cover is warped while you have it off. I believe there is a specified torque for the cover bolts, but I don't have my manual readily available so maybe someone else can come up with that figure.
If you're less lucky, it's the cam box gasket that's leaking. Changing this is much more work, involving a cam belt change and valve adjustment. Try to see if you can locate if the oil comes from the upper cover gasket or the lower cam box gasket. If you're not sure, I'll suggest you change the cover gasket first and see if that helps, since it's such a cheap and easy operation. The cam box gasket change will, in case you don't do it yourself, be much more expensive.
It might also be leaking elsewhere (after all, it's a Fiat), let's see if anyone else has any ideas to come up with.
Good luck!
If you're less lucky, it's the cam box gasket that's leaking. Changing this is much more work, involving a cam belt change and valve adjustment. Try to see if you can locate if the oil comes from the upper cover gasket or the lower cam box gasket. If you're not sure, I'll suggest you change the cover gasket first and see if that helps, since it's such a cheap and easy operation. The cam box gasket change will, in case you don't do it yourself, be much more expensive.
It might also be leaking elsewhere (after all, it's a Fiat), let's see if anyone else has any ideas to come up with.
Good luck!
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azruss
- Posts: 3659
- Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
- Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI
Re: valve cover gasket leaks????
I would get a degreaser and clean up the top of the motor. Now you will be able to see the leak. i'm not seeing anything obvious in the pix.
Not all will agree with the following. When replacing a cork gasket like the valve cover gasket, they are quite easy so squeeze out of place. I glue one side of the gasket with gasket adhesive. the allows you to over tighten a little without squeezing the gasket out of place.
Not all will agree with the following. When replacing a cork gasket like the valve cover gasket, they are quite easy so squeeze out of place. I glue one side of the gasket with gasket adhesive. the allows you to over tighten a little without squeezing the gasket out of place.