Replacing valve cover gasket... is sealant needed?
therichisgood
New Wagonist
I'd rather not have leaks :encouragement:
therichisgood
New Wagonist
Comments
Thats what I do as well. Make sure you change your PCV valve as well. Normally thats the only reason a VC gasket ever leaks. PCV valve gets plugged or clogged and pressure blows out the gasket.
Good call, after some research I've found this:
If the PCV valve gets plugged, here's what happens, roughly in order:
1. Excess crankcase pressure begins to back up the engine's breather tube, into the intake air tube upstream of the throttle body
2. Engine management system senses absence of air from plugged PCV valve, and adjusts fuel mixture accordingly. Engine makes slightly less power.
3. Oil begins to be pumped into the air intake tube through the breather hose, upstream of the throttle plate.
4. Oil runs down the intake tube into the throttle body.
5. Oil sludges up the throttle body and throttle plate. Gas pedal starts to get sticky. Airflow reduced. Engine management adjusts mixture again. More power loss, possible poor driveability.
6. Idle Air Control (IAC or EACV) valve gets contaminated and begins to stick.
7. IAC cannot adjust idle air mixture to compensate for plugged PCV valve. Idle drops, may become erratic as throttle plate cannot close completely.
8. Oil drips into intake manifold runners. Blue smoke seen out of tailpipe.
9. Breather tube begins to get constricted from oil contamination and airflow is reduced.
10. Crankcase pressure mounts dramatically.
11. Oil pushed past valve guide oil seals. More blue smoke.
12. Dripping on driveway as oil is pushed past seals.
Source:
http://crxcommunity.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=58756