Hello, I've recently purchased a Volvo 740 and noticed that it appeared to be leaking from the valve cover gasket(not the oil cap). I'm no mechanic and have no experience working on cars but I wanted to start some where so here I am. so my question today is how hard is it to replace a valve cover gasket on an Volvo 740? what parts do i need? what brand should i purchase them from? do i need any specific tools? also is replacing distributor seals while I'm at it biting off more then I can chew?
thanks a bunch!

 

use a real Volvo valve cover gasket, the off brands pretty much all suck. a little dab of permatex gasket compound at each of the 'corners' where the gasket bends to go over the camshaft bearing retainers will help keep it sealed.

 

These gaskets are super simple to do, not much to them, any brand works fine as long as it fits. I just did one, no sealant, no leaks. They come flat, curve once put in place, just make sure you don't tear. You can buy them anywhere, should be under $10...

 

I dunno, I had to redo the one on my 740T like 3 times before it stopped leaking at those corners, the dabs of permatex were recommendation from a mechanic and worked great. and the genuine volvo gasket seemed a little thicker and better quality material vs whatever reitz or other stuff I'd gotten from the internet places.

hmm, looking around, seems like maybe Volvo isn't selling them anymore, and Mahle are the 'better' ones the likes of IPD are selling.

 

ive actually found a couple oem ones for sale but 28 bucks in comparison to 14 seemed a bit crazy.

 

so it can be a normal gasket compound? i read somewhere that you had to use the Volvo compound and was having a hard time finding it, that makes things much simpler, thanks!

 

You can buy the Head Gasket set for $40! It comes with a ton of gaskets including the Valve Cover! Volvo compound? Never heard of it, certainly doesn't apply to Red Blocks, may be newer White Blocks?

 

yeah, white blocks (850 and everything newer) have no gaskets, you use an anaerobic sealant, the engine is a sandwich... the camshaft cover *is* the cam bearing journals, then there's the head, the upper half of the block, the lower half of he block including the crankshaft journals, and finally the bottom cover aka oil pan. all alloy, each layer sealed with anaerobic sealant (ok, there might be a head gasket in there).

 

Do you think this would work?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Valv...MAAOSw6W9bnvVE

 

also looking around there seem to be a lot of different types of permatex gasket compounds is there any specific one that is needed or are the all fine?

 

never heard of ITM

I'd probably get this one,
https://www.ipdusa.com/products/2084...er-gasket-b230

or this
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/vol...elring-1378870