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Valve Cover Gasket

This repair is needed when you can oil leaking out of the valve cover. On my car it was the front-drivers side of the cover that was leaking. The part numbers given are for a 1991 2.0L Eclipse...yours may very.

Parts Needed
10mm socket w/ extension bar
Torque wrench (capable of reading 2-3 ft.lbs.)
Valve Cover Gasket (MD 125939 $24)
4-Spark Plug Gaskets (MD 125940 $5.79/ea)
Cam Shaft Seal (MD 050536 $2.80)
Hi-Temp RTV Gasket Sealant
Oil Cap Gasket (MD 311638 $2.98) -Optional

Procedure (see picture)

  1. Remove Top Timing Belt Cover
  2. Remove Oil cap, PCV Valve, and breather hose (above crank angle sensor)
  3. Remove Center Cover (10mm), and all spark plug cables (mark which cable goes where)
  4. Remove the 14 bolts (10mm) holding on the valve cover (8 outer, 6 under center cover)
  5. Remove Valve Cover (mine was stuck so I had to use a rubber mallet to free it)
  6. Remove the semi-circular plug (aka cam shaft seal)
  7. Remove all remaining gasket on block side
  8. Clean both side of the valve cover. I used some carb cleaner and dried thoroughly.
  9. Remove all remaining gasket on valve cover side
  10. Use a SMALL amount of RTV sealant on valve cover side with the spark plug seals and main valve cover gasket
  11. Use RTV sealant on semi-circular plug and the 2 camshaft and crank angle sensor humps (see illustration)
  12. Remove any excess sealant
  13. Replace valve cover and torque bolts to 2-3 ft.lbs. (2.5-3.5 Nm)
  14. Remove any excess sealant
  15. Replace items originally taken off in steps 1-3
  16. Start engine and check for leaks. Check for leaks periodically.

Optional

If you haven't changed you oil cap gasket before, it probably needs it now. The tell-tale signs are oil leakage around the oil spout and oil build-up under the center cover.

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Copyright 1999, Brad Bauer