| Subject: | Hesitating and shorting |
| Question: | Hi, Me again. The alternator tested Ok so I'll be checking the battery soon. Next on the schedule is the valve cover gasket. Some co-workers adviced to check the valve seals also. Is this good to do? Some even don't think that the valve cover gasket will help my problem of oily plugs. Any advice? If valve seals need replacing is this relatively easy to do? With the help of a Haynes repair manual? Thanks a million, Ed |
| Answer: | Ed, The valve seals that I believe you are referring to are the valve cover gasket seals that go around the holes of your spark plug wells. When the main valve cover gasket is replaced, the spark plug well gaskets are replaced as well. A valve seal is an actual part of your engine, but if those seals were bad, you would be burning oil. Valve seals are usually only replaced durning an engine rebuild. When those seals are bad, typically you don't end up with oil in your spark plug wells; you just burn the oil. I don't think you have that problem. But you can feel confident replacing the valve cover gasket and
spark plug well seals yourself with a Haynes manual. Most major auto
parts stores will sell the manual for your car (about $15), the valve
cover gasket with spark plug well seals (about $25), and some RTV
gasket sealant (about $2). Even if you've never done this job before,
it shouldn't take you more than an hour. If you had a regular mechanic
do this, he would probably charge you over $100 for the job. On a
car your age, replacing the gaskets are definitely a good idea. |