valve cover gaskets

miho35o · May 22nd, 2009, 01:11 PM

Beginner question: I recently changed the valve cover gaskets in my '76 98 but i am still getting a few oil drops on the ground. I've been told they need to be retightened sometimes 2 or 3 times. Is this so?

Thanks.

Redog · May 22nd, 2009, 04:14 PM

I had the same problems.

I could never get the cover gasket to seat right. I when thru 3 sets before I just bought the reuseable ones on Summit.

They are $25 which is 2.5 times more than cork, but like I said I when thru 3 sets before

Allan R · May 22nd, 2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miho35o

Beginner question: I recently changed the valve cover gaskets in my '76 98 but i am still getting a few oil drops on the ground. I've been told they need to be retightened sometimes 2 or 3 times. Is this so?

Thanks.

Are you sure the oil leaking on the ground is from the repair you did? Best way to check is to check the valve cover area for leaks.

If you have oil dripping on the ground, look under the car to see where it's dripping from. If you have a 1976 98, it probably has a 455. The rear main seals were a noted leak problem and could be the cause of your leak.

If you can see the oil is clearly leaking from the VCs, you might not have installed the gasket properly, OR your valve covers may be warped from "overtightening", OR you might have missed some of the old gasket when cleaning your head or valve cover.

If you just keep tightening the cover bolts, you can end up distorting the edge of the valve cover. These bolts don't require a lot of torque (around 7 ft/lbs) but do have a tightening pattern. If you just tightened them without following the pattern, that might be part of the problem.

Start from the middle and work your way out to the ends (alternating from top to bottom in a X pattern) so you are applying even torque to the cover. If you want them to stay relatively tight, just clean the bolt before you put it in and add a little dab of thread lock. You shouldn't have to redo the VC bolts after they are installed. BTW, if you use neoprene gaskets, they are a better product than cork, and are more reliable + there's no need to retighten anything. Let us know what you find out.

mugzilla · May 24th, 2009, 02:47 AM

Did you hammer flat where the bolts distress the valve cover ..?

My442 · May 24th, 2009, 05:32 AM

FelPro PermaDry.....a hard plastic frame with an o-ring. Reuseable dozens of times, and never leak.

Expensive.

May 22nd, 2009, 01:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
miho35o Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 25	valve cover gaskets Beginner question: I recently changed the valve cover gaskets in my '76 98 but i am still getting a few oil drops on the ground. I've been told they need to be retightened sometimes 2 or 3 times. Is this so? Thanks.

May 22nd, 2009, 04:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Redog Alero Chapter Secretary Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Newtown, PA Posts: 1,145	I had the same problems. I could never get the cover gasket to seat right. I when thru 3 sets before I just bought the reuseable ones on Summit. They are $25 which is 2.5 times more than cork, but like I said I when thru 3 sets before __________________ Me 2000 Alero running 14's 2005 Nissan Altima (her's) 1967 Olds 330 motor sitting on a stand 1985 Delta 88 w/1968 350 rocket ( MURDERED )

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mugzilla is Fast Enough ... Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: dogtown Posts: 848	Did you hammer flat where the bolts distress the valve cover ..?

May 24th, 2009, 05:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
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