valve cover leakage

[drlogistics]

Does anyone have any suggestions for getting a better seal around the valve cover? I've got a new gasket under there and I've tightened down the acorn nuts as tight as I feel comfortable doing. Any tricks would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[clinto]

Take the cover off and verify that it hasn't been overtightened and bent. Older stuff with thin, stamped steel valve covers are frequently distorted from being overtightened.

You can straighten them with a hammer and dolly.

 

[YkDave]

^^^

X2 on that, alot of valvecover leaks (regardless of the engine!) are caused by the valvecover being distorted from someone cranking down the bolts trying to stop a leak. If it is warped, some time and patience can fix that.

If all else fails, a bit of gasket sealant should do the trick!

 

[drlogistics]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll check to see if it is warped and report back on what I find.

 

[NDT]

Not a bit of sealer, lots and lots of it. Use black silicone.

 

[topo]

I have used the clear silicone on oil pans that where warped . It's thinner and easy to spread a thin coat on each side of the gasket all the way a round .

 

[YkDave]

Not a bit of sealer, lots and lots of it. Use black silicone.

Theirs a difference between fixing it right/doing what you have to do, and just saying F'k it and whacking it full of silicone LOL


Unfortunately, for some reason i tend to assume people like to fix things the right way, or at least attempt it before taking the easy way out!

 

[tigger]

I thought it was suposed to leak!