Leaking Valve covers!
 

Anyone have any suggestions on how to stop leaking valve covers?

I have used rubber and cork. The bolts seems to always be loose. I thought I had them tight enough. I am getting oil collecting in the pocket of the heads and the header gasket. THe picture shows how they are bolted on now. I have not used a torque wrench to get the correct pressure, but they were not tight and not even loose when I was done. I have cleaned the cover up since this pic was taken, so it is not from the grommit area that looks dirty.

thanks

Thanks for your input.

Ron

First check to see if the rails are warped due to overtightening.
You can use some light weight Loc Tite on the bolts, or get some valve cover studs. Also make sure all the mating surfaces are clean.
Dan

Rails?

I am assuming the valve covers themselves. Are the studs the long bars that go to each side of the bolt hole a couple inches?

thanks

Ron

RAILS............
 

yes it a crappy pic,,,,,,,if you over tighten the valve covers,they get "dimples" in the rails,they wont clamp evenly over the entire cover.you can take a block of wood and "tap" them flat,,,,,jeff

dont tap the overhang flat!!!!!!!!!!!!just the surface that rests on the gasket,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,jeff

did you make sure that the gasket surfaces are really clean? I have had good luck Mr. Gasket ultraseal gaskets.

Wanna stop pesky oil leaks???


Get rid of those sh*tty chrome valve covers!!! You will never get them to seal. Find some nice stock ones, or go with alum. valve covers. Chrome valve covers are thin, they dissapate heat very poorly, and they always leak.

*pushed off soapbox

I was told with Chrome Valve Covers to ruff the bottoms up on them. Take a real corse sand paper to them and ruff them up. Then apply your sealant and install.

Back in the day, Corvair valve covers were so prone to leakage that GM crafted special "keepers (I don't know what to call 'em) that spread the clamping force out about 1 inch on each side of the bolt. If you will recall, the V-8's had smaller ones that extended about 1/2 inch.

These guys are telling you right about the holes for the bolts. Overtightening them over time causes them to compress the gasket, toward the head. This dimple prevents the cover from getting tight, in spife of the torque that you put on the bolts.

Oh yeah....be careful that you don't break one of those bolts off in the head. They're a b!tch to get out.

Go with the aluminum. It is much better.


Gotta remember that one.