Most people suggest replacing that gasket when you do the valve adjustment for the exact reason you're describing.

I just saw you purchased a new one. Perhaps it didn't seat well in the valve cover? Sometimes it slips out when you are trying to fit the cover under the hood lip.

 

All of my AP2 DBW exhaust clearances were at 0.011 last Saturday (30 May) but one and that would take a 0.012 if pushed hard. Left it alone. All intakes were at 0.010. I'm beginning to think the previous owner maintained the car pretty well. Didn't take 30 minutes but there was no adjustments required. Remember this is done on a cold engine. (Under 100°F.)

Having the gasket replacement on hand helps as you may have to pry the valve cover off with a chance of nicking the gasket, It's cheap enough for something that only needs to happen now and maybe 50,000 miles from now. A lot depends on the age/abuse of your car. And Murphy's Law of Available Spare Parts. Honda, of course, specifies replacing the gaskets and grommets -- all of them.

While you're in there you may as well drop in new plugs although they can go in with the valve cover in place.

-- Chuck

 

can be a pain but take your time. I find it easier to replace the cover than remove. use your torque wrench to keep from over torquing the valve cover and having a very bad day.

I have NEVER used anything abrasive on the mating surface of the head. I have used some brake cleaner on clean shop rags to remove dirt and grime from the mating surface only. Abrasives run the risk of destroying the surface that Honda spent so much time making smooth and flat. Its just my opinion and others may do it with impunity. I'm just saying i do not.

good luck
darcy

 

Just wipe down the area that the gasket seals on, and make sure there aren't any foreign particles on the gasket once you've got it on the valve cover. I had a leak from a brand new gasket, turns out I had a piece of a leaf stuck on the gasket and kept it from sealing. You live and you learn, anyway something to think about. Valve cover gasket is good to replace once every 4-5 years of daily driving(along with a valve adjustment, you know since your doing that might as well), that way you don't have to give the valve cover a few love taps with a rubber mallet because the gasket sort of fused itself to the head.

 

Hey Guys/Girls,

I actually replaced the valve cover gasket and grommets with a new OEM one and after putting everything back the first time, it leaked a lot more than normally. I think it was because I didn't loosen the TDC sensors to get enough clearance and the gasket got pinched and didn't seal properly.

So I took it apart and redid it a second time and everything went well. I checked in the morning and only a few drops of oil leaked. I will drive it a bit tonight to see if the oil will burn off, but if not, I have a spare OEM (new) VC gasket that I can put on again. It does take some practice to remove the VC on this car, there isn't much room back there.

I used a tiny bit of Hondabond as well even though it doesn't need it.

Also, the allen bolts are a pain to take off! I stripped one

Cheers,

Van

 

Yeah it's easy to strip the allen bolts if you use a small allen key, you need a nice long one, and make sure it's in there deep.

 

Cool thanks!