# Valve Cover gasket leak

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-cover-gasket-leak/16565>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 11, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-cover-gasket-leak/16565 "2008-07-11T21:23:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Boggie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Boggie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Boggie)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-cover-gasket-leak/16565/1 "2008-07-11T21:23:43Z")

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My '93 Buick LeSabre has had a valve cover gasket leak for some time; 125,000 miles on engine. Last week, smoked under hood from it, after only driving it 5 miles…then it stopped after burning off. Oil level stays same, but smoke concerned me. Is it dangerous to drive, fire-wise? Do I need the $208 valve gasket garage-quoted repair?

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**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-cover-gasket-leak/16565/2 "2008-07-11T21:30:36Z")

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It’s more of a nuisance. It’s difficult for the oil to actually catch fire. If it was easy…my 84 S-15 would have gone up in smoke in the first couple of years.

Replacing a valve cover gasket on fi cars is a pain because there’s usually a lot more junk to remove just to get to the gasket. Since the car is so old I wouldn’t worry about it. Valve covers don’t leak that much oil. If it gets worse then you can reconsider having it fixed.

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**Author:** ![Boggie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Boggie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Boggie)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-cover-gasket-leak/16565/3 "2008-07-11T21:47:07Z")

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Thanks, Mike, you’ve helped a senior lady.  
Appreciate it.

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**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-cover-gasket-leak/16565/4 "2008-07-11T21:54:02Z")

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On cars that have their sparkplugs in “wells” surrounded by the valve cover a valve cover can leak and fill up these “wells”.Not your case BMW V-8’s will do this.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valve-cover-gasket-leak/16565/5 "2008-07-11T21:58:09Z")

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Consider inspecting the PCV valve before doing anything. A clogged up PCV will pressure up the crankcase and can cause a number of oil leaks. The PCV is dirt cheap, easy to install, and should be part of a regular inspection.

It’s not a bad idea to simply check the valve cover bolts and make sure they’re snug at the same time.