Hello, I had another thread going regarding my motor being sluggish. As I was looking at my carburetor I noticed a crack by my left valve cover. I wanted to start a new thread as this is something I just noticed. I had noticed a little bit of oil there and had assumed that the valve cover needed a new gasket. I am attaching a picture with the spot I am talking about circled. If you click on the picture it gets bigger. Please let me know what you think if anything. Disregard the coolant you can see in the picture, that was from me changing the thermostat.

 

I'm sorry to say that that picture is too small and I can't see any crack.

Is it possible to post anything bigger, or to indicate where the crack can be seen?

- Eric

 

 

If you click on the picture it gets bigger. I don't know if you tried that already. You can see it by the coolant

 

if you're talking about the gap between the intake ports ? That is just a gap from the intake gasket. I don't see a crack anywhere. Could be leaking oil out there which would give you vacuum loss, replace the gasket. Orrick

 

It don't get much bigger...

- Eric

 

I circled the spot that I am concerned about. Is this what you are seeing as well?

 

For sure not a crack and not a problem as this is a non critical sealing area for engine running as it is in between 2 intake ports. It appears there is a square nut just laying there??

 

that is not a crack, likely any oil you are seeing is coming from your valve cover gasket...

 

Looks like part of the intake from here.

 

+1.

That's just a gap in the gasket.

It may or may not indicate a poor seal into the crankcase, which would tend to leak a bit of oil and provide a little "extra" crankcase ventilation.

Nothing to worry about.

- Eric

 

Relax. As Fourtwenty said, it's just space between the head and the intake gasket. Perfectly normal. Nothing is really getting sealed right there anyway, its between the intake ports. It wouldn't hurt to change it if you're having driveability issues. I dont really like repeating what everyone else just said. I would have been post #8 but I got interrupted by a mechanic with a big estimate. Can't the people I work with see that I'm busy?

 

X5 - gap in gasket, no problems there!

 

Alright guys that is a relief. I am new with all of this so when I saw that it scared me. Thanks for looking.

 

To clarify the above posts, your car has an original-style thin metal intake gasket, which is why if you look closely inside the circle in your photo, you can see the thin sheet metal bowed up. Since this is in an area where there is no clamping and thus nothing to seal, do not worry about it.

 

Put a little carb cleaner across it while running, if it changes the idle - it's leaking.
Then dab some silicone across it, if it bothers you!

 

Thanks again for the info