Friday, February 21, 2014
How to Replace the Valve Cover Gasket on a Jaguar XJ6
The valve cover gasket seals the engine head to help it run smoothly and prevent any oil leakage. A good indication of when its time to replace the valve cover gasket on your Jaguar XJ6 is when oil begins to leak out of the engine head. You can replacing the valve cover gasket easily in a matter of a few minutes. With the right tools and instructions youll be able to change your own valve cover gasket with no hassle.
Instructions
- 1
Park your car on a level surface and open the hood. Disconnect the negative terminal battery cable.
2Gently detach the PCV hose from the valve cover located on the engine head. Disconnect the spark plug leads attached to each spark plug by pulling on the boot (do not pull on the wires to avoid damaging the spark plug leads). Note: Its essential you remember exactly which lead goes to which spark plug.
3Loosen and remove the valve cover mounting screws using a flat screw driver. Detach the valve cover and valve cover gasket from the head by firmly pulling it off (if the seal will not break, use a putty knife between the engine head and the valve cover to break the seal).
4Clean the mating surface using a shop rag and engine degreaser until no oil or sealant residue remains. Apply a coat of RTV sealant to the pristine mating surface.
5Install the new valve cover gasket, it will only fit in one way. Reattach the valve cover. Reconnect each spark plug lead in the exact manner in which they were plugged in before disconnection. Reattach the PCV hose to the valve cover. Reconnect the negative battery cable.
6Turn the car on and allow it to run for a few minutes. Check the valve cover for any leakage.
Friday, November 22, 2013
How to Fix a Small Tear in a Leather Truck Bed Cover
Most soft tonneau covers marketed as leather truck bed covers are actually made of vinyl. Even though vinyl is tougher than leather when exposed to the elements, these covers are not indestructible. Without careful maintenance, leather-look vinyl truck bed covers can become dry and prone to cracks and tears. When this happens, you can use a leather and vinyl repair kit to fix the damaged area if its small. While it wont look like new, you can make the problem area less noticeable and stop it from getting bigger.
Instructions
- 1
Clean the area around the tear thoroughly to remove dirt and oil that might prevent the vinyl from bonding properly with the repair material. Use soap and water first, then swab with alcohol.
2Remove any rough edges from the tear with a razor blade, scalpel or scissors. You want the torn edges to lie flat.
3Insert a piece of canvas backing from a vinyl and leather repair kit under the tear with tweezers. Some kits require you to apply glue between the vinyl and the canvas and press them together to seal them; with others, you apply heat with an iron or a special tool.
4Mix the pigments provided in the leather and vinyl touch-up kit to match the color of the truck bed cover as closely as possible. Mix the pigment with filler material from the repair kit.
5Fill the tear with filler material. Apply it in several thin layers rather than one thick layer. Press the embossing stamp which most closely resembles the grain of the bed cover to the final layer of filler material.
