SR20DE valve cover gasket leaks

CrunchyCookie said:

Hi, is this "valve cover gasket leak" a chronic problem with the SR20DE engine, or what? Two years ago, the Infiniti dealership discovered the problem on our 96 G20, and then again one year ago (either they didn't fix it or I'm just unlucky). I just had AAA do an inspection on my 95 SE-R yesterday and they discovered the same thing.
Has anyone else experienced this, is it fatal, and how much would it cost to repair? For an acclaimed engine that's been around since 1991, such serious problems are disappointing.

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Where specifically is the leak? If the gasket is new and the valve cover/cylinder head surfaces are straight, it shouldn't leak. Its real easy to do yourself. It takes about 15 - 20 minutes to get the valve cover off if you've never done it before. Scrape all the old gasket material off without getting any in the valvetrain, apply new sealant to the half-moon cutouts and area around distributor, make sure the gasket is securely in the "rails" of the valve cover and push it down into place. Torque the bolts down in the correct order and reconnect everything.

Steve