How to Replace the Valve Cover Gasket in a Dodge Durango

If you own a 2001 to 2005 Dodge Durango, you might have already driven 100,000 miles or more. This means that it is time to do maintenance on your Durango. One form of maintenance is to replace the valve cover gasket. You can accomplish this by investing a few hours of your time and performing the maintenance yourself.

Instructions

Left Side

1

Lift the hood. Disconnect the negative battery cable. Disconnect and remove the resonator assembly and air inlet hose. Disconnect injector connectors. Unclasp the injector harness and route the injector harness in front of the valve cover. Disconnect and remove the left side breather tube.

2

Locate the valve cover bolts. Using the 9/16 mm wrench remove the valve cover bolts. Remove the valve cover. Remove the valve cover gasket. Clean the gasket seating area using automotive engine cleaner, a scrub brush and a clean towel. Make sure that all of the debris is removed from the gasket seating area.

3

Place the new gasket in the gasket seating area. Put the valve cover back on. Using the 9/16mm wrench, tighten the valve cover bolts in sequence. Install and reconnect the left side breather tube. Reconnect injector electrical connectors and injector harness retaining clips. Reinstall the resonator and air inlet hose.

Right Side

4

Make sure that the negative battery cable is disconnected. Disconnect and remove the air inlet hose, resonator assembly and air cleaner assembly. Drain cooling system, below the level of the heater hoses.

5

Remove the accessory drive belt, the air conditioning compressor retaining bolts and move the compressor to the left. Locate and remove heater hoses. Locate and disconnect injector and ignition coil connectors. Disconnect and remove the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) hose. Remove oil fill tube.

6

Unclasp the injector and ignition coil harness and move it away from the valve cover. Remove right rear breather tube and filter assembly, the valve cover retaining bolts. Remove the valve cover and the gasket. Clean the gasket seating area.

7

Place the gasket in the gasket seating area. Place the gasket cover back into place. Tighten the valve cover gaskets. Reinstall the right rear breather tube and filter assembly. Reconnect ignition coil electrical connectors, injector and harness retaining clips.

8

Reinstall the oil fill tube, the PCV hose, the heater hoses, air conditioning compressor retaining bolts, accessory drive belt. Refill the cooling system. Reinstall the air cleaner assembly, resonator assembly and the air inlet hose. Reconnect the battery negative cable.

9

Put oil in the car and let the car run idle for 10 to 15 minutes. This will allow the oil to lubricate the engine.