Weird Intake Gasket Problem--
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,023
Likes: 2
From: TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS
St. Jude Contributor
Weird Intake Gasket Problem--
Went to change my valve cover gaskets today, got 'em on fine, started up the car and suddenly it's running crappy and won't idle. I pull the air cleaner off to take a look, and I've got water and steam leaking from the top of the intake gasket on the driver's side. There was absolutely no leak before I R&R'd the valve covers.
My questions: first, could I have somehow screwed up the gasket seal by overtorqueing the valve cover bolts? And second, why would it affect how the car runs?
JB
My questions: first, could I have somehow screwed up the gasket seal by overtorqueing the valve cover bolts? And second, why would it affect how the car runs?
JB
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: Weird Intake Gasket Problem-- (JB)
:U :eek: and other poopie!
I don't know how stuff like that happens, I'm starting to believe that the intake gasket was feeling jealous :rolleyes:
If the intake gasket is leaking, water and air can get into the clyinder and wreak havok with your engine, time to dig in :U again
I don't know how stuff like that happens, I'm starting to believe that the intake gasket was feeling jealous :rolleyes:
If the intake gasket is leaking, water and air can get into the clyinder and wreak havok with your engine, time to dig in :U again
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: Weird Intake Gasket Problem-- (JB)
Intake manifold gaskets are possesed! I went thru 3 changes to get a good seal either not the right one, used end seals and not the right RTV or did not retorque again. By the time I got done there is so damn much oil in the exhaust system it will smoke till Christmas.
Crappy running (427V8) said it - you are sucking air and leaking water. Take it down before you suck too water into the engine. Speaking from experience use a quality gasket like Victor Renz or Felpro 1210's. These have a thicker material and a press fit outline for the ports. A 1/4" of RTV on the end rails (throw the cork or rubber things) and a light coat of RTV on the water ports. Just make sure the head and the intake are very clean.
Crappy running (427V8) said it - you are sucking air and leaking water. Take it down before you suck too water into the engine. Speaking from experience use a quality gasket like Victor Renz or Felpro 1210's. These have a thicker material and a press fit outline for the ports. A 1/4" of RTV on the end rails (throw the cork or rubber things) and a light coat of RTV on the water ports. Just make sure the head and the intake are very clean.
Racer
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
From: MESA, AZ, USA
Re: Weird Intake Gasket Problem-- (JB)
Go back to "ground zero", that is back to where you started. Take the valve covers off and see if the bolts holding them on have somehow managed to get into the head's water jacket. Start on the driver's side. If the passenger's side is OK leave it alone.
Normal heads and intake manifolds should not be affected by valve covers. Tightening the valve covers is very much a "hand" operation that I do with a screw/nut driver to avoid over doing it. Too much bends the covers, over-compresses the gaskets and is a sure way to get an oil leak. I've never heard of it causing a water leak aroung the intake gasket.
Did you have any major problems replacing the valve gaskets? Did you remove anything else other than the valve covers? Did you happen to find a loose intake bolt and tighten it up just to be safe? Did you remove ANY intake bolt in the course of removing the covers? Several of these bolts go into the water jacket and MUST be sealed when they're installed. Once loosened they should be completely removed and resealed.
Hope some of this helps. Water leaks are the pits.
Andy
Normal heads and intake manifolds should not be affected by valve covers. Tightening the valve covers is very much a "hand" operation that I do with a screw/nut driver to avoid over doing it. Too much bends the covers, over-compresses the gaskets and is a sure way to get an oil leak. I've never heard of it causing a water leak aroung the intake gasket.
Did you have any major problems replacing the valve gaskets? Did you remove anything else other than the valve covers? Did you happen to find a loose intake bolt and tighten it up just to be safe? Did you remove ANY intake bolt in the course of removing the covers? Several of these bolts go into the water jacket and MUST be sealed when they're installed. Once loosened they should be completely removed and resealed.
Hope some of this helps. Water leaks are the pits.
Andy
