valve cover gasket
 

How hard is it to replace the left side valve cover gasket? Subaru wants 207 bucks and I don't think it's worth it.

Nate

Not very hard at all - gaskets will run you roughly $25 (three to get for one side), unless you get all the little rubber ones for each bolt, then add another $25 to that total.

http://www.subaruparts.com/diag/?mod...category=020-A

(Note: the gasket's aren't the same from one side to the next, so be sure you get the ones for the correct side of your car)

The work can easily be done while the engine is in the car. By left side, you're referring to the driver's side correct? Then all you will need to do is remove the battery and its plastic case, and you'll have enough room to work with. They're ten bolts to undo which you can see in this pic of my engine pulled (you may also have to unbolt the oil filler tube - not 100% sure but very easy to do):

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...etkd/31661.jpg

From there, the valve cover should come off easily and you see the beautiful camshafts inside:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...etkd/31664.jpg

Clean out the inside of the valve covers, remove the old gaskets and replace with the new. Put valve cover back on (set torque wrench to ~10-12 ft-lbs) and you're done.

As you're doing this for the first time, may be a 3 hour job, but take your time and do it right. Also, DON'T let any debris get into your engine when you have the valve cover off. If a small amount of dust or a fragment of a rock gets inbetween those cam teeth, you're screwed! :eek:

-Chike ;)

Oh, 1 more thing, which should be obvious from that first pic I posted - you'll need to remove the three coil packs before you can remove the valve cover.

-Chike ;)

P.S. This really isn't a difficult job, and I'd rate it a 5/10. Most expensive part will be your labor! ;) I'm doing this job for a friend along with a bunch of other maintenance stuff this Spring.

Hi, I was going to order the cam cover gasket set from Rock Auto but it says the the inner gaskets are NOT included and the guy I talked to at the store wasn't sure what the inner gaskets are and neither am I , do I need those to do the job right or is that something that is not normally replaced anyway, Thanks. Vernon

yes you need them or the oil will leak around the spark plug area.
chances are you will crack or damage them anyway when you remove the valve cover.

In this picture if you look at the center oval areas that is where the inner gaskets go. This is where the spark plugs are.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/fil...etkd/31664.jpg

Thanks for the reply Suby,, you said the gaskets cost around 25.00 is that all the gaskets other than the little bolt gaskets, I tried to look it up on subaruparts.com but I wasn't sure I looked at the right things, I think I found what it takes but those little bolt gormmets are outragious, can't a guy make them out of something that would work as well and even the few gaskets I looked up has a shipping of about 10.00 that seems a little expensive for something that doesn't weight much over one pound but then that is from WA. to MO. so maybe that is reasonable after all. Vernon

13270AA031 Gskt Rocker Cover Rh $20.95 $15.96
13294AA020 Gskt Rocker Cover Rh $7.95 $6.06
13294AA030 Gskt Rocker Cover Rh $7.95 $6.06
13272AA031 Gskt Rocker Cover Lh $20.95 $15.96
13293AA011 Gskt Rocker Cover No Lh $7.95 $6.06
13293AA020 Gskt Rocker Cover No Lh $7.95 $6.06
13271AA051 Wash Rocker Cvr $2.95 $2.25 (20)


This is everything for both sides. Lh = drivers side.
You need a total of 20 washers = 10 per side. I think when you buy them on subaruparts it automatically puts in 16 but you need 20 total.
The prices were at the time list and retail when I last did mine so they might be different now.
Someone here - I think it was Beav - tried using something homemade instead of the little washer grommets. I don't remember if it worked or not. You need to replace them one way or another because they will leak.

http://www.subaruparts.com/subaru.diag/2/i020-A.gif

part #s 2,3,4 and 11,12,13 in this picture for gaskets. # 15 is the washer