Gasket Replacement

[roscoe]

I have a 97 bonneville. We are needing to replace the oil pan gasket & valve cover gaskets. Is this something than can be done relatively easy by at at home mechanic or will it require taking the car to a paid mechanic?

[tripscarcare95]

Oil pan gasket can be a PITA, but the valve cover gaskets are pretty straight forward

Do you know for sure that your oil pan is leaking, or is it the valve covers leaking.

Start replacing from the top down

[myfirstbonnie]

Before replacing anything, clean everything real good and check on it every couple of days to see where it is leaking from.

[reb]

My oil pan gasket is leaking. Before changing gasket, I plan on 1) Removing that plastic shield and inspecting the rear main seal as there is a good chance that is leaking as well 2) Gently tighten oil pan bolts in an attempt to diminish oil pan leak.

If the rear main seal is indeed leaking, then I will just leave it as is and also not bother to change the oil pan gasket.

Edit:

I'm posting with results and hopefully it will help OP.

Removed flywheel inspection cover. With car on ramps had helper start car while I looked inside with bright light- no leak from engine seal!

Now to oil pan. Found several finger tight bolts and several loose bolts and tightened them up. So I suggest you do this before changing pan gasket. Just might be enough to diminish leak to acceptable level without any cost.

Good luck.