1998.5-2002 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Valve Covers

Valve cover and tappet cover on the 1998.5-2002 5.9L Cummins

Two covers keep the oil in on the top and side of this engine. The valve cover sits on the 24-valve head over the rockers and seals with a gasket and grommets. The tappet cover closes off the side of the block, and it has its own gasket. No injector wiring passes through the valve cover on this engine, so a cover job is just the cover, the gasket and the grommets. If you are doing more than the cover, an upper engine gasket kit covers the valve cover and related upper-end seals for 1998.5-2002. Our Cummins hub has the rest of the engine.

When the covers come off

Valve cover and tappet cover gaskets get replaced for two reasons: they leak, or the cover is coming off for other work anyway. One reason to pull the valve cover is a valve lash check, set cold at 0.010 inch intake and 0.020 inch exhaust, on a much longer interval than the 12-valve used. Before you blame a cover gasket for oil under the truck, look at the crankcase breather at the front of the engine. On 1998.5-2002 trucks it can push oil out on steep grades and drip on the driveway.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

For a leak, a fresh gasket set is the job. MAHLE, Alliant Power and Dorman make the replacement gaskets here, and the MAHLE grommets are sold separately so you can replace them with the gasket. If you want to change the hardware, G&R Diesel makes billet tappet covers for 1989-2002 Cummins engines, plain and with an oil separator, and XDP makes an HD billet oil fill cap. Those are bolt-on parts that replace factory pieces; they are not required for a gasket job.

What we carry

MAHLE valve cover gasket, valve cover grommets and tappet cover gasket set; Alliant Power valve cover gasket for 1998.5-2002; Dorman tappet cover gasket for 1998.5-2002; G&R Diesel billet tappet covers, with and without an oil separator; an XDP HD billet engine oil fill cap; and a Cummins genuine rocker box gasket, which is cataloged for 2003-2024 engines, so check its years against your truck before ordering.

Fitment notes

Match the years in the title to your truck. The MAHLE valve cover gasket, MAHLE grommets, Alliant Power gasket and Dorman tappet cover gasket are listed for 1998.5-2002, while the G&R covers and the MAHLE tappet cover set span 1989-2002, covering the 12-valve too. The 2003-up common-rail engine runs injector wiring through the upper end, so do not assume a 2003-up cover part fits a 24-valve VP44 engine. A 2002 Ram 2500 or 3500 is still a second-gen truck. Verify by VIN.

Frequently asked questions

Is the valve cover gasket the same as the tappet cover gasket?

No. The valve cover gasket seals the cover on top of the head, and the tappet cover gasket seals the side cover on the block. We list MAHLE and Alliant Power valve cover gaskets, and MAHLE and Dorman tappet cover gaskets.

Will a 2003-up valve cover gasket fit my 2002?

Do not count on it. The 2002 Ram 2500 and 3500 are still second-gen trucks with the VP44 engine, and injector wiring through the upper end only arrived with common rail in 2003. Buy the gasket listed for 1998.5-2002, or call us with the VIN.

What should I check while the valve cover is off?

Valve lash, since the cover is already off. Set it cold at 0.010 inch intake and 0.020 inch exhaust. This is also the time to replace the grommets, which MAHLE sells separately.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.