Engine Mechanical
Valve Cover Gasket
A valve cover gasket seals the joint between the valve cover and the cylinder head. We list 38 gaskets and gasket sets from $8 to $110 for 1964-2022 vehicles, from Felpro, APEX, Mahle and SKP, with many for the Chevrolet Impala and others for the Honda Accord, Ford F150 and Explorer.
Shop valve cover gasket by vehicle
Signs of a leaking gasket
Valve cover gaskets harden and shrink with years of heat. Oil seeps out and runs down the engine, often onto the exhaust manifold.
Common signs are a burning oil smell, smoke from under the hood, oil wetness along the edge of the cover and oil pooling in spark plug wells. Oil in the plug wells can cause misfires, so fix it before it damages ignition coils or plug wires.
What a full set includes
Some listings are a single gasket. Others are full sets with spark plug tube seals, cam sensor seals, camshaft or VVT solenoid seals and grommets for the cover bolts. Listings show package quantity and contents.
Grade types include premium, standard replacement and regular. Rubber and silicone gaskets are most common on modern engines. If your engine has seals that sit under the valve cover, buy a set that includes them while the cover is off.
Installation advice
Work on a cold engine. Remove the cover and clean the head and cover surfaces of old gasket material and oil without scratching aluminum.
Apply sealant only where the service manual specifies, such as at the joints of the timing cover or cam caps. Torque the cover bolts in sequence and to spec, because overtightening can split the gasket or crack a plastic cover. Use the fitment table for your engine size.
Valve Cover Gasket questions
How do I know if my valve cover gasket is leaking?
Look for oil along the edge of the valve cover and down the engine, a burning smell after driving and oil in the spark plug wells.
Should I replace the spark plug tube seals at the same time?
Yes, on engines that have them. They are often in the same set, and they cause oily plug wells and misfires when they fail. Replace any that look hard or cracked.
Do I need sealant on a valve cover gasket?
Only at the spots the service manual lists, usually corners where the cam caps or timing cover meet the head. Too much sealant can block oil passages.