Replacing valve cover gasket

xterraminator

Wheeling
Location
Maple Ridge,BC
I am at a point where I need to replace the valve cover gaskets. My gaskets are leaking small amounts of oil on the exhaust manifold so the smell of burning oil gets annoying. I see the passenger one is easy whereas the drivers side is buried under the intake. I assume the air intake system on the top has to be removed for the drivers side valve cover to come off? If so do I need to replace the air intake gasket? It seems like there is one. Approximately how long of a job is this?
 

XTP_Dyer

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Nashville
Hey,

I actually just placed both my driver side and passenger side, so I can give you a few tips.

First off, buy the valve cover gasket kit WITH the grommets. You're going to want these.

Passenger Side: This was cake. It's as simple as disconnection all of the basic electrical wires that you see over the valve cover and then unscreweing the valve cover. Estimated time - 15 to 30 minutes tops.

Driver Side: This one a whole different story, but honestly not that bad if you do it right. For me, the trick was documenting each step. I took a picture AND wrote down what I removed. You'll have to remove pretty much everything you see over the top of the valve cover. Most of it is extremely basic to remove though. Unscrew this, unclamp this, unhook that. READ THIS NEXT PART - There are two coolant hoses located in the back of the plenum. You'll access them from the passenger side. I have heard of a few succeeding, however, most EVERYONE agrees that the lower hose is a B word. I tried everything and after over an hour of wrestling, I was forced to cut the hose and call around stores for a new one. Aside from that hose, it's a very doable job. Make sure to have different length screw drivers handy; I had to use a stub, medium, and long one in order to access everything.

I'm going to attach below a very helpful and detailed write-up from ClubX. Feel free to post any questions you have during it, I'd be glad to help however I have.

Write-up: http://www.clubxterra.org/forums/showthread.php?t=27722

I believe you will need an account to access it. Do yourself a favor and make one and read that...Every step has a picture as well as the tools needed. Pre-plan this and you'll have the driver side done in 2-3 hours if you go at it the whole time and have all your parts and tools already.

Good luck!
 

Thanks48

Bought an X
Location
Chattanooga , TN
Hey,
READ THIS NEXT PART - There are two coolant hoses located in the back of the plenum. You'll access them from the passenger side. I have heard of a few succeeding, however, most EVERYONE agrees that the lower hose is a B word. I tried everything and after over an hour of wrestling, I was forced to cut the hose and call around stores for a new one.

Im going to save you alot of time and hassle with this problem everyone else is having with the hoses. Get a short bungee cord and leave the coolant hoses and and wires connected in the very back and under plenum and just hang the plenum from the hood while you work.

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XTP_Dyer

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Nashville
I saw you say something about this^^^

My issue that I ran into was that my hoses were old and showing big time, so I was concerned with cracking the hose, so I felt it easier to replace.

If your hose looks to be in good shape, DO WHAT HE'S SAYING! That'll cut the job time down by a good bit.
 

Intender

Wheeling
Location
Lewisville NC
I say cut and replace the hoses. If you dont want to have this problem again you need to clean the mating surfaces properly. If they have been leaking for a while there will be hard caked on grease and dirt in there.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
 

KBC

Bought an X
Location
BC
The worst part is leaning over the side of a lifted truck making you have to reach further and getting sore knees. Do you have a code reader? I have one you can use to see if your knock sensor is bad. You are getting pretty close to it when you do both valve covers. You have to drain some coolant (or let it spill everywhere and clean up later) and pull the lower intake and it's right there.
When are you doing it? I could probably swing by and lend a hand if you want.
 

Rreed

Test Drive
I know I’m probably showing my ass by asking this, but...

I went to change the valve cover/gaskets the other day and for the freaking life of me couldn’t get the wire harness undone that are on top of the cover.

Anyone have advice?


Hey,

I actually just placed both my driver side and passenger side, so I can give you a few tips.

First off, buy the valve cover gasket kit WITH the grommets. You're going to want these.

Passenger Side: This was cake. It's as simple as disconnection all of the basic electrical wires that you see over the valve cover and then unscreweing the valve cover. Estimated time - 15 to 30 minutes tops.

Driver Side: This one a whole different story, but honestly not that bad if you do it right. For me, the trick was documenting each step. I took a picture AND wrote down what I removed. You'll have to remove pretty much everything you see over the top of the valve cover. Most of it is extremely basic to remove though. Unscrew this, unclamp this, unhook that. READ THIS NEXT PART - There are two coolant hoses located in the back of the plenum. You'll access them from the passenger side. I have heard of a few succeeding, however, most EVERYONE agrees that the lower hose is a B word. I tried everything and after over an hour of wrestling, I was forced to cut the hose and call around stores for a new one. Aside from that hose, it's a very doable job. Make sure to have different length screw drivers handy; I had to use a stub, medium, and long one in order to access everything.

I'm going to attach below a very helpful and detailed write-up from ClubX. Feel free to post any questions you have during it, I'd be glad to help however I have.

Write-up: http://www.clubxterra.org/forums/showthread.php?t=27722

I believe you will need an account to access it. Do yourself a favor and make one and read that...Every step has a picture as well as the tools needed. Pre-plan this and you'll have the driver side done in 2-3 hours if you go at it the whole time and have all your parts and tools already.

Good luck!
 

RxnNic66

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
TX
Another question related to the replacing of the driver side valve cover gasket. Do I need a gasket or seal of some sort for the intake plenum?
 
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