You probably haven’t head of a value cover unless you are familiar with how car engines operate. It’s not a part that is discussed or covered by routine maintenance, so it’s simple to overlook. The value cover and its gasket, however, play a significant role.
Because of this, it’s critical to comprehend the signs of a damaged value cover. In this article, we discuss what happens when a value cover malfunctions or leaks. We show you how to inspect it and provide an illustration of the potential replacement cost.
6 Symptoms of Bad Value Cover or Gasket
- Low Oil Level
- External Oil Level
- Burning Oil Smell
- Oil In Spark Plug Wells
- Misfiring Engine
- Dashboard Warning Lights
1) Low Oil Level
An oil leak naturally causes the fluid level to drop. The rate at which the oil level drops will depend on how bad the leak is. In this instance, you ought to have no trouble identifying the leak.
You never want to drive with too little or run out of motor oil because your engine needs it to stay lubricated. If you don’t, the engine might seize, in which case you would have to replace it.
2) External Oil Leak
The likelihood of oil leaks is the main problem with a defective value cover. Large oil puddles can be caused by a variety of issues, but this may not be one of them.
Instead, you might only notice a tiny amount of oil leaking through the value cover, but that is sufficient evidence that something is wrong. More oil may be dripping from the value cover if it has a sizable crack or hole in it. However, it’s more likely going to spray from the cover than pool below. You should pay close attention to any area that appears to be missing a bolt or screw when visually inspecting the value cover.
Additionally, there’s a chance that the value cover has crack, which would allow oil to leak out. In a moment, we will talk more about this inspection.
3) Burning oil Smell
There are many hot, active parts in the engine compartment. You might be detecting an odd burning odor if the oil starts to leak out on any of these components. The oil may have dripped into the exhaust or been sitting on the hot engine itself.
Any burning odor coming underneath the hood show draw your attention. In order to avoid starting a car fire, you should stop driving and investigate what is happing.
4) Oil in Spark Plug Wells
To keep oil out of inappropriate places, the value cover is placed on the cylinder head. Oil seeps into the cylinder below when the value cover or gasket is defective, leaving oily plugs behind.
The contact between the spark plug and the ignition coil may weaken if there is too much oil on the plugs, which can lead to engine misfires.
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5) Misfiring Engine
You will experience some performance issues if there is oil leaking into the spark plug are unable to ignite properly. You will also notice that the engine is running poorly.
In extreme cases, if the spark plugs can’t ignite, the engine might not start at all. In either case, you should get a misfiring engine checked out right away to avoid getting stranded.
6) Dashboard Warning Lights
The dashboard warning lights are intended to alert you to any issues. Oil level warning lights are available on newer vehicles. The low oil level light might come on if there is a leak.
You are informed by this oil warning light that the engine does have sufficient pressure. Depending on the issues the value cover is creating, you might also see the Check Engine Light. For instance, you will probably see stored faults for this issue if there is a misfire.
How to Inspect A Value Cover?
To identify a bad value cover, you don’t require a lot of expensive equipment. In fact, you can learn a lot about the integrity of the cover from a visual inspection. Here some fundamental steps to think about.
Through a visual inspection, it can be challenging to spot any hairline cracks or pinholes, but you would be able to identify larger flaws. Additionally, you might try tightening the value cover’s bolts. Just be careful not to overtightened. If oil leaks even after you tighten the cover, you can use smoke machine to search for leaks.
Watch the smoke emerge from the opposite side of the cover as soon as you turn on the machine. Use a light of amber hue to draw attention to the smoke. With your finger, seal off the side where the smoke is emanating. You can quickly find a leak because the smoke is trapped. You must replace the value cover as soon as you become aware of the leak.
What is Replacement Cost of Bad Value Cover and Gasket?
To replace a value cover, budget between $150 and $650 on average. You could spend an addition 40 to $70 on parts and 50 to $300 on labor to replace the gasket. It makes sense to install a new gasket at the same time as replacing the value cover but the reverse isn’t always true.
You might not need to replace the value cover with the faulty gasket if you can’t find any defects in it. This component rarely fails unless it sustains some sort of damage.