Just wondering how easy the valve covers are on a 97 camaro. Mine are leaking pretty bad. They look pretty cozzy and tucked away. Is it worth doing in my garage over a weekend or should i just take it to a shop.

 

97 lt1 or 3.8 v6?

 

Whoops. guess that's important info. lol its a 3.8 v6.

 

they don't look to bad to me ,if you got the tools an a few beers ,guys say there pretty easy to work on ,you can do it ,you got a deal on that car yes a mech should cost no more then 2 hours labor ,if you buy the gaskets,add 50.00 per hour hear

 

go here and download the factory service manual. use the 96 one https://www.mediafire.com/?40mfgeoe4ctti it should work fine.

 

I pulled mine in 09. The drivers side is not too bad. I remember the passengers side being a lot more work. I think the engine lift ring in the back on the passengers side complicates things.

Have you tried re-torqueing them? Again if I remember right it is not a gasket but a seal and they fail very rarely and to have two fail on one car would be surprising. The only way it would make sense would if the motor was a little sludged up and the oil was pooling in the valve cover because the return holes where partially blocked.

 

I think you're right. I put some sea foam in the oil an ran it for about 175 200 miles just to clean up some of the junk, then i did an oil change and it hasn't leaked as far as i can tell. Doesn't smell like burning oil or anything anymore. and the old oil that came out was black as all hell. Car seems to be running better though. Just did the transmission pan gasket and that has helped after i got some fresh fluid in it. next is my cooling system cause im pretty sure coolant isn't suppose to be the consistency of a stew.