Gaskets provide a seal between two engine surfaces. Engines are subject to changes in pressure and temperature by virtue of their function and material.

Engine experiences pressure from compression and vacuum as it gets heated up and cools down. As the engine parts expand and contract, they move away from each other and then draw together.

As the engine experiences stress and force from every direction, the gaskets get cooled, heated, and rubbed and ensures engine performance. These gaskets come in various shapes and sizes according to the specific needs.

Important among those gaskets are valve cover gaskets and head gaskets. Want to know more about valve cover gasket vs head gasket? Read below:

What is a Head Gasket?

A head gasket is an important component of an engine that is located between the engine lock and cylinder head. The engine can be split into two parts, the cylinder head which has parts such as spark plugs and valves, and engine block where the cylinders and pistons are located.

Head gasket which is designed to seal the internal combustion process is situated between two engine parts that keeps any fluids from mixing and leaking.

The head of the casket seals the engine’s combustion chamber that helps vehicles to build up appropriate compression necessary to maintain engine power. It prevents the engine from overheating and catching fire as it keeps the coolant or oil from leaking elsewhere.

What is a Valve Cover Gasket?

The valve cover gasket is placed between a thin steel cover, plastic composite cover, or cast aluminum, and a cylinder head. It is an important component of the engine that connects the cylinder head and valve cover. It prevents oil from leaking out.

The gasket is usually made of plastic, cork, or rubber and gets constantly exposed to higher temperatures. Like any other component, the valve cover gasket will wear out after long usage, which may affect its effectiveness to contain engine oil.

Difference between Head Gasket and Valve Cover Gasket

Here’s the important difference between a head gasket and a valve cover gasket:

Purpose

The valve cover gasket keeps the fuel and oil from leaking out of the engine as it travels around the valves, camshafts, and rockers. It also helps prevent any spark plug fluid leaks as it seals several spark plug ports.

The head gasket, on the other hand, seals the engine’s combustion chamber so that the vehicle can get the necessary compression to ensure the engine’s best performance. It also prevents any oil or coolant leaks and reduces the risk of the engine catching fire due to overheating.

Material used

The head gasket valve includes a number of thin narrow steel coats which are linked together and a valve cover gasket is made from silicone rubber. These layers could be made of graphite or copper, but most common steel is used.

The outer coating is usually protected by a Viton coating and a rubberized material is designed to improve the seal between engine block and cylinder head.

Durability

The valve cover gasket usually lasts for many years, with a range of 40,000 to 60,000 miles. The head gaskets usually last for 200,000.

Symptoms of a Blown Head Gasket and Valve Cover Gasket

The symptoms of a blown head gasket and a blown valve gasket are different, and they have different effects on the engine:

Symptoms of Valve Cover Gasket Blown

Leaking oil

If the oil is coming from the valve cover area, it can be the result of faulty gasket or valve cover. Inspect the surface where the gasket and engine gets connected.

At first it may look like a small leak that drips on the ground, but it has the potential for growing much larger and eventually covers the entire valve. During this process, a layer of grim starts to accumulate over the cover.

Burning oil smell

Oil leaking from the valve cover can give a foul smell by dripping on the exhaust and on the hot engine parts. The smell will be unpleasant when you open the cover, but the problem is you might not identify the right place of oil leak.

Low engine oil

Regularly inspect the oil level, and if it remains low after a recent filling, check for any signs of leaking that you may have overlooked. Make sure the engine has enough oil until you replace the valve cover. If you leave this problem to get big, then you may need a costly repair.

Dashboard red alert

The lack of lubrication and low engine pressure would be notified through the oil warning light. The engine light may also show if there is any gasket cover defect. These indicators show a critical problem that needs immediate fixation.

Misfiring engine

The oil leak from the valve cover gasket can seep all the way down the spark plug and eventually lead to spark plug tubes. This would have a negative impact on the performance of the engine and even a misfire.

Blown Head Gasket Symptoms

Contaminated engine oil

If the coolant from the engine mixes with oil, it would lose most of its lubricating properties. If the head gasket fails, then the engine coolant can enter the oil system, which would result in a thick, foamy mixture below the engine’s filler cap.

White smoke

The head gasket plays an important role in managing the coolant flow through the engine’s coolant channels. If there is any issue in the head gasket, the coolant may get leaked into combustion changers.

This would result in continuous smoke from the tailpipe, and would indicate head gasket issue.

Rough idle

If there are any excessive leaks in the head gasket, the engine won’t be able to produce enough power. This can result in the engine knocking, stalling, or even shutting down.

If the combustion gasses get mixed with the engine oil, then there may be an internal failure in the head gasket.

Engine overheat

An engine that constantly overheats is a symptom of a head gasket that is failing. The engine is forced to work harder to generate power if the head gasket is blown.

Also, a blown head gasket can cause your vehicle’s coolant to leak. This will result in underperformance of the engine cooling system and exacerbate the overheating situation.

Diagnosing a Leaking Valve Cover Gasket

Here are some simple steps to identify if there is any oil leak:

Use the dipstick to know about the oil level, and if it is low, then it could be a sign of an oil leak.

If the spark plugs are also drenched in oil, then it also shows the oil leak in the combustion chamber.

Diagnose Leaking Head Gasket

To diagnose the leaking head gasket do the compression test, which can detect any leaks in the gasket. Otherwise you can perform a dye test, which includes adding a special dye to the coolant and inspecting it using blacklights for leaks.

If there is any lead then the head gasket can be replaced, in some cases there may be a need for more extensive repairs.

Final thoughts

Knowing about valve cover gasket vs head gasket is important to maintaining effective engine performance. If you experience a fluid leak on any of the valves, make an appointment with a professional technician.

They will be able to diagnose any problem with head gaskets and valve cover gaskets and complete the necessary repairs.