The valve cover gasket on the Kia Sportage keeps oil from leaking out into the engine compartment. Gaskets are exposed to high operating temperatures of the engine and when you add exposure to the oil along with it, it causes them to deteriorate. Some materials, such as cork, last longer than the cardboard type gaskets, but you still need to change them eventually. It only takes about 30 minutes to replace the gasket, so there is no need to take your 2002 Kia to a repair shop.
Remove the negative terminal from the battery using a wrench to loosen the nut to prevent electrical shock. Remove the vacuum hose from the resonance chamber using a screwdriver to loosen the clamp. Remove the mounting bolt from the resonance chamber using a wrench. Remove the throttle cable brackets from the valve cover using a wrench.
Remove the 2 bolts connecting the air intake tubes to the valve cover. Disconnect the accelerator cable by pulling back on the shaft and twisting it until it comes out of the slot. Loosen the air hose clamp with a screwdriver where it connects to the mass airflow sensor. The sensor looks like a plastic tube with an electrical connection near the air filter.
Remove the breather hoses and vacuum lines from the air intake. Remove the three bolts from the air intake tube to the throttle body with a wrench. Remove the 6 coil cover bolts with a wrench from the valve cover. Unplug the wiring harnesses from the ignition coils.
Label the spark plug wires with the marker and masking tape to note the proper location of each. Pull the wires away from the spark plugs by grasping the boot and gently tugging until it comes off.
Remove the 15 bolts holding the valve cover in place using a socket and ratchet. Lift the valve cover away from the cylinder head. Scrape any remaining gasket material from the cylinder head using the scraper tool. Place a new gasket on the cylinder head.
Place the valve cover on top of the gasket on the cylinder head and move it around until the holes line up. Install the valve cover bolts and tighten them snugly with the socket and ratchet. Push each wire on to the spark plugs in their proper location.
Plug the wires into the ignition coils. Install the 6 coil cover bolts and tighten them with a wrench. Install the air intake to the throttle body and tighten the bolts with a wrench. Connect the breather hoses and vacuum lines to the air intake. Connect the hose to the MAF sensor and tighten the clamp with the screwdriver.
Connect the accelerator cable by placing the end into the slot and twisting it until it locks into place. Install and tighten the 2 bolts that connect the air intake tubes to the valve cover using a wrench. Attach the throttle cable brackets to the valve cover with a wrench. Install the mounting bolt and connect the resonance chamber to the valve cover.
Connect the hose to the resonance chamber and tighten the clamp with a screwdriver. Connect the battery terminal. Start the car and check the system for leaking.
