Folks, i've fairly mechanical with most stuff and have replaced brake pads water pumps and such but have never done a valve cover gasket. I just purchased my valve cover gasket today for $20.99 and bought some new plugs to replace while i'm doing this but my main question is this, is there anything that i should know about before tackling this job, it seems fairly easy but i keep hearing about some spark plug tubes and so forth?
Can anyone elaborate on this for me?
Its a 1998 Honda Accord with 111,000 miles, 4 cylinder.
Also, i have some blue and red silicone, should this be used as well?
Also, does anyone know the torque specs for when i re-install the valve cover bolts


Thanks

Did you get the plug tube seals that are in the valve cover, they are pressed in there and need to be knocked out and then installed with a proper seal driver or a socket that will fit the outer part of the seals. Apply a small amount of grease on each tube seal. (this is for later)

Get some Honda bond or grey silicone, it's required for the corners of the gasket. Otherwise it will leak.

When you put it together, make sure to use brake cleaner on a rag and wipe down the cylinder head surface, esp the corners. Make sure there's no residue of silicone there. Put a drop about a little larger than a quarter of an inch at each corner (at each cap for the rocker shafts) Have the valve cover ready to install, you'll only have about 2 minutes to put it on.

Lower the cover, and align the tube seals over the tubes, the grease will help them to slide over them. Use your fingers to make sure they do go over them, sometimes they can get folded over.

Tighten the bolts from the center out in a "circular" type pattern and tighten them until they stop and snug them firmly but not too tight.

i did get the seals and also the grease. Thanks for the tip on the silicone in the corners, i just saw that on the net but thanks again for the tip. I also read where the valve cover bolts need to torqued at 86 in-lbs so i'll be doing that as well.
Thanks for the reply and all the info you gave me
rockey

What kind of plugs and valve cover gasket did you get?

I just purchased some Champion plugs and went ahead and replaced the plug wires as well. The valve cover gasket i purchased was from Adavnce Auto parts but i dont recall the name brand, it was $20.99. I just finished the job a little earlier today and other than having a hard time removing the gasket from the valve cover its was fairly easy, too about 1.5 hrs to remove the gasket from the valve cover though, it had bonded with the valve cover pretty good and it was very tough to remove.
Thanks for the advice guys.

I'm too late to ask/comment now, but did you do a valve adjustment while you had the valve cover off? :wave: