A valve cover is a just what it sounds like, a cover over the valves. Each cylinder in your vehicle’s engine has valves at the top to direct the flow of the incoming air and fuel mixture, contain the combustion process and release exhaust gases. The valves are kept closed by springs and opened at the correct time by the cam in your engine. To make sure the valves continue to operate properly for many miles, they need a continual supply of engine oil to lubricate and cool them. Engine oil is pumped from the oil pan up through the block into the head where the valves are located. This oil is contained around the valves and directed back down to the oil pan by the valve cover. If you have an inline engine, such as straight 4-cylinder engine, you will have one valve cover, but if you have a V6 or V8 engine, you will have 2 valve covers.
Since the valve cover is on the top of the engine, a leak will create quite a mess. Oil can drip down covering the engine block, wires, hoses, spark plugs and other important engine components. Many times a leaking valve cover gasket will also be accompanied by a burning smell. As the oil leaks from the top of the engine down, it can flow onto the hot exhaust system causing the oil to smoke and burn. Not only is this unpleasant, but it can be very dangerous if you continue to operate your vehicle (Check out our Oil Stop Leak if this problem is affecting you).
Replacing a valve cover gasket can be a cumbersome job. They often are only attached by 4 to 8 bolts, but they usually require the removal of many other components such as the intake manifold, throttle body, spark plug wires and other hoses and wires. Also, once the valve cover is removed your engine’s lubrication system is exposed and open to contamination.
The majority of valve cover gasket leaks are simply due to the aging gasket material. Over time the material becomes hard and brittle and can draw away from the sealing surfaces allowing oil to leak. These seals do not need to be replaced, but simply restored. BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak is specially designed to restore the seal back to its original size and shape to prevent leaks. As you drive, BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak will absorb into the seal to soften and revitalize the gasket material permanently sealing the leak.
Before changing your valve cover gasket in your car or truck, pick up BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak at your favorite auto parts store like:
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Picture provided by www.dieselpowermag.com.
