4 Symptoms of a Valve Cover Gasket Leak (And Replacement Cost)

As vehicles age, individual components within an engine wear down a little bit every time it’s being driven. When fluid is routed through hoses and lines, various types of gaskets are responsible for keeping things leak free. Unfortunately, these gaskets deteriorate and can eventually fail.

One of the more common reasons for an engine oil leak is a faulty valve cover gasket. Keep reading to learn about this gasket, understand the signs of a bad valve cover gasket, and see what the average replacement cost would be.

What is a Valve Cover Gasket?

valve cover gasket

An internal combustion engine contains a cylinder block with a specific number of cylinders on top of it. The cylinder head is positioned over the cylinders and assists with the entire combustion process. The flow of fuel and air into the cylinders is made possible because of the passages which exist within the cylinder head.

Above the cylinder head, there is something called a valve cover which is usually made from either metal or plastic material. In between the cylinder head and valve cover, there is another component called the valve cover gasket. The gasket serves as a surface sealant between these two components.

Meanwhile, the gasket traps the oil inside the engine so that it will keep circulating in there and lubricating the various engine components. Depending on your specific engine layout, you may have two valve cover gaskets.

Valve cover gaskets are commonly made from molded silicone rubber to securely fit over the valve cover. Since rubber is not the most durable material in the world, it tends to wear out and form cracks over time. Once that happens, it will cause oil to leak out of the engine and limit the lubrication of the components in there.

Older vehicles used to use cork, tin, or a combination of materials for their valve cover gaskets. Those have their own disadvantages hence part manufacturers moving to rubber for modern vehicles.

Read Also: Blown Head Gasket vs Cracked Engine Block 

Signs of a Bad Valve Cover Gasket

When you first notice that you have a bad valve cover gasket, you still have time to do something about it before it gets worse. Here are 4 common signs of a leaking valve cover gasket to help you confirm the source of the leak.

1) Burning Smell

burning smell

The valve cover is shielding so much compressed oil that is just aching to get out. One little crack in the valve cover gasket will cause oil to leak through and fall onto other components of the engine.

There could be oil falling onto the exhaust pipes or cylinder head, causing the oil to burn excessively. When you add engine oil to a very hot surface, you’re going to notice a burning smell.

2) Dirty Valve Cover

bad valve cover gasket

When you go to give your vehicle an oil change, pay attention to the condition of the valve cover. If it is dirty, then it means oil is leaking out of the valve cover gasket.

Replace the gasket first and then change the oil. Either that or have a professional auto serviceperson do the oil change and gasket replacement job for you.

3) Low Engine Oil

low oil symptoms

When you have an oil leak in your valve cover gasket, it means there will be less oil in your engine. This will cause more friction from the moving components of your engine, which generates more heat in there.

When there is too much heat generated, it will cause the engine to overheat. This could possibly damage your engine components severely to the point where they cannot be repaired.

4) Check Engine Light

check engine light

When you have a low amount of oil in your engine, the Check Engine warning light will illuminate on your dashboard. You may also have a separate oil warning light on your dashboard that will turn on as well. This should be one of the first symptoms that you notice. Take the warning seriously and fix the leak before it is too late.

See Also: Symptoms of an Oil Pan Gasket Leak

Valve Cover Gasket Replacement Cost

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valve cover gasket replacement cost

On average, the replacement cost of a valve cover gasket will be somewhere between $200 and $400. The parts cost will typically be between $50 and $70 while the labor costs will be anywhere from $150 to $300.

That said, some vehicle have valve cover gaskets that can cost upwards for $100 or due to a complex engine configuration, labor costs can be much higher.

But in most cases, this is not a very expensive part to replace in your vehicle. The extent of the expense will be based on the hourly rate of your mechanic and the quality (and quantity) of your parts.

If you can choose a professional mechanic with a lower hourly rate that works quickly, then you can pay a smaller rate for your labor costs.

Kevin

38 thoughts on “4 Symptoms of a Valve Cover Gasket Leak (And Replacement Cost)”

  1. How much to would it cost to get Valve cover ,gasket , replaced on Hyundai 2009 GLS V6 3.3 L .

    This model has issues with Valve cover Leaks , and Oil leaking onto Alternator. There have been 2 recalls. The last one was for Valve cover oil leak in August 2022. If oil continuous to leak then it destroys the alternator .What is the warranty cover for a Recall.

    Reply
  2. How much to replace a 2013 BMW i128 series valve cover gasket? I feel like I was quoted a lot. They said $600+ for the part and with labor it was $1900.

    Reply
    • I don’t know for sure, but probably in the $1000-2000 range at an independent shop. I would call around a couple local places for an accurate estimate. It will also depend on what other work needs to be done while they’re in there.

      Reply
  3. My husband has a 2005 Acura TL… how much to replace the oil gasket cover? AND, can it be seen when he goes for an oil change. We have a mechanic that we LOVE and Acura always seems to be VERY expensive to do ANY job. Slight smell after the engine has run for a while. Doesn’t seem to be losing much oil. Can it wait a few months?

    Reply
    • That car is probably expensive to work on because it has a transverse V6, which means the engine is crammed in the engine bay sideways. This makes it hard to reach a lot of basic components, such as the spark plugs on the rear bank. This is common on FWD cars, but since V6 engines are larger, they are often harder to work on.

      Valve cover gaskets are typically not too expensive to replace but you’ll have to call a few shops in your area to confirm. Tell them your year, make and model like you’ve done here.

      Reply
  4. I had a code P0300. Tune up is needed. Comes to find out, oil on spark plugs. Now I need valve cover gaskets replacement, oil clean up on 03 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. How much should a mechanic charge & how long should it take? I will buy all parts needed

    Reply
    • Generally mechanics prefer it if you don’t buy the parts first. If you buy your own parts and have them install it, chances are they won’t be able to warranty the work, plus you run the risk of buying the incorrect parts.

      Expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $500 depending on what type of clean up work needs to be done.

      Reply
  5. My corolla 2013 model doesnt smoke and it doenst have power so when idlling it has a bubbling sound.oil doesnt last because every 2 or 3 days i must pour 1 litre of oil .even petrol burns fast .i checked the plugs thats when i saw that they are oily .must i do the whole engine or only the head

    Reply
  6. How much to replace the valve gasket cover on a 2018 Range Rover Sport. I was quoted $3800 at dealership. They say leak is minor. Can this wait or best to do right away? Thank you

    Reply
    • That’s a lot. Was the $3800 for just the valve cover gasket? I am not familiar with Range Rovers so I don’t know if their maintenance is typically that much more expensive than standard makes like Honda and Toyota.

      In general, a valve cover gasket can wait. You’ll leak oil which could make a mess, so you might want to put some cardboard down when you park it. Keep an eye on your oil to make sure the level doesn’t drop too low. If it starts to stink like burning oil, you might be leaking onto the exhaust manifold. This is dangerous as the oil could ignite and start a fire.

      You might want to try getting a quote from an independent shop. A valve cover gasket should only be a couple hundred dollars or so to replace.

      Reply
    • Hi Karen, that seems extremely high. I live in an expensive city, and I took my car into a mechanic that is not known for being low-cost — and the estimate was $242.00, including labor. I think it’s best to replace your gasket cover, don’t wait (but find someone else to do it!). You don’t want to drive a car with a burning smell. Also a worn valve gasket cover will reduce the oil running through your engine….and could
      ultimately cause engine failure.

      Reply
    • It’s pretty easy if you’re comfortable changing your own brakes. Just make sure to follow a repair manual so you get the tightening sequence and torque specs right.

      Reply
  7. What would be a fair parts and labor price for a nechanic to replace valve cover gaskets on a 1986 corvette. Vehicle has only 40 thousand miles. Thank you.

    Reply

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