valve cover leak

[e1337]

today when i was driving blue smoke started to arise from my car, it only lasted for like 5 seconds but i pulled over in my work to look at it and it was leaking oil at the seam of the valve cover. a fellow co worker { who is a mech} said that its very possible that the valve cover gasket needs to be replaced sence it has never been replaced in my car and thats why there was blue smoke when the oil hit the heat shield. too look at it youll see blackish grime in the seal and around it and oil seeping around it. i called the mitsu dealer, 29.95 for the gasket. i have a manaul, it shows how to take off the valve cover, easy.. but dont i need a torque wrench to tighten it back down? if so what is the pressure needed? is it possible the smoke could have came from the turbo?

thanks in advance
Ron

 

[cybershadow]

I am replacing mine tomorrow. I gotta little oil leak myself. Autozone and Advance Auto Parts has the gasket for $18. It needs 107ft lbs of torque. Be sure to use a bead of silicone on the gasket. $3-$4 at walmart.

 

[brokengsx]

the torque specs are 36 inch lb on cover to cylinder bolts,and 24 to 36 inch lb. on inner cover bolts. you'll also want to replace the spark plug gaskets that sit in the valve cover around each plug underneath. might as well while your there. good luck, and don't forget your torque wrench that is made for inch lb., not foot lb. just read what other member posted and wanted to let you know my info is from the shop manual. overtorquing your valve cover will cause leaks and or cracks in the cover or head. also, just use a small bead of rtv on the semi circlular plug on the top which seats to the gasket, other than that, you shouldn't need andy gasket maker. Did mine not to long ago and have had no issues with leaks since.






battled

 

[e1337]

thank you soo much. are my thoughts that the gasket is gone and may not be something far seroius?

 

[Quasimondo]

If you can, get the kit the Felpro sells. It's more expensive, but it comes with the valve cover gasket, the gasket for the spark plugs, and the semi-circle. It also doesn't require any rtv or sealant and warns you not to use any in the installation instructions. I replaced the gaskets on my car with them and haven't had any problmes after 1000 miles (knock on wood).

 

[x camaro owner]

holy jumping jupiter 170ftlbs can those bolts even take that.

dude i just use a 1/4 ratchet and extension and tighten them down snug with that. if there is some leakeage you can always go tighter later. the previuos owner of the car had a mechanic do something he must have torqed them down to 170ftlbs or tried to because he cracked the valve cover and then tried to use epoxy to fix it. may that person from above was the mechanic who worked on my car.
oh well junk yard had a valve cover for cheap around. and no i didn;t spray paint it a pretty color just cleaned it and put it on.

ps epoxy doesn't fix aluminum it will leak

 

[brokengsx]

after your done replacing the gasket, clean up any oil you suspect could be leaking from the valve cover or other places, then check it out after a couple of trips and see if the oil comes back.

 

[cuttheduck]

I'm sure I'm pointing out the obvious but did you try to tighten the bolts down before doing anything else. The EXACT SAME THING happened to me and I just tightened them down to spec and no more leaking oil. That was over a year ago. They can come loose over time like mine did. A gasket is a great possibility though and/or possibly even a clogged up PCV valve

 

[cybershadow]

Yeah my bad, I misread my info. It is 107 INCH LBS PER BOLT. Which is like 9 FT LBS.

 

[philipkrotch]

9 ft lbs will crack the valve cover. 3 is more like it