Need to take the valve cover out for a paint job.
Do I need a new valve-cover gasket or is it ok to use the old one
when I put the valve cover back?
Gaja

 

Most of the time the old one is fine to reuse.

 

 

They are okay to re-use but they tend to swell because the oil gets into the gasket. You are better off replacing it. I think they sell a valve cover gasket around $15-20 bucks. I think that also includes the spark plug gromets (dont hold me to that)

 

List price $230.15 for the upper end gasket set with the spark plug grommets and valve cover gasket.

 

Clean it and reuse it, you'll be fine.

 

whaaaaa?

12040-PCX-305 GASKET SET, HEAD COVER 001 2000 S2000 28.73

valve cover gasket

if it's me, for ~$25 i replace it.

 

Thanks everyone for advice. The *$%#@*ing dealership spilled brake fluid on the gasket during the last oil change and scrathed the paint. So now it has to be repainted.

 

I did a valve adjustment a few days ago and the original gasket at 47k miles seemed to be in perfect shape. I have had no issues since I put the valve cover back on, just be sure to use the correct torque specs and torquing order as specified in the service manual.

 

What were they doing with brake fluid near the valve cover?