Subaru Forester Valve Cover Gasket Replacement Costs

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Valve Cover Gasket Replacement Service

How much does a Valve Cover Gasket Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Subaru Forester Valve Cover Gasket Replacement is $239 with $29 for parts and $210 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2012 Subaru ForesterH4-2.5L	Service typeValve Cover Gasket Replacement	Estimate$372.74	Shop/Dealer Price$413.20 - $522.43
2015 Subaru ForesterH4-2.5L	Service typeValve Cover Gasket Replacement	Estimate$275.99	Shop/Dealer Price$292.99 - $337.80
1999 Subaru ForesterH4-2.5L	Service typeValve Cover Gasket Replacement	Estimate$334.77	Shop/Dealer Price$366.50 - $455.43
2005 Subaru ForesterH4-2.5L Turbo	Service typeValve Cover Gasket Replacement	Estimate$1035.01	Shop/Dealer Price$1175.98 - $1584.70
2005 Subaru ForesterH4-2.5L	Service typeValve Cover Gasket Replacement	Estimate$580.62	Shop/Dealer Price$659.44 - $880.92
2014 Subaru ForesterH4-2.0L Turbo	Service typeValve Cover Gasket Replacement	Estimate$615.49	Shop/Dealer Price$679.67 - $860.51
2007 Subaru ForesterH4-2.5L	Service typeValve Cover Gasket Replacement	Estimate$353.39	Shop/Dealer Price$389.80 - $492.70
2006 Subaru ForesterH4-2.5L	Service typeValve Cover Gasket Replacement	Estimate$353.39	Shop/Dealer Price$389.77 - $492.66

Show example Subaru Forester Valve Cover Gasket Replacement prices

What is a valve cover gasket and how does it work?

Each cylinder head on your car’s engine has an aluminum or plastic valve cover bolted to it. Between this valve cover and the cylinder head, there is a gasket that keeps engine oil from leaking out. The valve cover bolts keep the gasket compressed, thus preventing leaks. Over time the gasket becomes brittle from the engine’s heat or the bolts loosen, creating an engine oil leak.

When to consider replacing a valve cover gasket?

Look for these signs of oil leakage at the valve cover gasket:

Oil seepage or dripping. Should the joint between the valve cover and the cylinder head fail, oil often becomes visible on the valve cover or cylinder heads. Usually, the oil will attract and hold dirt.
Oil accumulating inside the spark plug well. The spark plug tube seals are part of the valve cover sealing system. If the tube seals are leaking, you will see oil on the spark plugs or wires. The valve cover gasket and tube seals are all replaced at one time if either fails.
Oil leakage at the rubber grommets. The bolts holding the valve cover to the cylinder head sometimes have rubber grommet seals under the bolt heads. If these seals are leaking, you will see oil seepage around the bolt heads.

How do mechanics replace a valve cover gasket?

Remove engine cover. Some engines have plastic covers over the entire top. The plastic engine cover is removed to access the valve cover(s).
Remove components. On 4 cylinder engines, the valve cover is usually readily accessed once any electrical components and emission control tubing are removed, plus any accelerator linkages that might be in the way. On 6 or 8 cylinder engines, depending on which valve cover gasket is leaking, removal of the air intake plenum might be required, as well as additional steps.
Remove valve cover. Once the valve cover(s) is accessed, the cover retaining bolts are removed and the cover pulled off. The valve cover sealing surface is checked with a straight edge to be sure the cover is flat and thus reusable.
Install new gasket. The new valve cover gasket is applied along with new rubber grommets under the retaining bolt heads. If there are spark plug tube seals, these are replaced as well. In some applications, oil resistant RTV (room temperature vulcanization) sealant must be applied to specific segments of the sealing surface, along with the new gasket, to ensure a complete and effective seal. The cover is bolted back on, using a calibrated inch pound torque wrench, and all other components are restored to their original position.
Check for leaks. Finally, the car engine is run and a visual check is made for oil leaks.

Is it safe to drive with a valve cover gasket problem?

Yes, as long as the amount of oil leaking is small, and there is no leak onto hot engine parts such as the exhaust manifold, it is safe to drive your car until you have an opportunity to fix it.

If you notice oil leaking on to the ground beneath your car after it is parked, you do not have a small leak, and it needs to be found and repaired as soon as possible. Any leak, of course, means your oil level is dropping as you drive the car. If you have a leak, be sure to check your oil more frequently than usual so you do not run low on oil and damage the engine.

When replacing a valve cover gasket keep in mind:

The mechanical components of a car engine will typically outlive the gaskets used to seal the engine. However, many of these gaskets, including the valve cover gaskets, are relatively easy to replace.
Never add stop leak type products to engine oil or other vehicle fluids. Not only are these materials not approved or specified by the original equipment manufacturers, but they also can create additional problems that may be costly to repair.
Often, if a car is old enough to have a valve cover oil leak, there will be oil leaks elsewhere on the engine, so you should request a complete leak inspection. It may be more cost effective to repair multiple leaks during one service call.
Often, the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) valve is inserted into a rubber grommet in one of the valve covers. An old rubber grommet is a potential leak source, as well as connections to the PCV valve. These components should be inspected and considered for replacement while there is access to the valve cover.

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Gregory

208 years of experience

385 reviews

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Gregory

208 years of experience

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by Eleanore Thayer

Forester 2007 - Valve Cover Gasket - Littleton, CO

Once again, Greg did a great job! Surprised how fast he was but thorough and explained some further details for me. He is great.

Mike

10 years of experience

177 reviews

Mike

10 years of experience

by Yolanda Houser

Forester 2006 - Valve Cover Gasket - Raleigh, NC

Mike is a consummate professional who goes beyond what is asked of him. His passion for being a mechanic is shown in his immense knowledge and exemplary customer service. Mike is not simply a mechanic, he is an educator as well sharing his expertise in a way that is accessible to learning about the functions of a vehicle. His approach to customer service; open communication, explaining the process to the customer and responsiveness, are attributes that should be replicated. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a trusted expert in the field.

Graham

14 years of experience

132 reviews

Graham

14 years of experience

by Donovan Summerville

Forester 2009 - Valve Cover Gasket - Elgin, IL

Graham came on time. Was very friendly and had no problem discussing what he was doing or why he was doing it. Had no issues with me watching him to ensure everything was being repaired without any incident. If everything stays solid on the vehicle, he will definitely be requested by me again.

Darnell

19 years of experience

5 reviews

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Darnell

19 years of experience

Request Darnell

by Marissa Kimsey

Forester 1998 - Starter - Los Angeles, CA

Darnell was very professional and helpful! He broke everything down and leveled with me, which I really appreciate. Can’t recommend him enough!!

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