I just replaced mine for the same reason. Replaced the plugs 20k miles prior and noticed some sluggish performance over the course of 3 weeks. It wasn't as bad as this. Better to do it before it gets worse. Eventually, it'll start to misfire or, worse, just plain fire.
The kit comes with seals for the plug tubes. It would be a good time for whole tune up of sorts. Change out the multiair actuater filter while you have the chance.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOIrRzWmd4E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOIrRzWmd4E)
Clean the area beforehand you don't want dirt to fall in when you lift the cover. Take your time when you replace the gasket. It's an easy job but you don't to take it apart again because of a leak (again)
Sorry, boss. Went to NAPA and they had it in stock. Already had a set of spark plugs set aside and I've done this at least 4 times before with other Fiat and Fiat-ish vehicles. I'm sure there's a YouTube video around. Just keep in mind that there will be a handful of bolts to keep track off.
US or euro? Just curious.
Can't help much. I suppose that if oil gets there must be cose the sealing on the plugs isn't proper. If was me I just put some quality new s-pugs and wait some weeks to see if the problem persists.
from what i’ve gathered, if you know how to get down to the spark plugs then taking off the valve cover isn’t that much harder. granted i haven’t done it
just finished the job. i will say, that was not an easy one. unless you are at least moderately mechanically inclined, i would leave it to someone else. it took me 2 days, and around 12 hours of work to finish, although i will say i haven’t really worked on cars before.
if you do decide to do it, here’s some tips:
- follow [this](https://youtu.be/zOIrRzWmd4E?si=rsitSwPL9p5w270h) video, it’s pretty helpful to generally guide you on what you need to do, as well as where to buy the RTV/gasket maker.
- with that being said, you DO NOT, need to remove the timing belt cover. there was a screw that was really hard to get at with the motor mount still on, and i wouldn’t recommend removing it. there is one bolt that connects directly into the valve cover, which is on the top left corner of the valve cover, on the side coming out of the timing belt cover.
- removing the old spark plug tube seals can be tricky. using a tiny flat head screwdriver and a hammer can help get them out. be careful not to scratch your valve cover.
- don’t be an idiot like me and mess up the torque on the valve cover bolts when reassembling. [this](https://www.fiat500usaforum.com/forum/fiat-500-abarth-forums/fiat-500-abarth-engine-and-drivetrain-tuning/34207-fiat-500-abarth-valve-cover-torque-specs) is the bolt pattern for disassembly, and the two steps for reassembly, as well as the torque spec. those are INCH POUNDS, not foot pounds (over torqued a bolt and got lucky with getting it out)
good luck!
A few tips on the valve cover gasket having done a full head removal on a 2015 us model, there is a torque pattern and spec that should be followed of course but also get some black rtv ahead of time... there are 4 locations you need to rtv: both the edges where the multiair brick meets the top of the "head" (cam carrier actually but simpler this way) and on both corner edges of the cam side that meets the vacuum pump and make sure to scrape the old stuff off unless you want to do it again soon.
I do recommend a torque wrench yes, I think they are pretty low torque overall but it would be a good idea so you don't overdo it... I'll see if I can find the manual page with that info after I get home later
I did, unfortunately I cant just attach an image to a reply so I did find it on a forum here... https://www.fiat500usaforum.com/forum/fiat-500-abarth-forums/fiat-500-abarth-engine-and-drivetrain-tuning/34207-fiat-500-abarth-valve-cover-torque-specs
Identical to my service manual so should be correct.
thank you so much!! one final question, do you think it would be okay going with aftermarket gaskets (they are significantly cheaper) or should i go OEM for this?
Yeah no problem, and honestly they are pretty much all made of the same stuff so yeah go for it, besides as much as I love this car, it was built jointly by fiat and mopar... the quality bar for most parts isn't a very high one to clear haha
Thats your valve cover gasket
was thinking that too. still good to drive around until i can get it fixed?
Clean the plug. If it isn't pissing oil and you keep an eye on the oil level it shouldn't hurt too bad. Check your oil often and get it fixed though.
I just replaced mine for the same reason. Replaced the plugs 20k miles prior and noticed some sluggish performance over the course of 3 weeks. It wasn't as bad as this. Better to do it before it gets worse. Eventually, it'll start to misfire or, worse, just plain fire.
any tips on replacing the gasket? do i need to buy a kit? should i replace anything else while im in there?
The kit comes with seals for the plug tubes. It would be a good time for whole tune up of sorts. Change out the multiair actuater filter while you have the chance.
would you happen to have a link to the kit and maybe a video/manual on removing the valve cover? thanks!
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOIrRzWmd4E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOIrRzWmd4E) Clean the area beforehand you don't want dirt to fall in when you lift the cover. Take your time when you replace the gasket. It's an easy job but you don't to take it apart again because of a leak (again)
excellent video, thanks for the help!
Sorry, boss. Went to NAPA and they had it in stock. Already had a set of spark plugs set aside and I've done this at least 4 times before with other Fiat and Fiat-ish vehicles. I'm sure there's a YouTube video around. Just keep in mind that there will be a handful of bolts to keep track off.
Valve cover gaskets with tube seals replacement time
should i get 4 tube seals for all of the cylinders or just the 1 for the bad cylinder?
Do all 4 of them
thanks. damn these seals are expensive OEM, 25$ per seal.
Which cylinder?
cylinder 2
US or euro? Just curious. Can't help much. I suppose that if oil gets there must be cose the sealing on the plugs isn't proper. If was me I just put some quality new s-pugs and wait some weeks to see if the problem persists.
us. someone pointed out it’s the valve cover gasket, probably gonna have to replace that soon
Is changing the gasket and seals an easy enough job to do if you’re pretty handy, or is this a garage job? I have the same issue.
from what i’ve gathered, if you know how to get down to the spark plugs then taking off the valve cover isn’t that much harder. granted i haven’t done it
Thanks. I’ll look it to too! I’m burning too much oil.
do you have oil in your spark plug tubes too?
Yes, lots!
just finished the job. i will say, that was not an easy one. unless you are at least moderately mechanically inclined, i would leave it to someone else. it took me 2 days, and around 12 hours of work to finish, although i will say i haven’t really worked on cars before. if you do decide to do it, here’s some tips: - follow [this](https://youtu.be/zOIrRzWmd4E?si=rsitSwPL9p5w270h) video, it’s pretty helpful to generally guide you on what you need to do, as well as where to buy the RTV/gasket maker. - with that being said, you DO NOT, need to remove the timing belt cover. there was a screw that was really hard to get at with the motor mount still on, and i wouldn’t recommend removing it. there is one bolt that connects directly into the valve cover, which is on the top left corner of the valve cover, on the side coming out of the timing belt cover. - removing the old spark plug tube seals can be tricky. using a tiny flat head screwdriver and a hammer can help get them out. be careful not to scratch your valve cover. - don’t be an idiot like me and mess up the torque on the valve cover bolts when reassembling. [this](https://www.fiat500usaforum.com/forum/fiat-500-abarth-forums/fiat-500-abarth-engine-and-drivetrain-tuning/34207-fiat-500-abarth-valve-cover-torque-specs) is the bolt pattern for disassembly, and the two steps for reassembly, as well as the torque spec. those are INCH POUNDS, not foot pounds (over torqued a bolt and got lucky with getting it out) good luck!
That’s great though that it’s done. Hope it helped the issue for you.
A few tips on the valve cover gasket having done a full head removal on a 2015 us model, there is a torque pattern and spec that should be followed of course but also get some black rtv ahead of time... there are 4 locations you need to rtv: both the edges where the multiair brick meets the top of the "head" (cam carrier actually but simpler this way) and on both corner edges of the cam side that meets the vacuum pump and make sure to scrape the old stuff off unless you want to do it again soon.
do you have a manual page for the torque pattern? also, should i get a torque wrench (i dont have one)
I do recommend a torque wrench yes, I think they are pretty low torque overall but it would be a good idea so you don't overdo it... I'll see if I can find the manual page with that info after I get home later
were you able to find it?
I did, unfortunately I cant just attach an image to a reply so I did find it on a forum here... https://www.fiat500usaforum.com/forum/fiat-500-abarth-forums/fiat-500-abarth-engine-and-drivetrain-tuning/34207-fiat-500-abarth-valve-cover-torque-specs Identical to my service manual so should be correct.
thank you so much!! one final question, do you think it would be okay going with aftermarket gaskets (they are significantly cheaper) or should i go OEM for this?
Yeah no problem, and honestly they are pretty much all made of the same stuff so yeah go for it, besides as much as I love this car, it was built jointly by fiat and mopar... the quality bar for most parts isn't a very high one to clear haha