TGIF All,

Just replaced the plugs on my 97 Accord SE (with 176K). About 30K miles ago, I did the plugs and pulled the valve cover and did the upper seals and cover gasket.

Still getting oil in the plug holes, and was thinking about doing the lower seals as PA Honda mentioned.

I did watch a you tube video on replacing the lower seals, and I do most minor maintenance on my car.

Was wondering if for a few hundred dollars or so I should leave it to a professional?

Also I think when this job is done, the valves need adjustment too, which I have never had done since I bought the car with 152K on it.

Thanks!

 

I've never done this job but it doesn't appear to be difficult. There are warnings about loosening the valve train bolts equally to avoid stress on camshaft, and not to remove the bolts but leave them installed in the valve train assembly. Follow the procedure for loosening and retightening.

Valve adjustment is very easy job w/ feeler gauge and 10mm wrench. In principle, this job should not change the valve gap settings,

If you don't have a shop manual, check Online Manuals links in DIY forum for a download. I think there's a 91 Accord manual that should serve for your car.

good luck

 

My 2¢: Both jobs are easy and both Eric the Car Guy videos for these jobs are excellent. Just be careful putting the rocker arm shafts back down, checking that the rocker arms are about where they should be - not swung around one way or the other - before you torque down the shafts.

I adjusted the valves on my '96, then a few thousand miles later had to do a head gasket, replacing the lower seals while I was in there. Before the HG replacement the valves were quiet but afterwards I can hear one ticking, indicating that the clearance for at least one of the valves changed after the rocker arm R&R.