Is a Head gasket the same thing as the valve cover gasket, on my honda civic si?
LOL. No. You don't get away that easily. The valve cover gasket only keeps oil from splashing all over the engine bay. It literally covers the valves, sealing the engine interior away from the general environment. Th head is the part of the engine that the valve cover sits on. It contains the valves, and either the camshaft or the rods that lead to a camshaft deeper in the engine, and of course the rocker assembly. You have to remove all those big bolts along the casting to break the head free, and you'll need a torque wrench to get the pressure right when you're reinstalling it. The head gasket seals the tops of the cylinders [incorporated in the bottom of the head] to the cylinders themselves [bored into the block proper.] Have fun!!!!!
Depending on the material..If it is cork..you should change it every time..if it is neopreme..it can be reused...but what I don't understand is why do them seperatly..you have to take the valve cover off to replace the head gasket.
no a head gasket fits betweem the head an the block. the valve cover gasket goes on the cover over the valves or rocker cover are same its sits on the very top of engine
Head gaskets are made of metal.Valve covers gaskets are made of cork.
Head gasket is between the head and block. It's primary job is to cushion between the two, dealing with high temperature and pressures of combustion process. So it helps in maintaining combustion chamber pressure, sealing coolant, sealing oil passages between the two parts (head block). Requires major disassembly to replace if needed, and may only be part of a larger looming problem in the motor. Valve cover gasket is between top of head and valve cover. For your Honda, it involves a large rubber/neoprene o-ring that fits in a groove channel in the valve cover, specially formed for the shape of it. Also with it, should change out the other smaller seals that go around the spark plug tuges, and valve cover hold-down studs. If you have oil leaking around the outside edge of the valve cover and in the spark plug wire tubes, you can buy the set and have it easily replaced or do yourself if have the tools skill.
