THE IMPORTANCE OF VALVE COVER GASKETS

 


 

As a very popular and established Auto Mechanic in Queens, we always educate our customers about the importance of regularly changing the engine oil because of the number of moving parts that depend on oil for lubrication. We regularly remind them to have it done per the maintenance schedule of their vehicle. One of the important parts that aids in oil lubrication is a valve cover gasket.

To prevent oil from leaking out, the valve cover is placed on top of the engine. Underneath the valve cover, there is a gasket providing additional sealing, so when the engine is running no oil leaks out. There are a variety of valve cover gaskets, made of either cork or rubber. The rubber ones are the better since they eventually fit themselves to the cover over time.

How do you know if you your car has a broken valve cover gasket? The first is leaking oil, not just under your car, but soaking the engine as well causing the smell of burning oil as it hits the hot engine. Consequently, there will be low engine oil accompanied by a low oil light or a check engine light.

As oil leaks onto the spark plug and soak them, the engine will misfire as the cylinder fails to ignite. This too may cause the check engine light to come on. Be sure to get this looked at immediately by a professional, as this may cause damage to the catalytic converter.

If your vehicle is leaking oil due to a broken valve cover gasket, it is time to go to a professional for help because the process can be quite involved. At Steinway Auto Repair, experienced in Auto Repair in Queens, we have replaced valve gasket covers on a variety of vehicles countless times. It is not as simple as taking out the old valve cover gasket and putting in the new one. First, everything preventing access to the cylinder heads has to be removed in order to get to the valve cover gaskets. This can take hours in many instances, depending on the car.

Also, the old valve cover gasket may have disintegrated and has to be carefully removed.

Do not be misled by the price of the valve cover gasket and accessories to think that a professional mechanic is overcharging you. The bulk of the price you are being charged will be for labor. And that is because a lot of parts will need to removed in order to get the valve cover gaskets and then put back together after they have been replaced. Some makes and models are easier and it also depends on whether the car is 4-cylinder, 6 cylinder and so on.

If you have an older car and the spark plugs have never been replaced, it is advisable to ask the mechanic to replace the spark plugs at the same time, since the “patient is open on the table”. Getting to the spark plugs can also entail a significant number of hours in some makes/models.

Visit Steinway Auto Repair for Auto Repair in Queens if you have experience any of the aforementioned symptoms. Since 1997, our family owned and operated repair shop has been providing excellent customer service to the Astoria and Queens in general community.

 

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