Valve Cover Gasket

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Valve Cover Gasket

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Valve Cover Gasket - 5/22/2007 3:00:45 PM

yarddawg

Posts: 75
Joined: 5/22/2007
Status: offline

I just brought my 2000 Disco II in for a check up recently and the verdict was pretty good. The only problem they found was a very minor leak in my valve cover. Now they said it wasn't a big deal and I may want to wait to repair it since it is pretty labor intensive to get to it (i.e. must remove the air intake to gain access). They told me that the repair would cost me around $600. Yikes!

Does anyone out there think I should be worried, or are minor leaks just part of being a Disco owner?

Thanks.

Post #: 1

RE: Valve Cover Gasket - 5/22/2007 4:16:29 PM

jdelp

Posts: 267
Joined: 3/7/2007
Status: offline

Minor valve cover gaskets leaks are nuisance, but not really a threat. Check your oil regularly, and as long as it's just seepage they generally aren't a problem and you shouldn't notice a change in the way it runs. Head gasket is another story. Wouldn't let it go forever, but as long as it's not a severe leak you can wait until you have the $$ to fix it.

(in reply to yarddawg)

Post #: 2

RE: Valve Cover Gasket - 5/22/2007 4:29:06 PM

yarddawg

Posts: 75
Joined: 5/22/2007
Status: offline

Thanks for the assurance. I would just hate to let something that I thought was small, go... then to find out later I've done more damage. I'll keep an eye on my oil levels.

Thanks.

(in reply to jdelp)

Post #: 3

RE: Valve Cover Gasket - 5/22/2007 5:27:10 PM

Disco Mike

Posts: 10374
Joined: 4/27/2006
Status: online

Well you just gave me a good chuckel. I love the price quotes I hear.
The intake manifold has to be loosened so it can be moved just enough to get to the valve cover bolts. I good mechanic can replace the gaskets in an hour. If they are just the typical oil seap, leave well enough alone, even if you replace them, they may start leaking again with in a year.
Mike

(in reply to yarddawg)

Post #: 4

RE: Valve Cover Gasket - 5/22/2007 6:13:33 PM

yarddawg

Posts: 75
Joined: 5/22/2007
Status: offline

Mike, it's funny you mention the ease of replacing the valve cover gasket. My Rover Mechanic has been very reasonable historically... MUCH cheaper than the dealer. He's been very honest and helpful in the past... I hope I'm not mis-reading him.

(in reply to Disco Mike)

Post #: 5

RE: Valve Cover Gasket - 5/22/2007 7:14:44 PM

okdiscoguy

Posts: 2484
Joined: 2/16/2007
From: Tulsa, OK
Status: offline

I think the saying goes If she ain't leaking, she's empty.....

That said, mine doesn't leak...

_____________________________

97 Discovery SD-7 156K miles
04 Cadillac CTS 34K miles
Good Oil
number of posts does not = knowledge (unless it is me)

(in reply to yarddawg)

Post #: 6

RE: Valve Cover Gasket - 5/23/2007 6:52:04 AM

Disco Mike

Posts: 10374
Joined: 4/27/2006
Status: online

quote:

ORIGINAL: yarddawg

Mike, it's funny you mention the ease of replacing the valve cover gasket. My Rover Mechanic has been very reasonable historically... MUCH cheaper than the dealer. He's been very honest and helpful in the past... I hope I'm not mis-reading him.
I had a mechanic friend replace my head gaskets last week, and not having any thing else to do for a couple hours while I waited for a rental car, I hung around a talked and watched as he tore the engine down. Even with all my talking, he had the top halh of the intake manifold off in about 10 or 15 minutes, at which time if he was only going to be replacing the vc gaskets, he could have replaced them and put it back together in less then an hour.
If I didn't have a heart issue and could still do my own work, it would have taken me probably an hour and a half .
Trust me, it is an easy job, if you really need it to be done, but it sounds like your are not in need of replacement at this time.
Mike

(in reply to yarddawg)

Post #: 7

RE: Valve Cover Gasket - 5/23/2007 11:59:45 AM

BogdenZ

Posts: 76
Joined: 2/20/2007
Status: offline

Hey Mike, would you mind elaborating on doing the VC gaskets without removal of the intake manifold?

It sounds like you’re saying that it can be loosened enough to jockey it to 1) reach the bolts and 2) maneuver the covers off?

The VC’s on my 2000 (approx 130k) have slowly progressed from a seep to a decent leak. It’s not dripping onto the ground yet, but the block's getting pretty messy. I’ve been blowing off the job simply because of the hassle of dealing with the intake R&R.

Thanks

(in reply to Disco Mike)

Post #: 8

RE: Valve Cover Gasket - 5/23/2007 1:46:47 PM

Disco Mike

Posts: 10374
Joined: 4/27/2006
Status: online

You need to loosen and or remove all the bolts from the intake manifold, just the top not the bottom. Once you have done that you can move the top half around or remove it, do the vc gaskets and reinstall.
Mike

(in reply to BogdenZ)

Post #: 9

RE: Valve Cover Gasket - 5/23/2007 5:45:36 PM

BogdenZ

Posts: 76
Joined: 2/20/2007
Status: offline

Thanks Mike. I appreciate it.

(in reply to Disco Mike)

Post #: 10