cam cover Leak

[senseikrang1]

I recently removed the Cylinder Head Covers, changed the gaskets, cleaned them up and reinstalled them. The first time I did this a few months back I used the stock bolts and they became extra lose over time and oil was spiling out the back, so I changed the bolts a month ago. I installed new stainless steel hex bolts, tightened them tight, and torqued them. A few weeks later they were dripping a little, so I re-torqued them. That lasted a couple more weeks.....now im seeing a few drips again....why are they comming loose time after time? Should I have used lock-tite?

 

[pogoism9]

hot/cold/hot/cold maybe?

 

[theKnifeArtist]

where's it leaking from? did you put rtv on the spots that the tsrm points out?

 

[senseikrang1]

where's it leaking from? did you put rtv on the spots that the tsrm points out?

Mainly the leaks are at the back of the covers...the covers arent warped...the bolts keep slipping tho, they dont get extremely loose, but they loosen up enough to leak

 

[skim1040]

It could also be possible that when you had them off, small peices of the old gasket were left on the covers? Did you scrape of the touching surfaces On both the head and the covers? If not, this could be causing a small leak somewheres

 

[senseikrang1]

It could also be possible that when you had them off, small peices of the old gasket were left on the covers? Did you scrape of the touching surfaces On both the head and the covers? If not, this could be causing a small leak somewheres

I did scrape them clean......I think I will take off the bolts, take the covers off and use lock tite on the bolts....I'm assuming that will keep them stiff enough...has anyone used this stuff?

 

[87witmoreboost]

I did scrape them clean......I think I will take off the bolts, take the covers off and use lock tite on the bolts....I'm assuming that will keep them stiff enough...has anyone used this stuff?

I had the same issue with the loose bolts after doing new gaskets. I took off the covers, ran a bead of silicon around the (freshly cleaned with razor) gasket surface, and put the gasket back on the cover and re-installed. I used loctite BLUE on the bolts. Blue will hold the screws in place without making it a permanent mate. See how this works for you.

 

[Poodles]

loctite is a must

along with new washers

 

[Supra-K]

mines leaking so bad its spilling oil all over the manifold, I say upradged bolts like tite and silcon

 

[IJ.]

Never used Loctite or Silicone and 0 leaks here.

 

[tlo86]

Never used Loctite or Silicone and 0 leaks here.

same here, i think my leaks were contributed to bad PCV routing though

 

[Poodles]

what fasteners and washers did you use IJ?

 

[senseikrang1]

When you guys say silicone, what type are you using?

 

[theKnifeArtist]

permatex 'the right stuff' rtv

 

[Adjuster]

My no leak method.
1) Clean up your valve covers.
2) Clean up your head.
3) Use new gaskets. They are less than 20.00.

Ok, just like the TSRM says, you need beads of sealant along the front cam caps on both sides at the 90 degree corners.

I've found that running a bead of "The right stuff" sealant around the INSIDE of each valve cover gasket seems to seal them up every time with no leaks.

The bead is about as thick as the gasket. When it is compressed, it seals up the valve cover, gasket and head from the inside, and there is no leaking sealant outside where you can see it at all. Don't use too much, I'm sure it floating around in your head would not be a good thing.

I use allen head stainless steel bolts, washers with neoprene disks to protect the powdercoated covers, and lock washers to keep the bolts from backing out when they are tighted up. Never used loctite. (IF I did, I'd use blue so they would come back out again. )

BTW, did not get a good bead last time around, I was low on "right stuff" and it leaked! LOL

Time to pull them off, check the stud tourqe values, get new gaskets and this time around, make sure they are sealed up right, and should never need to come off again... (Fingers crossed..)

 

[GuNDeZZZ]

By the "right stuff" what do you mean...

Does anyone sell the hex head bolts other than suprasport cause apparently they took them all to vegas :nono:

 

[GrimJack]

If you don't get all the oil cleaned out of the holes in the head that these bolt to, they will work loose.

Oh, and if you take off your heat shields, you'll fry the gaskets on the exhaust side - they'll be brittle and cracking inside of a year. I'd love to see someone make a set of these out of high temp silicone.

Never had much of a problem with mine.

 

[Poodles]

arz had a set of what appeared to be blue silicone ones, but he couldn't remember where he got them :cry:

look in his valve cover thread...

 

[GrimJack]

Ya, I saw those... and asked him about them at the time. Wish I could find them...

 

[IJ.]

what fasteners and washers did you use IJ?

Stainless cap screws and stock type rubber grommets.