I just purchased a 1998 Dakota 4x4 off-road and the driver's side valve cover gasket is leaking a very tiny amount on the side nearest the cab. I can smell it when my engine is hot. My truck has the 5.2 magnum engine in it. My question is: What can I put on the leak to stop it without having to change the gaskets. I don't have a lot of money to do this with. Please give me any advice you may have!

 

welcome to DF...

your best bet is to yank it off, wipe it down and then reinstall it, they are reuseable. most likely the bolts are loose and it's causing the seepage

 

ya, you could just tighten down the bolts and make sure they are all tight. sometimes they just come a lil loose and start to leak.

 

i would jus go ahead and replace the gasket... b/c if u tore all of that apart and put it together w/o a new one u have the risk of it not working then u gotta tear it all apart again to put a new one on.. if u put a new one on then it will save u some time

 

Or buy something like rvt gasket maker. This will work if you apply all the way around but a new gasket is the best way to go. I just removed my cover one that side and the gasket still worked. But make sure the bolts are to spec something like 22 ft pounds?

 

valve covers gaskets require very light torque. as said. take them off and reinstall and torque to around to13 Lbs even.

 

and I wouldnt suggest rtv on them. take them off, clean them up& reinstall them. they should be a rubber type of gasket...

 

Stock Gaskets are re-useable, take the covers off and clean them, and make sure no dirt falls into them, make sure you blow the **** off first with some compressed air or somthing, also taking off the covers can be a bitch sometimes. Alot of heater hoses in the way and injector lines,

i would check for cracks and loose bolts first...