PhunekyPhish

I've got a 2000 civic recently had an oil, coolant and transmission change done at the dealer. I then took it on a 2 hour drive and could smell burnt oil after the drive. I had an oil leak from the distributor O ring fixed a few months ago and thought it might be just old oil causing the smell (typically only drive 10-15 minutes at a time so thought smell might linger?) but on inspection I see that there appears to be a tiny bit of fresh oil on a few of the valve cover bolts, nowhere else and there is nothing leaking under the car at all. I just think it's odd the dealer didn't mention this last week during the oil change. Is this something I should have checked out and or fixed? Slightly concerned because I am driving the car from FL to MA at the end of the month.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

You're leaking through the bolt grommets. A valve cover gasket should fix the issue. Alternatively, your dealership could be staffed by lazy twits who accidentally poured oil on your valve cover, and didn't bother wiping it off.

TomCat39

I'm not sure what trim level you have so I don't know if you have the dual over head cam or the single overhead cam.

From my experience, the valve cover (cylinder head cover) bolts have "head cover washers" which are both rubber and a metal washer on top of the rubber. This rubber gets hard and doesn't seal as well and should be a cheap and easy part to fix.

More than likely they weren't replaced by the mechanics being they probably looked okay overall but once you drove for awhile you could see it isn't sealing effectively.

I personally wouldn't have the mechanic fix this but do it myself being most shops general rule is to charge 1 hour labor plus parts. The fix should only take about 10 minutes once you have the replacement washers in hand. Should give you an idea of the gross over charge for that minor fix.

The key is to barely snug down the bolt heads/nuts for the valve cover. On most of the SOHC motors it's only 7 ft-lbs on those nuts. Doubt the DOHC is much different.

Cheers.

PhunekyPhish

Was afraid the whole gasket should be replaced. I know it's a simple fix but I'm not experienced and don't have the tools. Would you recommend this sort of thing be done at the dealer, or would you trust it with an outside garage?

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

You don't have an 8mm wrench? That's literally all it takes.

PhunekyPhish

Honestly I could probably borrow the tools, but just before my trip north I don't want to be the one tinkering with things under the hood. I don't have much car experience although want to learn - in another setting I'd be all about doing it myself.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Seriously. You have actually LOOKED at the valve cover right? Take you less than fifteen minutes to remove the cover, replace the gaskets and reinstall with sealant at the correct spots.

PhunekyPhish

Yeah I've looked at it. Looks ridiculously easy to do it myself. What do you guys think about this video: Good all around?
Only things I'm scared about it one getting the bolts off since it's been on there so long and also how do I know how tight to get the new bolts back on? Also getting the spark plug tube seals out and the new ones in properly.

TomCat39

If the cover itself isn't leaking (no sweat around the head and edges of the valve cover) I wouldn't even bother with removing the cover.

If the oil is only seeping out of the cover bolt washers, that's all I would replace. Should be 4 or 5 of them total on the SOHC motors (forget exactly).

After your trip, you can do a full valve cover seal refresh if you like.

That's just my two cents.

Then again, if the rubber breaks and becomes two pieces with one piece still on the bolt post.... Cover removal is inevitable.

PrettyMuchBoned

1. 7ft lbs of torque is practically like none at all, I stripped my nuts, but I have a tendency to over tighten errything.

OP, my 2cents is to buy the valve cover gasket, spark plug tube seals, and the gasket washer things.

bring it to a shop, get the valve lash adjusted and have them put in the new gaskets. Make sure you ask to see the old stuff because IV had shops say the did something and not actually do it, its a good practice to make sure you dont get ripped off too badly.

PrettyMuchBoned

I would also get the valve cover cleaned and painted but that's just me.

everything else is way more reasonable

ozh_hawaiian

those bolt grommets can be a bitch to take on/off the bolts! i think i used dish soap to lube them up so they slide on easier

tlarimer

iTrader: (3)

Use side cutters to remove the old grommets. A deep 12mm socket and a rubber mallet or small hammer is all thats needed to install the new ones. Place the grommet and washer on top of socket opening, slip threaded end of bolt into grommet and give it a couple whacks with the mallet/hammer to get the ridge on the bolt past the grommet and washer, been doing it this way for close to 20 yrs and works like a charm every time

PhunekyPhish

I did have the vc replaced at the dealer, wasn't much and I got a discount for knowing a guy so total was 115. It was definitely seeping also seeping a bit from the front so glad I got it taken care of. Now I have another issue... See other post.

kulo

hand tight

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

$115 for the valve cover gasket? The kit itself is only $28 from Honda

PhunekyPhish

Yeah, but I didn't have access to a torque wrench so there's that, then also the fact that I've never worked on my car before.... I know it's more than it should have cost, but such is it.... now another issue - other post

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

What other post? You have no other post.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Does it matter? He'll take it to the dealer because he's never worked on his own car before. That's what happened here. Instead of trying to learn and get experience he wasted a lot of money needlessly and learned nothing. Why even bother posting OP?