Difficulty
Easy
Steps
9
Time Required
20 - 30 minutes
Sections
1
- Valve Cover Gasket
- 9 steps
Flags
0
Back1996-2000 Honda Civic
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Introduction
All models within the year 1996-2000 Honda Civic have the same valve cover gasket. This guide will illustrate the basics of an oil leak from a bad valve cover gasket and provide instructions on replacing the valve cover gasket.
What you need
Step 1
Valve Cover Gasket
- Pull the lever towards you to release the hood. You should hear a pop release coming from the front of the hood.
- Push and hold the hood latch with the left hand and pull the hood up with your right hand to open.
- Lock the hood stand into the two holes to keep the hood up located on the right-hand side of the hood.
- Check the hood stand is secured and sturdy so that it doesn’t collapse onto you.
Pull the lever towards you to release the hood. You should hear a pop release coming from the front of the hood.
Push and hold the hood latch with the left hand and pull the hood up with your right hand to open.
Lock the hood stand into the two holes to keep the hood up located on the right-hand side of the hood.
Check the hood stand is secured and sturdy so that it doesn’t collapse onto you.
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Step 2
- Visually inspect for any burns or black spots are usually an indication of an oil leak caused by a bad valve cover gasket.
Visually inspect for any burns or black spots are usually an indication of an oil leak caused by a bad valve cover gasket.
Step 3
- Disconnect the battery by using the ratchet with a 10 mm socket.
- Rotate the ratchet counterclockwise to remove the bolts.
- Place the positive and negative terminal cables away from any contact with the battery or metal components.
- Avoid contacting the terminal leads; arching/shocking will occur if the two-terminal leads touch each other.
Disconnect the battery by using the ratchet with a 10 mm socket.
Rotate the ratchet counterclockwise to remove the bolts.
Place the positive and negative terminal cables away from any contact with the battery or metal components.
Avoid contacting the terminal leads; arching/shocking will occur if the two-terminal leads touch each other.
Step 4
- Use tape to label the spark plug wires numbers 1 thru 4.
- Pull the spark plug wires up or towards your upper body to remove them from the engine valve cover.
- Twist and pull the air intake breather tube to remove it from the valve cover.
Use tape to label the spark plug wires numbers 1 thru 4.
Pull the spark plug wires up or towards your upper body to remove them from the engine valve cover.
Twist and pull the air intake breather tube to remove it from the valve cover.
Step 5
- Remove the single 10 mm bolt that is attached to the spark plug fixture mount.
- Remove the three 10 mm bolts in the front and the two 10mm bolts from the back of the valve cover in a counterclockwise motion.
- Pull the valve cover up to remove it from the engine and place it aside.
Remove the single 10 mm bolt that is attached to the spark plug fixture mount.
Remove the three 10 mm bolts in the front and the two 10mm bolts from the back of the valve cover in a counterclockwise motion.
Pull the valve cover up to remove it from the engine and place it aside.
Step 6
- Wipe and clean off the cylinder head surface using a shop towel.
- Use a flat head screwdriver to help scrape in between areas that are difficult to reach.
Wipe and clean off the cylinder head surface using a shop towel.
Use a flat head screwdriver to help scrape in between areas that are difficult to reach.
Step 7
- Grip the square tab with your fingers and pull up to remove the valve cover gasket.
- Install the new gasket with the square tab located to the lower right of the valve cover.
Grip the square tab with your fingers and pull up to remove the valve cover gasket.
Install the new gasket with the square tab located to the lower right of the valve cover.
Step 8
- Install the valve cover back onto the engine.
- Bolts will shear if over-tightened.
- Install the five 10mm bolts onto the valve cover starting with the middle first follow by the outer bolts in an X-pattern fashion.
- Install the single 10mm bolt with the spark plug wire fixture mount.
- Install the spark plug wires back into the valve cover in numeric order that it was removed.
- Install the air intake breather tube.
Install the valve cover back onto the engine.
Bolts will shear if over-tightened.
Install the five 10mm bolts onto the valve cover starting with the middle first follow by the outer bolts in an X-pattern fashion.
Install the single 10mm bolt with the spark plug wire fixture mount.
Install the spark plug wires back into the valve cover in numeric order that it was removed.
Install the air intake breather tube.
Step 9
- Reconnect the battery cables starting with the black negative cable then the red positive cable.
- Remove all tapes from spark plug wires.
- Verify all bolts are installed and secured, then close the hood.
Reconnect the battery cables starting with the black negative cable then the red positive cable.
Remove all tapes from spark plug wires.
Verify all bolts are installed and secured, then close the hood.
Now that you have successfully installed a new valve cover gasket, the oil-burning into the atmosphere is now gone along with improving the engine’s life.
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Kee Her
Member since: 01/05/2021
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Oregon Institute of Technology, Team S2-G11, Rauch Winter 2021
Member of Oregon Institute of Technology, Team S2-G11, Rauch Winter 2021
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