Valve covers

[ppbr2001]

How tight do valve covers need to be? And should I use gasket sealer? I'm using the chrome wing nuts so I didn't think I overdid it but it's sure slinging oil at higher RPMs!!

[rayfinseats]

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How tight do valve covers need to be? Not very tight. Steel ones tend to bend down at the hole if too tight and should be tapped flat with a small hammer. Aluminum VC ers can take a little more because they don't bend.


And should I use gasket sealer? You can but put it on very thin. You can get rubber gaskets with a steel centeralso. I like Felpro brand. For a few cents more get the good gaskets not the cheapos.

[cr34t3d_by_d4rkd3n]

if ur seals are cork, the cork needs to get wet with oil to expand, thus sealing the seal....
If u use insta-gasket it will clog the holes in the cork and not allow it to expand, thus causing the leak to be worse.....

If your vc are leaking, seal one side of the gasket to the heads using the red gasket glue, and get them slightly tight, i recommend valve cover "T's"

[72lb4x4]

Not very tight or you'll shear off the bolt and be sad. I know I was.
I put a set on today and only used a nut driver. No ratchet.

[ppbr2001]

I'm betting I had em too tight too begin with then.
The chrome wingnuts I mentioned ARE the "T" type bolts.

[old Rusty C10]

i always use some red silicone on the valve cover side of the gasket. I tend to use cork and they work well about a half turn past when the t screw gives you some resistance when it snugs up

[78 Chevyrado]

I usually do like old rusty and put some sealer on the valve cover side. Mainly I do that so the gasket will hold it's shape and be easy to line up during installation. I usually go for the blue rubber fel-pro gaskets if I can find them.

You just have to get the valve cover onto the truly flat surface to see how they're warped and straighten them out as good as you can, and then use the wide spreaders on the bolts.


another thought... Can you check and make sure that when running at high rpms the oil is draining back to the pan fast enough. It's possible that your engine is pumping oil up to the heads faster than it can drain back at high rpms. It's not real likely but I have seen it happen.

[ppbr2001]

Gonna go with the Felpro rubbers.

[andyh1956]

ok this is how i do steel covers. get the flanges flat 1st thing. then get a can of permatex high tack spray adhesive. spay the cover flange & the gasket & let it dry or at least get tacky. install the gasket to the cover. then spray the gasket after it is installed to the cover with pam. the pam will let the gasket seal but let you remove the cover later without tearing the gasket up. install the cover on to the head. now you need to have already purchased 8 hold down clamps (mr gasket makes these) from o'reilys or someplace. the 3" or 4" ones work good. now install a 1/4" lock washer under the center of the hold down to act as a spacer. tighten your wing nuts down until front, rear & center of the hold downs are crushed evenly. now you're good to go!
andy

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

Yea I have always used felpro gaskets on everything. I don't usually have problems with the valve covers leaking but if they do I will use gasket rtv on the side that goes to the valve covers to make them easier to take off.

[ppbr2001]

Should I use sealer on the rubber gaskets?

[ppbr2001]

Done!! Box said to not use sealer. Now to replace that growling water pump!!

[ppbr2001]

Drove it to work last night, checked the oil and it was right where it was supposed to be!!

Now if I can just figger out where the water is going.....