Since this is my first flat 4, i have noticed my passenger side valve cover gasket is leaking like crazy! i was wondering when i replace them, do i need to drain the oil? I also plan to paint the Valve covers since they are off. And was wondering do i need to wrap the heads with a trash bags or something since they will be off?

 

Painting them? Like chrome.

 

They won't leak more than a couple drips. The oil mostly all drains back to the pan. If you're in a garage I wouldn't worry much about covering the head. Not much is likely to fall in there since it's sideways. If It were going to sit outside you may want to lay a rag over it to keep the gecko's out.

 

No need to drain oil.. like bushflyr said, they will leak a little just from anything leftover, if the car was sitting all the oil should be in the oil pan. If they're going to be off for a while then you might want to cover them, can't hurt. Make sure you get it done, the passenger side will drip right on the headers/up-pipe. Lots of smoke, and if it's really bad fiyah.. Super easy to do though.

 

Thanks Bushflyr and YuudaiSTI!

Also a big reason for replacing them is, after finishing the transmission and a few other things i drove it down the street, and then bam smoke show. lol