AUTONET TV

Leaking Oil Isn’t Normal: When a Valve Cover Gasket Needs Replacing

Let’s say you discover a little oil leak in your vehicle and you think, “It’s small.  It’s no big deal.”  Remember that no oil leak is ever normal, and it might be a sign that your valve cover gasket is failing. 
 
That gasket is what seals the top of your engine.  It keeps oil inside while your engine is running.  After it’s been doing that for a long time, guess what? That gasket gets old, and the engine heat starts to take its toll.  It gets brittle, might crack or even shrink, and when that happens, its seal breaks and your engine oil can start to leak out.

You might notice a failing valve cover gasket by smelling it rather than seeing it.   It’s the odor of burning oil leaking onto the hot parts of your engine, like the engine manifold.  The acrid smell of burning oil is not subtle, plus you may even see visible signs of smoke coming from under the hood.  

You may spot oil spots on your driveway.  Your engine might start to misfire if oil starts to get into the spark plug wells.  Then you will probably notice the engine misfiring and, eventually, your Check Engine light might come on.

These are signs you don’t want to ignore, because if you don’t take care of that valve cover gasket leak in a timely manner, it can lead to bigger—and more expensive—problems. If your engine’s other parts aren’t getting lubricated enough, friction between moving metal parts can cause significant wear and might lead to overheating.

The leaking oil can get all over your engine’s wiring and rubber hoses.  Sometimes that leaking oil can catch fire in your engine, too.  It can eventually lead to much more expensive repairs.

If you notice oil leaks or the smell of burning oil, make sure you have one of our technicians look at it as soon as you can.  The earlier you get your vehicle in for service, the more likely the valve cover gasket can be replaced efficiently, without complications and save you money in the long run. 

Triple A Automotive
972 Barstow Suite B
Clovis, CA 93612
(559) 299-9300
www.tripleaautomotive.com