Dirt inside valve cover - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cerebus · 05-13-2007, 12:23 PM

So after leaving my truck over winter, I found a plug or sensor on my valve cover fell out. I felt inside and theres alot of dirt and grime inside the valve cover. (sorry the pic is alittle dark, its at the very left side of the valve cover)

Im pretty new at this so can I just remove the valve cover, clean all the gunk out, put a new cork gasket on and bam shes good to go?

Is there any info I should know about before doing this?

thats more like 2 or 3 questions but they are all about the same thing

ghackett1 · 05-13-2007, 02:01 PM

Yep, thats all you have to do. Remove covers, spray off with air and wipe off whats under them (rockers,etc.), new gaskets and reinstall valve covers. Should work just fine.

eedgell · 05-13-2007, 02:28 PM

I would clean it then run it for a minute, and change oil and filter.

bayer20 · 05-14-2007, 01:26 AM

I would only change the oil and not worry to much about the grime and sludge. once you mess with it, it will get all loose and starting to circulate in your engine which can start to plug up your oil gallys and then you got a whole nother mess. There is a saying...If you see lying dog sleeping, let him sleep.

RACINJASON22 · 05-14-2007, 01:40 AM

I say pull it off clean it, replace the gaskets and change the oil not long after just like eedgell said.

RJ22

GREASEMONKEY72 · 05-14-2007, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RACINJASON22

I say pull it off clean it, replace the gaskets and change the oil not long after just like eedgell said.

RJ22

another thing you can do is plug the oil galley holes in the head with some paper towels and blow it off with air after you wipe it all off, i suggest putting the paper towels in the holes anyway to keep the dirt from falling it

cerebus · 05-14-2007, 08:56 PM

Thanks for the info guys, I took my valve covers over to my mechanic to ask him how to clean them properly and he let me use his urethane? tank to clean them, which worked awesome. I got all the gunk out of the senser hole/baffle (came out in nickel sized chunks) and at the sametime found out I have nice stainless steel valve covers.

Now the only other question I have is, how hard do I tighten the valve covers back on???

RACINJASON22 · 05-15-2007, 08:32 PM

I will get ya the exact torque spec but, personally I never use it here...

I go by feel here just tightening to pressure making sure not to distort the valve cover itself.

Looks like 3 ft. ibs. Here's a link to all the torque specs for ya.

TORQUE SPEC'S SBC

RJ22

cerebus · 05-16-2007, 01:02 PM

Thanks for the info dude, that link comes in real handy

05-13-2007, 12:23 PM	#1
cerebus Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Saskatoon Posts: 100	Dirt inside valve cover So after leaving my truck over winter, I found a plug or sensor on my valve cover fell out. I felt inside and theres alot of dirt and grime inside the valve cover. (sorry the pic is alittle dark, its at the very left side of the valve cover) Im pretty new at this so can I just remove the valve cover, clean all the gunk out, put a new cork gasket on and bam shes good to go? Is there any info I should know about before doing this? thats more like 2 or 3 questions but they are all about the same thing Attached Images

05-13-2007, 02:01 PM	#2
ghackett1 68 C10 Longbed Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 520	Re: Dirt inside valve cover Yep, thats all you have to do. Remove covers, spray off with air and wipe off whats under them (rockers,etc.), new gaskets and reinstall valve covers. Should work just fine.

05-13-2007, 02:28 PM	#3
eedgell It's the air up here Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 710	Re: Dirt inside valve cover I would clean it then run it for a minute, and change oil and filter. __________________ 1971 cheyenne k10 4 speed np 205 454 BB factory a/c Never drink down stream of the herd! Eric

05-14-2007, 01:26 AM	#4
bayer20 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 83	Re: Dirt inside valve cover I would only change the oil and not worry to much about the grime and sludge. once you mess with it, it will get all loose and starting to circulate in your engine which can start to plug up your oil gallys and then you got a whole nother mess. There is a saying...If you see lying dog sleeping, let him sleep. __________________ There is no replacement for displacement!

05-14-2007, 01:40 AM	#5
RACINJASON22 GEARHEAD Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CENTRAL,PA Posts: 2,284	Re: Dirt inside valve cover I say pull it off clean it, replace the gaskets and change the oil not long after just like eedgell said. RJ22 __________________ 72 SWB 2WD MY PROJECT 72 LWB 4X4 FUTURE PROJECT SUBSCRIBE HEREBOARD VENDORS HERE NORWOOD MEET SURVIVOR!

05-14-2007, 08:56 PM	#7
cerebus Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Saskatoon Posts: 100	Re: Dirt inside valve cover Thanks for the info guys, I took my valve covers over to my mechanic to ask him how to clean them properly and he let me use his urethane? tank to clean them, which worked awesome. I got all the gunk out of the senser hole/baffle (came out in nickel sized chunks) and at the sametime found out I have nice stainless steel valve covers. Now the only other question I have is, how hard do I tighten the valve covers back on???

05-15-2007, 08:32 PM	#8
RACINJASON22 GEARHEAD Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CENTRAL,PA Posts: 2,284	Re: Dirt inside valve cover I will get ya the exact torque spec but, personally I never use it here... I go by feel here just tightening to pressure making sure not to distort the valve cover itself. Looks like 3 ft. ibs. Here's a link to all the torque specs for ya. TORQUE SPEC'S SBC RJ22 __________________ 72 SWB 2WD MY PROJECT 72 LWB 4X4 FUTURE PROJECT SUBSCRIBE HEREBOARD VENDORS HERE NORWOOD MEET SURVIVOR! Last edited by RACINJASON22; 05-15-2007 at 08:33 PM.

05-16-2007, 01:02 PM	#9
cerebus Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Saskatoon Posts: 100	Re: Dirt inside valve cover Thanks for the info dude, that link comes in real handy



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