Don't Blow a Gasket! (Valve Cover Gasket Replacement)
Serving: Jefferson City, MO
December 9, 2024
When you head out to your vehicle after it's been parked and notice oil leaking underneath it, that's something to have looked at right away. Oil leaks mean your oil level is probably low, and running a vehicle in that condition can lead to expensive repairs.
While there are many reasons oil leaks develop, one possibility is a bad valve cover gasket. Vehicle engines have a cover bolted over the spot where the engine valves are, and that cover keeps the oil inside the engine. In between the cover and the engine is a gasket that keeps that seal tight. But after many years of high engine temperatures and vibrations, that gasket or the bolts that hold on the valve cover can fail or loosen, and oil can leak.
You may see dirty oil on the valve cover in the engine compartment, near the spark plugs, or around the bolts that hold the valve cover on. All those are signs of leakage and time to bring your vehicle in for our technicians to check out.
In some vehicles, taking off the valve cover and replacing the gasket is a relatively easy job. In some models, though, other engine parts are located near that part of the engine and must be removed to get at the gasket, so repair costs can vary widely.
The technician will measure to make sure the valve cover isn't warped so it can be reused. If it is warped, they'll recommend replacing it with the gasket.
While the technician has that area of your engine accessible, they will also check to see if other components need replacing at the same time, which could save you money. And because valve cover gaskets usually fail in older vehicles, the technician will check for other oil leaks then, too.
One of the best ways to be sure your valve cover is doing its job is to have your vehicle regularly maintained. The technician will periodically look over your engine compartment and make sure you know when things are showing signs of age and wear BEFORE they fail and leave you stranded.
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Your vehicle's engine is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a power plant. But it has another power source that is vital as well: the alternator. The alternator is what puts out the electricity that powers such things as your lights, power windows, sound system, and navigation. Maybe you've started seeing those electrical components behaving in strange ways. Maybe your power windows are going up and down a little bit more slowly than they used to. Or perhaps your engine doesn't start as easily or is misfiring. Other signs of a failing alternator are headlights that are either brighter or dimmer than usual. If your battery keeps going dead, it could be that the alternator isn't recharging it. The alternator has to get its power from somewhere, and in vehicles with internal combustion engines, that power comes from a drive belt powered by the engine. Sometimes that belt can fail. If you hear a whining sound, it could mean bearings in the alternator aren't turning as freely as they used to. You could even notice a burning smell. Oh, and when you see your battery light illuminated on your dash (it looks like a rectangle with a - and + inside), it may be warning you that your alternator is not healthy. Bring your vehicle in to us for a diagnosis if you notice any of these symptoms. If your alternator is bad, we can recommend a new or remanufactured one to replace it. Some new alternators are warranted for life and remanufactured units usually are guaranteed as well. It's important to your vehicle's health to have its alternator putting out the right power consistently. It may not be as well known as the other power plant under the hood, but it's a vital part of helping your vehicle run the way it is designed to. Contact Frosty's Today! Read the original article on the NAPA website.
When the weather gets hot, some of the components of your vehicle are pushed to the limit. Here are a few things to watch out for as the mercury climbs higher:
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Have you ever thought about all the little things we do to keep our lives running smoothly - like vacuuming? It makes a room feel fresher and more comfortable. We may not consider that we're also prolonging the life of the carpet by keeping it clean. But JEFFERSON CITY, MO drivers don't always extend those good habits into the garage. Our vehicles need regular maintenance just like our rugs need vacuuming. We may not notice a difference in the feel or appearance of the vehicle, but just as cleaning a carpet carries the hidden reward of prolonging its life, maintaining our vehicles incurs a hidden reward that becomes noticeable at JEFFERSON CITY, MO gas stations. When it comes to reduced fuel economy, there are two culprits: increased friction and inefficient fuel combustion. That means that anything JEFFERSON CITY, MO drivers can do to decrease friction and increase the efficiency of their engines will translate to savings on fuel. Friction increases the amount of energy it takes to move something. So if we can reduce friction, we can decrease the amount of fuel it takes to run our vehicles. Engine oil is usually at the heart of friction problems in an engine. Too little oil means parts are not getting lubricated, which increases friction and dirty oil doesn't lubricate as well as clean oil. So one secret to good fuel economy is to stay on top of oil changes. Don't skip them and don't procrastinate. The same auto advice applies to transmission fluid. Keep it full and keep it clean, and your vehicle will run with less friction and better . If your tires are underinflated, it increases the friction between the tire and the road. Again, there is increased drag, and it takes more fuel to move your vehicle. People in JEFFERSON CITY, MO should check their tire pressure every month and keep their tires properly inflated. Alignment and brake problems can also increase friction. Besides saving fuel, keeping these systems in good repair has the added benefit of saving you on tires and brake pads. These items wear out more quickly when the alignment is off or when the brake system isn't in good working order. Talk to your friendly and knowledgeable Frosty Auto Clinic service advisor. The second culprit that stealthily steals our fuel economy is inefficient fuel combustion, which depends on the engine getting the right amount of clean fuel to the right place with the right pressure at the right time in the right pattern. The key to peak engine performance is to keep the fuel system clean. Varnish and gum can build up in a fuel system, which will interfere with the fuel injectors. The fuel injectors are responsible for all those “rights” we spoke of. If they're dirty, amounts, timing, pressure and spray patterns can all get out of whack. The result? Reduced fuel economy. A fuel system cleaning at Frosty Auto Clinic in JEFFERSON CITY, MO can get your injectors back on track, improving performance and efficiency. There are a few other maintenance items that can improve your fuel economy. One is to replace your PCV valve when it gets sticky. This valve allows unburned fuel in your engine exhaust to return to the engine. JEFFERSON CITY, MO can also replace worn spark plugs and dirty fuel filters. A well-maintained vehicle will require fewer repairs and save money at JEFFERSON CITY, MO gas pumps. Call us today!
The PCV valve is a little, inexpensive part that does a big job for JEFFERSON CITY, MO and our environment here in MO. PCV stands for Positive Crankcase Ventilation. The crankcase is the bottom area of the engine that holds the oil. When the engine's running, fuel is burned to generate power. Most of the exhaust from combustion goes out through the exhaust system. But some exhaust blows by the pistons and goes into the lower engine, or crankcase. These hot gases are about 70 percent unburned fuel. This can dilute and contaminate the oil, leading to damaging engine oil sludge. It can also cause engine corrosion. At high speeds, the pressure can build up to the point that gaskets and seals start to leak. Over time, the vented gases will gum up the PCV valve and it won't work well. That can lead to oil leaks, excessive oil consumption and reduced fuel economy. Fortunately, it's very easy to test the PCV valve, and it's quick and inexpensive to replace at Frosty Auto Clinic in JEFFERSON CITY, MO. Even so, it's often overlooked because many JEFFERSON CITY, MO don't know about it. Check your owner's manual or ask your friendly and knowledgeable Frosty Auto Clinic . If this is the first time you've heard of a PCV valve, you might be in line for a replacement. Please ask us at Frosty Auto Clinic about your PCV valve. For the price of a couple of burger combo meals at your favorite JEFFERSON CITY, MO drive-up window, you can avoid some very expensive deep engine repairs. Give us a call
Let's address a very important maintenance item for everyone in JEFFERSON CITY MO – timing belt replacement. It's important because letting this one slide can lead to very expensive engine damage. Your timing belt choreographs the timing of your combustion process. Your pistons travel up and down in the cylinder. Intake valves open at the right time to let in air and fuel; they close at the right time to allow the fuel to burn and then the exhaust valves open at the right time to let out the exhaust. All this happens thousands of times a minute and it's your timing belt that makes sure the valves are opening and closing at precisely the right time. If the timing is off, your engine won't run. And that's the best case. The worst case is that a valve is opening at the wrong time and collides with the piston. The result is bent valves and maybe even more damage to the cylinder head. Repairs can run several thousand dollars. Now, timing belts just wear out naturally so you want to replace a worn belt before it slips or breaks. Check your owner's manual or with your service advisor at Frosty Auto Clinic in JEFFERSON CITY, MO, to see when they recommend you replace the timing belt. If you've never replaced your timing belt and have more than 60,000 miles/100,000 kilometers on the clock, talk with your JEFFERSON CITY service advisor at Frosty Auto Clinic right away to see if you're due. On some engines, the water pump is driven by the timing belt as opposed to the serpentine belt. If that's the case, it's a good idea to replace the water pump when you're replacing the timing belt and vice versa, since much of the same work has to be done for either. The same is true for the timing belt tensioner – it should be inspected and possibly replaced. Now, replacing a timing belt is one of the more expensive routine maintenance items on your service schedule. But not replacing your timing belt can lead to some of the most expensive repairs you're likely to ever have. Call Us Today.
