Good Greif…PLEASE dont junk an otherwise good vehicle because of a 9 dollar gasket… Simply remove the bolts holding the valve cover on…and replace the gasket.
The only thing you need to devote time toward in this service is cleaning the cylinder head gasket mating surface… Use a solvent or carb spray or Brake cleaner on a rag and wipe any oil residue off of the gasket mating surface on the engine…the shiny gasket surface exposed when removing the cover…
Next I always use a pea sized dot of RTV silicone gasket maker wherever there is an Arch…like over the cams you will see the gasket arch over it…you put a small dab of sealant at those corners…
Then just reinstall the valve cover gasket…tighten bolts…de-grease engine (Optional) and GO…
Put it thisa way…I had my Girlfriend do hers while I monitored things…She had no issues what so ever and had a huge smile on her face the rest of the day feeling empowered…you will have the same feeling when you finish. Then she did her own brake pads too… Spent the rest of the day trying to explain how good it felt too…which is why I hold “class” every now and again…to pass on the empowerment…
This is as minor and easy as it gets really…aside from changing a lightbulb
Blackbird