Been finding small puddles of oil underneath lately. Traced the source to the valve cover on the front side of the head.

I really don't like working on the engine. Is this an easy fix or do I have to remove the engine to do it?

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 09/16/20 at 19:13:34:

I never do that  
So piece of cake to replace the O-ring then?
No rocket surgery?

I've been living with loaded guns in my face since March so I can't deal with anymore aggravation. Just need things to go easy and go right for a change.

First I think we need to be sure what you are calling the "valve cover".

There are oval inspection covers that you can remove using two bolts - one is on the front of the engine to allow you to adjust the exhaust valve clearance, and one is on the back of the engine to allow you to adjust the intake valve clearance.  These covers have O-rings to seal the cover and keep the oil inside.  Over time the rubber can harden and the covers can also become a bit warped.  If these are leaking and snugging up the bolts doesn't help....buy new O-rings and check to see if the covers are flat.  Get a piece of glass and a sheet of 360 or 400 wet/dry sandpaper and wet the paper, and rub the flat side of the cover on the sandpaper until the cover is smooth and shiny across the entire mating surface.

The top of the engine is called the "head cover", and it has about a dozen bolts holding it to the head.......it is the part that the oval covers described above are bolted to.  This cover is sealed with an RTV sealant, and the head cover has to be taken off, cleaned and resealed if it is leaking.  If your engine is black buy the Suzukibond sealant.....if your engine is silver buy the Hondabond or Threebond sealant as those are gray.

Resealing the head cover is a job is not horribly difficult of complex - but it does require that you have a basic amount of mechanical ability and understand that you can only tighten 6mm bolts a "little bit" - as the soft aluminum threads can easily be stripped if you overtighten them.

It's easy enough to take off,... two small bolts.  just wipe down the o-ring and the groove it sets in, give it a light smear of oil and gently re-snug it down.  

That's plan A,... tighten more is always plan B...
Tighter is riskier...

Great way to break something. Just use a 1/4" ratchet and put a thumb on the head, use Fingers Only, closing them to snug it gently. FEEL of it. Youll feel the bolts land.