Valve cover sealing
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Valve cover sealing
I just put on a set of chrome covers and snugged them down. No leaks at idle, I then drove about 50 miles and lost three quarts of oil.
The covers are straight and the gasket is a rubber Fel-pro. I reused the gasket and maybe that is the problem but the gasket is in good shape. The heads are stock.
Anyone have a good method of sealing these up? I can't afford to dump Mobil 1 all over the county
The covers are straight and the gasket is a rubber Fel-pro. I reused the gasket and maybe that is the problem but the gasket is in good shape. The heads are stock.
Anyone have a good method of sealing these up? I can't afford to dump Mobil 1 all over the county
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Walton Beach, Fl USA
I had problems for years though not as bad as you described. I finally broke down and got studs and cast aluminum valve covers. I've had them off and on probably 20 times in the last 2 months and not one leak.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield Ohio
I have the moroso stamped ones and am having leaking too even with rubber gaskets and the 4" hold downs with tees. I did find that the hold downs were pushing on the radius of the valve cover instead of on the flat so I ground a radius on the hold downs which helped a bit. Hate to do it, but permatex will be the next thing I try!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,477
Likes: 1,495
From: Little Rock AR
They can hang up on other things in the area. Wires can get trapped under there and cause leaks. On my car, the exhaust manifolds would cause the valve covers to ride high and leak. I took the bench grinder to the top of the manifolds when I had them off and they fit better now. How they left the factory that way I have no idea but they did.
-Mark.
-Mark.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Originally Posted by 79VetteMike
Are they cheap stamped valve covers? Did you use the butterfly hold downs? I've been using rubber gaskets with no problems. Make sure you don't over tighten them.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 42,487
Likes: 47
SPARTAN
CI 3-4-5-6-8-9-10 Vet
CI-9 AutoX Winner
CI-3 Go Kart Champ
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Here's my trick. I haven't had a leak in forever.
Use a simple, cheap, cork gasket. Smear a thin layer of RTV on each side of the cork. Use load spreaders on the valve covers to distribute the load.
Use a simple, cheap, cork gasket. Smear a thin layer of RTV on each side of the cork. Use load spreaders on the valve covers to distribute the load.
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