My mechanic recently changed out the belts and got in deeper to confirm it was in fact a small valve cover leak on the passenger side.

The job is a bit too large for him.

I could only find one other thread on valve cover leak. Looks like a big job.

Anyone experience this problem? Are small leaks generally fine if you change oil regularly (5k miles) or is it something that should get addressed over the next year.

Welcome any thoughts or personal experiences you can share.

 

Sounds like you have two things on your list now. Find a new mechanic and fix a VC leak.

 

The most difficult part of replacing the cam cover gaskets is removing the fuel injectors. If not done correctly, the fuel injector can break and become stuck in its bore in the cylinder head.