If your tappet cover is perished, you will clearly see leaking oil coming from the join of the head to the block. If you clean the area thoroughly, you will notice with a day or so of normal running if you have a leak.
Valve cover gasket needs replacing
Check to see it the valve cover bolts are torqued to specs. If this does not stop the leak, the gasket needs replacing.
Your cylinder head gasket needs replacing.
I'd be more suspicious of a rocker cover gasket. If you're sure it's the head, try re-torquing it first.
Irratic idling condition is indication of intake/inlet manifold gasket leak. Change gasket immediately. This particularly applies to EFI engines. Newaz.
if my heads are warped and gasket needs replacing what longterm damages and repairs should i expect
Depends on if the head needs replacing or resurfaced. It will not be cheap for sure on an Infinity.
It should cover your roof for accidental damage, it will not cover a new roof if it needs replacing due to age.
The valve cover gasket is damaged. Needs to be replace.
Besides the head gasket and head bolts, any other gaskets, hoses, belts and coolant damaged or lost during the process.
Replacing a head gasket on a 1.5 liter Honda Civic requires removal of many of the engines components such as the intake manifold, valve cover, and timing belt. After removing the head from the engine it needs to be resurfaced. Replace the old head gasket and machined head onto the block and reinstall all the other components.
Probably needs a new valve cover gasket.