Leaking valve cover gasket

TMCINTOSH11

MEMBER
2002 FORD EXPLORER
4.0L
V6
4WD
AUTOMATIC
237,000 MILES

I just noticed my valve cover gasket was leaking, and before I get into replacing it, is there a effective stop leak I could try? Or a sealant I can put around the leaking side? It is on the driver's side and I would have to take the intake off too just to get to it and I am really really dreading it. It is not losing a lot of oil and it seeps just enough to smoke on the side of the engine, it has not made it way to the manifold yet thank god, I am planning on replacing it this weekend but I did not know if there could be an easier way out of this mess. Thanks guys!

4 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,576 POSTS

Clean off all the oil you can and see if you can tighten any of the bolts. They are stopped by the shoulder inserts in the cover so do not go gorilla on them if they do not want to move or you can break off the bolt.
Other than that there is no anything that would really help without possibly making things worse.

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Thursday, October 5th, 2017 AT 9:05 PM

TMCINTOSH11

MEMBER
176 POSTS

Thanks for letting me know, before I get into it can you tell me what I am in for as far as getting the old gasket off and how I should put the new one on? Like maybe if there is a kind of sealant I should use with the new one? Thanks!

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Saturday, October 7th, 2017 AT 5:00 AM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,576 POSTS

It should peel off pretty easy. Lay the cover on a flat surface to be sure it is not warped along the edges. Generally I install VC gaskets dry, especially the newer rubber/silicone type like your engine uses. I will say that while you have things apart it is a good time to check over all the stuff hidden under the intake.

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Saturday, October 7th, 2017 AT 7:08 PM

TMCINTOSH11