hey guys. recently i have been smelling burning oil on occasion and i really didnt think anything of it untill my low oil thing popped up on the DIC. as it turns out, i have a massive leak out of my rear valve cover gasket. o ive parked the car and have been driving the civic and i was just wondering how involved it is to replace? ive done valve covers on my dads elca and all but never one that seems to have so much covering it. for instance the water hose that goes into an inlet near the alternator.

so basically what im asking is what all will i need to remove to be able to take off the rear valve cover? my fear is jumping into it in the 25* weather in my driveway and running into a snag.

thanks alot guys!

It makes it easier if you remove the alternator and the engine cover bracket. And that'* all I can think of.

is there any place to put a wrench on the serp belt tensioner or do you just have to muscle it on? thanks alot

15mm socket wrench. The longer the handle the better, it can take some force to push towards the firewall to get the belt off. And protect your hands, if that wrench slips off the nut, boy oh boy, the new bibles that can be written in the driveway.

haha thanks alot. hopefully ill have time to do that tomorrow. gotta drive it to court on friday to prove that my tint was removed.

Valve cover gaskets aren't really that bad, just removing stuff that is in your way. I had to replace mine a few months ago on my 96 Monte Carlo Z34. I know it is a different engine, but I am ummm...not so talented in the mechanic department, and I did it.

The rear is a bit tight. Like mentioned, remove the engine lift bracket. I toss them, no need for it. Any other brackets should be removed. Once all that'* out of the way, the rest is easy.

I seem to remember also having to remove the alternator bracket that the coolant elbows run through as well? If that'* the case, you will also need the coolant elbows. No need to remove the hoses from the top, just move it off to the side.