Replacing Valve cover Gaskets

[BigHammer]

Im going to be replacing vavle cover gaskets on both left and right side for my 2015 SHO because i found oil in my spark plug tube. Any advice or tips and tricks on how to do this?

 

[BradM]

I just did this yesterday as part of a cam phaser/timing chain/water pump project. The valve covers are a ***** to get off (and mine have been off before in a previous life). Squirt a little lubricant on the spark plug and VCT seals before you start. I used paint sticks and various tools to slowly pry them off starting at the VCT. Do not pry directly against the head surface with a metal tool and use round screwdrivers (no square edges) when possible. The spark plug seals get punched out from the back side and took more force than I thought to get out but they easily press in by hand if lubricated. Do the VCT seals as well. The gaskets are easy, just clean the grooves out and reinstall. Put a little RTV at the timing cover-to-head junctions. I used FEL-PRO 61236 gasket set. I wonder if hitting the seals with a heat gun would have helped. People claim they can replace the seals without removing the valve covers but I do not see how mine could have been pulled out (they were stuck hard). Maybe someone here has a better plan.

 

[BigHammer]

I just did this yesterday as part of a cam phaser/timing chain/water pump project. The valve covers are a ***** to get off (and mine have been off before in a previous life). Squirt a little lubricant on the spark plug and VCT seals before you start. I used paint sticks and various tools to slowly pry them off starting at the VCT. Do not pry directly against the head surface with a metal tool and use round screwdrivers (no square edges) when possible. The spark plug seals get punched out from the back side and took more force than I thought to get out but they easily press in by hand if lubricated. Do the VCT seals as well. The gaskets are easy, just clean the grooves out and reinstall. Put a little RTV at the timing cover-to-head junctions. I used FEL-PRO 61236 gasket set. I wonder if hitting the seals with a heat gun would have helped. People claim they can replace the seals without removing the valve covers but I do not see how mine could have been pulled out (they were stuck hard). Maybe someone here has a better plan.

Thanks for the tips! (sorry for a late reply) I ended up doing this last weekend and it went fairly smooth other clearing enough space to gain access to the valve covers. I did have to take off the covers fully though, I dont know how that guy could replace with the cover still on. Thats crazy talk! Anyways, I appreciate the help man

 

[AndrewR4]

I see I am a bit late to the game here but posting for future reference. I also did this recently and found they were much easier to get off after using a very small flathead or small pick to poke out in between the inner an outer layers of the spark plug tube seals. Once they aren't in the way it came off much easier. Unless the seals were recently installed then they don't hold on much so no need to destroy them.

 

[BradM]

I see I am a bit late to the game here but posting for future reference. I also did this recently and found they were much easier to get off after using a very small flathead or small pick to poke out in between the inner an outer layers of the spark plug tube seals. Once they aren't in the way it came off much easier. Unless the seals were recently installed then they don't hold on much so no need to destroy them.

+1 to this idea, it works.