# How many mechanics does it take to change a valve cover gasket? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** sienna, valves, gaskets, toyota, repair\ **Created:** [November 8, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191 "2009-11-08T13:06:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![librariandad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f19dbf/32.png) [@librariandad](https://community.cartalk.com/u/librariandad)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191/1 "2009-11-08T13:06:48Z")
I don’t have a punchline for this one. Seriously though, I just took my car in for a brake issue, and they showed me where oil had been leaking down to the underside of the engine and told me that they needed to replace the valve cover gaskets. The parts for that repair was $34, but the labor was $400. Is that reasonable on a 1999 Toyota Sienna? I’ve read that it’s generally a quick procedure, but that on some cars, it may require some work (=time=extra labor costs) to get to them. ---
**Author:** ![mshugna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@mshugna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mshugna)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191/2 "2009-11-08T13:33:40Z")
Hourly rate times the time required equals price…Does it take 4-6 hours to change a valve cover gasket??? ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191/3 "2009-11-08T13:51:59Z")
On the 99 Toyota Sienna, the front valve cover is quite easy to access and remove. The rear is a much different story. To remove the rear valve cover, you must first remove the top cowl (the one the wiper blade arms come out of), then remove the air plenum. You may likely find someone who will do it for less, but $400 labor doesn’t sound out-of-line. Udate: Thanks to Roadrunner for correcting my mistake of saying the intake needed to be removed. It’s the air plennum. ---
**Author:** ![librariandad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f19dbf/32.png) [@librariandad](https://community.cartalk.com/u/librariandad)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191/4 "2009-11-08T17:41:41Z")
That makes me feel better. I couldn’t figure out why the labor on this one item was so much more expensive than the others. Thanks for the information. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191/5 "2009-11-08T17:49:04Z")
Some double-jointed mechanics might be able to gently tighten the valve cover fasteners and stop the leak without replacing the gaskets… ---
**Author:** ![Wha-Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@Wha-Who](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wha-Who)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191/6 "2009-11-08T21:10:17Z")
If the front is the only one that is leaking, don’t do the rear one and save your money. V6 I assume. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191/7 "2009-11-08T21:17:11Z")
Like the others said, the rear’s a big job, so that’s not a bad price, if they do good work. Now is the time to combine several items, like spark plugs, timing belt, water pump, etc, if they are due or soon will be due, to eliminate double work. Just make sure they don’t double charge you! ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191/8 "2009-11-08T21:57:12Z")
You came in WAY under my standard price of $950 for doing work that requires an open hood. Congratulations; I think. ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191/9 "2009-11-08T22:21:34Z")
I combine jobs except when putting car in for a complex drivabilty concern,you want the mechanics full attention on that concern and not on how quick he can get to the gravy. ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191/10 "2009-11-09T01:28:14Z")
Remove the intake manifold to change valve cover gasket? I think you mean the air plenum. ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-many-mechanics-does-it-take-to-change-a-valve-cover-gasket/39191/11 "2009-11-09T03:38:10Z")
Correct, I did mean the air plenum. Thanks for correcting me.