2001 Kia Sportage Oil Leak Valve Cover Gasket Repair DIY

How to properly diagnose and repair an oil leak by tracing where it's coming from on the engine. By doing this I determined it was coming from the valve cover gasket, which I proceed to change in this video. This vehicle is 14 years old and has about 165k miles on it and this is right around when the rubber gaskets start to typically go. Changing your valve cover gasket is a great preventative maintenance job that will keep you from failing a smog check!

[@sarahskagerberg7189]

Your video is excellent. I was in a jam when I found oil in my plugs. My husband was out of state, and I couldn't really afford the expense of going to a mechanic. Your video is very clear. I did a happy dance when I started my car after putting it all back together. Your video is greatly appreciated.

[@50sKid]

Nice, glad it helped you out

[@greggk47]

Fantastic video! Clear explanations, great view angle and thanks for including torque specs. We have 3 of these Sportages one 97 and two 2002s. When I've taken off the air intake tube I've removed the expansion joint on the air filter side only, removed the single bolt holding the resonants chamber leaving the chamber on the tube, left the single electrical connection on the air intake tube, removed the two bolts holding the air intake tube down, removed the three bolts holding the tube to the intake manifold then snaking it all out intact then flipping it 180 and laying it on sufficient rags on top of the battery to avoid contacting the positive post. Use this hint if you like but the video way is perfect.

[@myplenum]

Thank you for this video. You confirmed my suspicion of my oil and vacuum leaks. It always helps to see something apart before diving in so there are no surprises!

[@michaelv5148]

This video was perfect. I started out with what I though was a plug wire problem - turned out was a bad gasket just like this video (leak was all inside at the plugs, not outside yet) and even though it was still rough after the video made it easy to do this whole repair and then put on a new coil - which, turned out, was my real problem, but the whole thing saved me doing the coil only to come back and do the gasket later. Got it all done in one day instead. Thanks for being so clear, not giving crappy distractive steps, and for filming everything so well!

[@50sKid]

Glad it helped you out!

[@kristopherhasenbuhler5393]

I'm going through the same thing!!! I think that I'm going to change mine asap I have a busy life

[@micheljoseratodiarivony4365]

Gréât vidéo, thanks very help full, i have Also the same problem With my Sportage 4wd tdi 2002,leaking In the back side of the engine ,i change the Gasket but still leaking pls help desesperate

[@RamiroUM]

Thanks 4 D vid. My neighbor's sportage started acting up but I got scared when I saw that the intake was covering the spark plugs. -NO LONGER SCARED NOW- Thanks!

[@j.santos7674]

Very well put together man. Hats off to you. Recording quality, instruction. Good job!

[@michaelmorris6575]

Great video. Very well done. It was a big help! Thank you

[@michaelconner5101]

Tackling this weekend- video is definitely a help for heads up on tough spots and what to look out for.

[@virc4541]

Thanks for the video, very nice and great information for repair an oil leak on this good car, greetings from Guatemala City!!!.... :0)

[@JustinBoza]

Thank you so much for this video. It was very helpful.

[@whitneywoods5528]

just wanna say love your videos. keep it up!

[@GJ-zx6nr]

Great video one of better ones out there great work, helped me to understand where every thing was before a strip down.

[@sar7654321]

Fantastic video, It made my job so much easier. Exactly the same problem. Thank you !

[@JohnSmith-mk8hz]

Great video. It helped me get that job done fast today. Thanks.

[@theinternetelectrician]

168,000K, is 100,800 miles. You were correct!

[@tomtriplett2821]

This is what I did today , thanks for the video it was great.

[@ofeliaramos9959]

awesome video i just did the job today, all thanks to this video thank you

[@MAGWolf]

Thank you! Very little videos on one of these.

[@dioscw]

The leak on the back drivers side of valve cover, is most likelly the o-ring of the Camshaft Position Sensor, is located on the back of the engine next to the firewall. If still leaks check that sensor.

[@marcosloredo60]

good video bro, helps me a lot, pls upload more videos for Kia sportage 97 to 2003.

[@gromlife3033]

bro you just saved me 600$ lemma hug you bro😭😭💯

[@mrsinester]

Thanks for the video! Picked up a Sportage just like the one in your video. For some reason the spark plugs were ridiculously difficult to remove... like 2000fp Jimmy Snuka top rope thinking that I'm going to break something hard. Removed them all, and strangely enough, nothing was stripped that I could see. Will be testing her out later today.

[@GreggAdventure]

Snuka was such a cool guy.

[@maulidaandina1637]

Thank you for your repair kia sportage 1. I like it... God lock brother 🙏🙏

[@alexobrien2078]

thank you for sharing!

[@vado575]

thank you for sharing.. very helpful

[@michaelmaddox5163]

Thanks for your video! I have the same Sportage and did the repair after finding a lot of oil in every spark plug well. It's been about a week and I'm finding oil again over spark plug #4, about an inch. Also getting a misfire in that cylinder. What would be the next issue/part to look at? Getting the oil out of the spark plug well made the misfire code go away but if it continues to leak I expect that to come back.

[@ramsessyanez6378]

Good job! Good video

[@abbyrizky6994]

Mantaaap broo...👍🏻 nambah ilmu

[@itsamazing3825]

Useful...... 1 valve cover is 4 fp Intake air inlet 18 fp

[@MattSomethingOrOther]

Thanks for this, you wouldnt believe how rare a video showing you this is. I only need to replace my plugs and coils but this shows that clearly too, thanks! Which codes did you get?

[@michaelbroyer3918]

very helpful video

[@jamespennington7668]

Great video

[@accidental_relevance]

Another common oil leak point would be at the oil cooler beneath the oil filter, if so equipped. The transmission dip-stick working it's way out about an inch is also characteristic of this model. I finally just covered the tube with a rubber cap and put the dip-stick in when I want to check it. I find a ratcheted boxed end more convenient to remove the intake tube. Also the oil will not burn out of tube #4 if the gasket really starts to leak. It will build up and dump oil into the cyl when changing plugs and cause the rubber protector to come out of your plug socket.

Thanks for the video.

[@dinosaursquad5340]

Thanks for the help

[@pasawpaw3207]

Thanks God and thank you very much for the video. My car was shaking a lot and i though i will change valve cover gasket and, spark plug. After i saw the video you post i change the whole thing Coil Pad at the same time and now my car run like Brand New and very strong. Other people tell me a lot of Issue but right after i change Coil pad every thing over. Thanks again.

[@50sKid]

Nice, thanks for watching!

[@christopherdbaez]

50sKid i have a 02 kia sportage there a bar that goes from the pass to the driver side is thats the center link here is my e mail if you need more info of what im talking about [e-mail]

[@accidental_relevance]

Those coil packs go bad after awhile and I've gotten a new one that was DOA also.

[@Dur21]

Great video thanks

[@israelferro9827]

Really thank you dude, .

[@TheAronpelon]

NOW I KNOW HOW TO DO IT MYSELF AND SAVE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS THANKS MR. MECANIC

[@MrMicdizzle]

i have a 2001 and one kia sportage and i just got into a small accident and i was wondering if you could help me. how you replace the front bumber?

[@fredmcamay]

Hi, i have been searching for a video on how to locate where the engine number of KIA Sportage 2002, can you make a video for this one? Just show to me the possible areas where they normally put.

[@stevencampot9742]

So if I wanted to change the spark plugs with the wires, that would be up until half the video right? And theres just 2 wires? One long for 2 outer plugs and 1 short for the 2 inner plugs? I have a 2001 kia sportage looks just like that but not sure how many wires I need

[@jhony0018]

Up load more vídeos about this year kia sportage, i need about everything tcm transmision please tnks

[@wickedclownsnd9435]

So the valve cover leak would cause it to run rough?

[@raygonzalez2853]

good. job.

[@carachase2007]

U impressed me No offense When I first turned on the video I thought you were just another wanna be mechanic You did good

[@davidbelitz7692]

At 1:56-58 you point to a black shaft or cylinder shaped item.on the engine. What is that? Ours melted and smoked.

Hello, my Kia have the same problem. Oil leak in the same place. Making problem to a spark plug and the coil. The car then have the problem and runs on 3 cilinders. Idling + ... No power and... The mechanic tried to solve the problem but he didn't make it. Thanks for help. Best regards.

[@kristopherhasenbuhler5393]

How long did it take???????

[@mozg.krasnodar]

спасибо лайк.

[@lucasgarrigan4846]

I️ have a 2002 Kia with a few of the same problems , I️ have a misfire on cylinder 3 right now I️ think due to a cracked ignition coil . The main question I️ have is I️ thought my rear main seal was leaky but after seeing your video I️ think I️t is also valve cover gasket . Is that a common problem with these cars ? I️t also has the threshold code and I️ don’t want to waste money on a cat for no reason. The car also passed smog with the current cat a year ago. I️ appreciate this video much ! Thanks

[@50sKid]

It's a common problem with every car after this amount of time. Rubber gaskets just don't last forever and will start leaking.

[@lucasgarrigan4846]

50sKid thanks so much for all your videos once again . I️ figured out I️t was a bad wire harness for the ignition coils so only half the engine was working . I️m going to finish the valve cover gasket tomorrow and put I️t all back together. Hope all engine codes are cleared !

[@jiocca1519]

Do you happen to remember if there were o rings on the spark plug tubes as well?

[@jiocca1519]

I have the same issue and I want to make sure I don't need anything besides the main gasket

[@husq48]

Can you use the RTV all the way around, I mean it wouldn't hurt, right?

[@accidental_relevance]

From experience, if a cured piece of silicone comes loose inside the engine and clogged an oil passage it can ruin it. Use it sparingly toward the outside of the engine in case it loses adhesion.

[@chookiat2010]

how many torque ft.lbs on 15 bolt ?

[@BigBand1942]

12

[@carlosmartinez-vb8tl]

I think the car it build not to go up hill, it flooded the rear sparkplugs

[@nickmancini3215]

I was wondering why you didn't use gasket sealer all around? I know u used it in the corners of the half moons, but shouldn't it be on the entire gasket? great video btw. very helpful.

[@50sKid]

The point of the gasket is to seal, so you don't need RTV all the way around it. It's needed in the corners because the gasket has trouble sealing there at all temperatures due to expansion/contraction.

[@alfoncastillo19]

i have a 02 kia sportage standard .... the same spark plug in the video get cover with oil but from the inside of the spark plug.... can it be a o ring? and my mine only has one idle cable

[@50sKid]

You have the same problem as you see in this video.

[@alfoncastillo19]

50sKid will it make it lose power while im driving.... i turn it off and on and would run normal but 2 blocks and loses power again

[@50sKid]

That sounds more like a failing fuel pump. Check fuel pressure.

[@margieatkinsdeichman8327]

Hey ppl. I need help. I just bought a 2000 Kia Sportage. And idle ran a lil rough when you just start it or sitting at stop sign. It would act like its gonna die but wouldn't. Now its worse.Its really hard to start. Takes a long time and u gotta give it gas. Runs real rough and today now I put it n reverse and gave it gas it just bogged down and died. But if I didnt give it any gas it didnt bogg down n it would go slowly, cause I couldnt give it gas or it would bog down n die. Did the same n drive also. But couldnt drive it on the street like that, was too slow. New plugs n it. Set the idle up. Got any ideas??????? Thanks Margie

[@50sKid]

+margie atkins Well if I were to guess at a direction to go in, I would guess you have a fuel delivery issue. Possibly a bad fuel pump isn't delivering enough fuel, or a clogged fuel filter, clogged fuel return line, etc. But it could be the exact opposite and you could have a lean condition instead. No way to know without more tests and more data. Take a look at my Using Fuel Trims to Diagnose Engine Problems for the real way to diagnose the problem: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anTGqKeXfspomZY

[@garycarrington9754]

i have this same car and it shuts off on its own due to a mis fire after getting a tune up

[@CrisHoffmann]

Hey man.. I have a 2000 sportage that has a LOT of gunked oil on the back on the engine, and I can even see that at some point, it dripped down to connectors on the back, like the wire for the O2 sensor, and such.. My mechanic said it's just "sweat", but i see oil around the gasket. There is no oil puddles under the car though, so I don't know if that gunk is old or what. But do you think it's good to change the gasket as prevention? I bought it with 134K and now it has 154K (I've had for a year), and there are NO codes for it. The P0138(I believe) came up, and that will be taken care of it's for the O2 sensor. but nothing else other than that... should i go ahead and chance the gasket? your answer will be very valuable :) great vid!! thanks a lot

[@50sKid]

Exhalerr r You can change it as preventative maintenance, yes. Some people wouldn't do it until they saw oil dripping and still others wouldn't change it until they got a check engine light. It's entirely up to you.

[@CrisHoffmann]

You made it seem sooo easy (the best video i've seen so far) so i think i will do it. I don't know what kind of maintenance this car had before me, but it runs really good so far, it has a lot of life left. Thank you for your response. one last question, if I want to clean the top part of the valve cover (not necessarily inside), what's the best thing to clean it with? Can I use brake cleaner to get rid of the gunk?

[@50sKid]

Well...the best thing to clean it with is a pressure washer. I think they have them at the coin op car washes. You can use brake cleaner but it won't really get it clean like a pressure washer will.

[@wheldiinnocent6503]

Throttle cable is whooping my ass

[@1980timmay]

i have the same car with a crank no start problem. acts like a fuel problem. was riding and it just died. done this before but it started back shortly after. now won't start. i jumped the fuel pump relay, fuel pump vibrates at the tank. the sensor on the intake vibrates pretty loud, i found that odd. haven't checked for spark yet. any ideas would be much appreciated.

[@50sKid]

+Tim Beck Check the fuse for the ignition system. It is coil on plug (well one coil per two plugs) so there's 12 volts going to the coil and there should be a fuse for that somewhere. I can't remember if there is a shraeder valve on the fuel rail to allow for testing--if there is you can just press it with a screw driver to see if there is fuel pressure. You're saying the fuel pump vibrates at the tank but are you sure you can HEAR it? In all vehicles the fuel pump turns on when you turn on the ignition and then shuts off after a few seconds. It's very distinctive.

[@1980timmay]

The fuel pump doesn't come on til the motor is spinning. But thanks I'll try your suggestion. and get back to ya

[@50sKid]

+Tim Beck Ok sounds like your fuel pump died. Whatever vibration you are hearing that you think is the fuel pump is not the fuel pump.

[@1980timmay]

I'm sorry. I mean I jumped the relay went back n put my hand on it, felt it vibrate. "Fuel pump". havent checked ign fuse yet

[@carachase2007]

Can't judge a book by its cover You look like a city boy But you gotter done

[@wickedclownsnd9435]

Hey I have a 2002 kia sportage that had oil where the spark plugs went to spark plug like the one you worked on. I just cleaned the oil and changed the spark plugs and coils but still runs rough. Would the oil leakage cause it to run rough?

[@50sKid]

+Dustin Amaral No but the cause of the oil leakage might.

[@wickedclownsnd9435]

+50sKid So the valve cover leak would cause it to run rough?

[@wickedclownsnd9435]

+50sKid So the valve cover leak would cause it to run rough?

[@wickedclownsnd9435]

+50sKid So the valve cover leak would cause it to run rough?

[@wickedclownsnd9435]

+50sKid So the valve cover Leak would cause it to run rough?

[@dennishnks]

with all that work and that many miles. I would have changed the spark plugs too. If not you have to do the same procedure all over again

[@50sKid]

Actually this was nothing--easy to replace the plugs down the road.

[@angryrednecks9314]

I'm fighting a crankshaft sprocket pulley on a sportage like this so I can change crank seal and shit will not budge used puller and broke bolt off

[@50sKid]

You already got the crank bolt off and you can't get the pulley off and you used a bolt-type puller, am I correct? If so, use a 3 jaw puller.

[@angryrednecks9314]

I got it today after it set with pressure on it all night and pb blaster all over it, but I tell ya what I've done a few front seals and never had a sprocket stuck like this 1 was holt crap I thought I was gonna mess the front of crank up I had so much pressure. I broke about 3 bolts pulling in it no lie

[@50sKid]

Nice

[@00nowhereman00]

Those are not both accelerator cables. The first one you took off is the transmission kick down

[@husseincux7975]

مثل سيارتي

[@turtlefights4194]

Tightening sequence anyone?

[@rogermcwilliams6786]

Changed spark plugs in my 02 sportage.the wire that plugs into the coil it crumbled to pieces, what's left of it I plugged it in and put RVT on it and a zip the. Can I buy kit to replace both of them?

[@rogermcwilliams6786]

I found them at o Riley’s auto parts!!

[@husq48]

What's the RTV for?

[@50sKid]

+husq48 There are sharp corners where the rubber gasket forms that half moon shape and the rubber can't always seal perfectly there, especially as it ages. So you use the RTV to fill in the gaps.

[@husq48]

Ok, let me know when you change fuel injectors on this model...

[@50sKid]

+husq48 Why do you think you need to change your fuel injectors?

[@husq48]

Already had on changed, misfire on #1...

[@accidental_relevance]

I've replaced FI. What did you need to know?

[@nickg1369]

I just take my car to fix the gasket and that job normally take 4 hours but these people take almost a 24 days and now my car has problem with a code was p0011,p0021,p0012 and they told me that parts are nothing to do with the work they did, that issue was the same day I took out my car on the same day does code show up and this person did not tight the battery and the positive cable touch the oil yellow stick and get burn good thing I stop in time before getting burn. Now my car makes noise to turn on like tac tac tac and turn on. This is normal or this person did a bad job.

[@galbayu]

Verry good vidio i like,i have a short 2000 i want tobe able to fix it my self if there is a problem but somerimes its hard to get the spareparts, can you help me to get the spareparts, thank you, Rahmat Indonesia,,, do you have we chat number?

[@kristopherhasenbuhler5393]

Video was a bit long so I skipped theough it! Very good information though

[@klausschreyer7062]

Joe Dirt Movie scene My sister my sister my sister

[@raygonzalez2853]

good. job.

[@wickedclownsnd9435]

So the valve cover leak would cause it to run rough?

[@ricktraceusa8624]

+Dustin Amaral The spark plug rubber boots have a small resister built into the boot. If you peel back the boot from top you'll see it. It looks like a fuse. You can't buy it. I had to buy a new coil just to get that part. use care when removing the plug boots as to not break that resister. Check the grommet where the PCV valve goes in they get brittle & break, again N/A from Kia. That's a oil leak area. The valve cover gasket does get brittle from heat and can leak filling your spark plug hole full of oil which will give you a misfire code.