valve covers, not gaskets

eastcoastLS

eastcoastLS

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Got a call from the service advisor and he says I need new valve COVERS, not gasket's, 7 plugs, 6 boots, and 1 coil. Is there any reason I would ever have to replace the valve covers themself? What could make the valve covers need replacing? What are the valve covers made of? Could they get bent or warped just from normal driving. Although my LS drives fine, when I'm stopped at a light I will feel a very subtle misfire.
 
From overtightening maybe? They are made of plastic I believe. So if they overtorqued the bolts, sure that could damage them. Go down and see exactly why they need replacing. It's pretty probable that it's their fault.
 
yes, they more than likely broke it unless you have played with it yourself and ignored torqing sequence. i would suspect more than one coil would be bad though if you were driving around with a cracked cover, but i'm not familiar with the gasket layout. wouldn't you get a check engine light with the cover venting to atmosphere?
 
eastcoastLS said:
Got a call from the service advisor and he says I need new valve COVERS, not gasket's, 7 plugs, 6 boots, and 1 coil. Is there any reason I would ever have to replace the valve covers themself? What could make the valve covers need replacing? What are the valve covers made of? Could they get bent or warped just from normal driving. Although my LS drives fine, when I'm stopped at a light I will feel a very subtle misfire.
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IIRC, there was a problem early on ('00-'01) and there was a newly designed cover. I don't remember the specifics.......
 
Thank you all for the quick response. I'm about to go over there and see what their reason is for replacing.
 
NYC LS8 said:
Is this warranty work or is it coming out of your pockets?
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Yea, my pockets:mad::mad: I'm thinking about not getting it fixed, selling the LS and getting a newer one. Like I said, the car drives fine. They wanted 1300 for the 2 valve covers the 7 plugs 6 boots and 1 coil. The car has never been neglected. I have all the history of the vehicle and its over 37 pages of invoices from repairs/maintenance.
 
Holy crap. I'm actually trying to set up a service appointment for my car. It's been getting worse and worse now with still no sign of a check engine light...even with the stock tune put back in. :mad: Luckily the coils and gaskets are covered under that extended factory warranty for the 2003s.

Good luck with everything, man.
 
OK, according to my local stealership, my valve covers are warped?!?! WTF? I have searched this forum high and low and not seen one issue concerning warped VC. How the hell do these things warp anyways. My car has never had any overheating issues. It's full of coolant and runs like a top. The mechanic never pulled the valve covers btw. He just stated that there were 6 boots deteriorated from oil. Is it possible to tell just by looking at the VC that it's warped? Or is Osman Lincoln Mercury full of b/s?
 
They probably don't know that there's seals in each plug well and are assuming they're warped. That's my guess.
 
i dont think this composite will warp, unless your car is on fire
 
I would shop another dealer/garage and get the gaskets/seals replaced. The sets for the LS are reasonably priced $38.00 each your cost. Then look at the boots $9.36 each your cost and if they are oil soaked replace them as well. The cam covers are $130.00 left side and $113.00 for the right.

Max
 
THanks again. And thank you mrzeee for the prices.

That was kinda what I was trying to get at, that my dealer may be the crooked'est one around. I was trying to get someone to look up if this dealer had good or bad ratings. I don't see how the valve covers could warp nor how you would be able to tell if they were warped by not removing any part of the engine. Anyone else know if the valve covers can or cannot warp? I'm very irritated since I specifically told the service adviser that I am trying to get my car diagnosed for a misfiring issue and then get shelled some bullshet by someone that thinks the valve cover is warped!!
 
Warped?

I guess you can warp almost anything if you try hard enough, but the only way I can see to check would be to take them off and lay them, edge down, on a known flat surface. They are a very tough plastic composite, just as the intake manifold is. And even if slightly warped, the gaskets should make up the difference.
BTW, the gasket (seal) set is three pieces for each side. One piece goes all the way around the outer edge, and the other two each seal two of the plug holes. They're a rubbery material and compress somewhat to seal. The latest design is a blackish color.
KS
 
cammerfe said:
I guess you can warp almost anything if you try hard enough, but the only way I can see to check would be to take them off and lay them, edge down, on a known flat surface. They are a very tough plastic composite, just as the intake manifold is. And even if slightly warped, the gaskets should make up the difference.
BTW, the gasket (seal) set is three pieces for each side. One piece goes all the way around the outer edge, and the other two each seal two of the plug holes. They're a rubbery material and compress somewhat to seal. The latest design is a blackish color.
KS
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That's exactly what I was thinking. If you have the time and know how, take one off and lay it on your workbench. Should be level.

As for overtightening the bolts, i thought they had a sleeve that would break free to keep the valve cover from being damaged.
 
Little update. Took the car from Florida to North Carolina (12 hours of 70+ mph). Car ran great entire way. So even with "warped" valve covers, and all those problems listed in post 1 the LS was able to make it 807 miles and run fine at that.
 
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