OK, dumb question probably, but I just don't want to throw oil all over the place.

I have polished valve covers on the new 350 (around 1000 miles old). I began to remove my driver's side valve cover in order to give it a good polishing, but after I removed the bolts and tried to wiggle the valve cover out, I found out it was going to be more trouble than it was worth just to clean. Plus I saw that just unplugging the alternator wire would give me access to the area I wanted to clean. So, I decided just to put the valve cover back on. It never got more than a 1/2 inch or so away from the head. I laid it back on the head and tightened the bolts down.

So, my question is: Is there any way I could have messed up/misaligned/pinched the valve cover gasket during this process? It is a new rubber gasket. I know it doesn't currently leak. But before I started the car and threw oil everywhere, I just wanted to make sure I was good to go.

Thanks!

 

It's probably fine, I didn't so I don't know, only you do, just put it on and have someone else start the car, and watch for a leak, if it leaks tell them to shut it off, and fix it. Good luck

 

Thanks. It's fine. I was just a little paranoid.