2002 Chevy S-10 Changing ALSO valve cover gasket?

INSOMNIAC9474

MEMBER
2002 CHEVROLET S-10
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
180,000 MILES

Hello,

My engine is a V6 4.3L about 180,000 miles. The coolant is leaking from the intake manifold gasket, so my mechanic told me to change it. Now, he tells me I should change ALSO the valve cover gasket. Is it easy to change the valve cover gasket while changing the intake manifold gasket?
How much additional money should I expect to pay?

Should I just have to pay the cost of the valve cover gasket? Or also some labor cost to putting in?

About how much more labor to put it in?

If I don't change the valve cover gasket now, about how much much will it cost to change in the future? I'm not loosing much oil. It is seeping a bit, I think. I don't mind checking the oil and refilling if needed (good or bad idea?). Please advice. Thank you!

3 Replies

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

I would expect about $35 more for the parts, although there was another less common but expensive possibility. The extra labor I would guess and half hour to an hour additional.

It is a 3 hour job when doing alone. So you are saving $150 maybe? Talk to your shop, they will be able to tell you and should have. IF they are leaing, it can damage plug wires and cause a fire hazard as the exhaust manifold is right there. I suggest doing it.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Monday, March 15th, 2010 AT 7:12 PM

INSOMNIAC9474

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks for the answer. The intake manifold gasket is being replaced. The mechanic called to ask if I wanted to have the valve cover gasket replaced too. He was going to check on the price for the gasket. I just wanted to know about how much more to pay for it.

A better question is it EXTRA work for the mechanic to change it, more taking apart, besides the scrapping and gluing and adjusting bolts. I am really hoping it would be parts and labor for the valve cover gasket to be no more than $150 since I'm charged $400 for the replacement of the intake manifold gasket.

If I were to ask the valve cover gasket to be replaced later, another day, will it cost more than now with intake manifold gasket being replaced?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Monday, March 15th, 2010 AT 7:23 PM

SERVICE WRITER

MECHANIC
9,123 POSTS

I would expect the cost at this time would be around $110-125 as a guess.

Doing them on their own I would think would be in the $250 neighborhood. So you are certainly saving money by doing them now. $400 for the intake gasket sounds about right.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 AT 5:15 AM