Hi,

last year I replaced the original (I think...) valves cover gasket after 105 000 Miles. 5000 Miles later, the gasket is leaking again, (it's a OEM replacement...) and a lot more than the original was.
It's a rubber gasket, and I looked for a cork gasket but I can't find any for my Protege '91 SE 1.8L SOHC.

Does anyone know what I can do ? I don't want to replace the gasket every 6 month! because de rubber gasket seem cheap to me...

Thanx!

Hek_Lager

 

I forgot to ask if it's normal that my car as lost some power since my valves gasket cover is leaking??

Compression as been tested in february and was excellent. But the gasket leaked less than now, so is the leak can produce a lost of power?

 

Uh ? I work for a gasket company and we don't use cork gaskets for sealing oil, use the rubber one and make sure to retighten the bolts every now and again. Also use permatex on the curves of the cams and don't forget to clean the surface very well and give the permatex 12 hours to set up before you drive it.

 

this is excellent advice....in fact....you could do this...remove the valve cover again....remove the gasket very carfully to ensure you don't damage it.....CLEAN IT very good to get any and all oil off of it...use some alcohol....also clean the cover as well....

go to a good auto parts store and by one of the small bottles of Permatex No#3...which is also labled as AVIATION GRADE Permatex...its thinner and in liguid state...the little bottle comes with a brush attached to the lid....with teh gasket and the cover very clean....AND THE SURFACE ON THE HEAD WHERE IT SEALS....put a light coat on the valve cover.... and a light coat on the head....wait a minute and allow the sealant to get just a tad tacky...put the gasket on the valve cover....then the valve cover on the head...insert the fasteners and tighten accordingly. Allow it to sit over night at least to allow everything to seal well before driving.....this should do it very nicely.

ALSO...no a little oil leak will NOT rob you of power....

 

Depends on where the leak is. If the leak is around/above the spark plugs, oil can leak to the base of the plugs, and ground out the plugs, causing a misfire. Been there, done that.

 

GOOD POINT....however....you would notice a misfire with a four cylinder engine and not really look at like just robbed power....