There are 4 specific points of each valve cover that require the application of some sort of silicone sealant. A drop of locktite on the valve cover bolts will keep them from loosening up.
Just outta curiosity, did you apply fipg under the head gasket where the block and lower back timing cover meet? Did you remove that back cover, and if so, did you make sure the top of it and the block deck where the same height? That's a real good place for a nasty oil leak. It would run down the block either under the thermostat housing, or under the intake, or both.
You check for oil at the weep on the bottom of the lower timing cover? You have to look at it from underneath, as its behind the dampener. Is there fresh oil in the timing cover? Easy to pull the top one and check. Losing that much oil makes me think there's a seal leaking. I'd check the cam seals first. I've had issues with a few different brands fitting loosely, and either walking out or leaking profusely.
As far as the valves ticking, that's just a simple matter of changing shims. No need to pull the head for that. Your 7m mechanics should know that, and be able to fix it easily. All the specs are in the tsrm.
Just outta curiosity, did you apply fipg under the head gasket where the block and lower back timing cover meet? Did you remove that back cover, and if so, did you make sure the top of it and the block deck where the same height? That's a real good place for a nasty oil leak. It would run down the block either under the thermostat housing, or under the intake, or both.
You check for oil at the weep on the bottom of the lower timing cover? You have to look at it from underneath, as its behind the dampener. Is there fresh oil in the timing cover? Easy to pull the top one and check. Losing that much oil makes me think there's a seal leaking. I'd check the cam seals first. I've had issues with a few different brands fitting loosely, and either walking out or leaking profusely.
As far as the valves ticking, that's just a simple matter of changing shims. No need to pull the head for that. Your 7m mechanics should know that, and be able to fix it easily. All the specs are in the tsrm.