holes in valve cover

[cisco818]

ok im going to be straight up honest, i have not used the search button. but i need some advice, i got my car without the spark plug cover so i found a nice one in a junkyard. i took it off along with the bolts and installed it in my car. the bolts where already as tight as it could go but the head of the bolt was still sticking out. so i kept ratcheting, (if thats even a word) until i felt a pop. i tought about it but then i ignored it and kept going until the head of the bolt finally rested against the spark plug cover. a few days later i noticed that there was oil coming out from those two bolts that i forced in there.

so either way it was time to change the head gasket and im doing that on friday. my question is. . . what do you recomend i use to plug up those holes from under the valve cover while i have it out? i was thinking of bondo but i dont think itll withstand the heat tempetures that the engine has. has anyone ever done this before? shoulkd i weld it? any bright ideas will help. thanks for reading and sorry if its been act before.

 

[Carney714]

If you don't know how to properly torque down a head cover, you can crack the valve cover itself. It's basically hand tight and a small turn. You used different bolts or either crossed threaded it. You did some damage according to the pop noise. That's not good on a aluminum head.... You should never force bolts on aluminum parts.

Valve cover. Phone auto correct >_<

 

[VtecvrsTurbo]

so i kept ratcheting, (if thats even a word) until i felt a pop. i tought about it but then i ignored it

That is a disappointing statement, your in a world of trouble if that is your mentality when working on cars. WTF

Anyways, the cracked valve cover will have to be replaced, or jb-welded (works sometimes and worth a shot.) Get a OEM, yes OEM valve cover gasket, not ebay or napa brand. Those bolts are super light torque, like 3ft pounds, or 36inch pounds. Pretty much finger tight, then 1/2 turn. I work middle out on sequence.

Hopefully that crack was the valve cover and not the head. If its the head, your screwed.

 

[dans95dsm]

you did crack your valve cover,
i had to change mine because it had a small crack, that would expand when i built boost.

 

[synthetek]

ok im going to be straight up honest, i have not used the search button.

If you would have used search you would have found that its very common. The valve covers are very easy to crack if you over tighten them. You are better off finding another valve cover than trying to fix it.

 

[steve]

Sounds like he punched through the head with the bolts not cracked the rocker cover? I would have expected it to strip the threads first.

Did I understand correctly?

Those will have to be welded up.

 

[VtecvrsTurbo]

Sounds like he punched through the head with the bolts not cracked the rocker cover? I would have expected it to strip the threads first.

Did I understand correctly?

Those will have to be welded up.

I really dont see how he could have cracked the head, I stripped a bolt hole one time installing the rocker cover using 5ft pounds on the wrench. He must have been psuhing down SUPER hard.

OP: Did you use the stock bolts? I didnt think the bolt were long enough to pierce through. . .

 

[dsmspick]

You most likely cracked the valve cover. Post up some pictures. Dsm valve covers are very fragile

 

[nelliott500]

It sounds more like a busted up head to me. With so much surface area on the valve cover around the bolt hole, I really doubt there was any damage (other than what was already there) to the valve cover.

You need to pull the valve cover and figure out what damage you just did.

 

[synthetek]

The op said he was putting on a spark plug cover, not the valve cover.

 

[nelliott500]

Ahh, right. Herp. Those bolts don't go through the VC. Ignore me.

 

[steve]

The op said he was putting on a spark plug cover, not the valve cover.

Thanks with the way people use the wrong names for parts I missed that.
You can punch through the inner surface of rocker cover if the spark plug cover bolts are too long.

I have seen people do that to the head on the outer bolt holes which is what I thought he was saying.

 

[cisco818]

Yea it's actually the holes that are used to hold the "spark plug cover" i used the wrong bolts on it and they where too long. so i screwed them in until the head reached the bottom. the reason i did that was because it came off a talon and i assumed it was the right size. but now I'm sure they are longer for some odd reason. anyways i just punched two holes there because the bolts where too long. there's no cracks or anything. just a hole where the bolt screws for the "spark plugcover" i just want to know of any way to seal that up. thanks guys

and yes I'm using an oem . Im anti ebay

 

[synthetek]

You could try to jb weld the hole or maybe put in some shorter bolts with some kind of rtv or sealant on the threads.

 

[VtecvrsTurbo]

Jb weld the holes on the valve cover and dont use the spark plug cover like me. I think it looks better anyways.

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[Doubleot]

You'll need to replace your valve cover, jb weld would be a band aid fix. Also, I've used Napa, AutoZone and O'Reilly valve cover gaskets and never had issues.

 

[VtecvrsTurbo]

The gaskets are hit and miss. Spend the extra $10 and get OEM knowing not your not gonna take the cover off again.

 

[Doubleot]

Honestly, I think it's user error. Over tightening of the bolts will cause the gasket to fail. It's personal preference but I see no reason to pay extra for an Oem valve cover gasket when local parts stores are just fine. Take it with a grain of salt if you will. Fwiw I've been told of OEM valve cover gaskets failing just as easily as aftermarket.

 

[mantega4g63]

Honestly, I think it's user error. Over tightening of the bolts will cause the gasket to fail. It's personal preference but I see no reason to pay extra for an Oem valve cover gasket when local parts stores are just fine. Take it with a grain of salt if you will. Fwiw I've been told of OEM valve cover gaskets failing just as easily as aftermarket.

Don't spread misinformation just to prove your point. Aftermarket parts are made to OEM specs supposedly, how could they possibly work as good as OEM? I've worked in aftermarket part stores, comparing aftermarket to oem is a joke. OEM parts last (depending on the part) 100k+ miles, being cheap and getting away with it sometimes is nice, buying the oem part and doing it once and it never messing up again is even nicer if you ask me

 

[Doubleot]

I'm not spreading misinformation whatsoever. I've NEVER had an issue with a valve cover gasket from a parts store. If you would have read my replies, I've only said this specifically about VALVE COVER GASKETS. I'm only putting in my opinion if you have a problem with that, go cry in a corner you won't get me to change my opinion.

I never once mentioned this to be true about any other parts as compared to Oem.

 

[cisco818]

guys guys no fighting in this thread. i have found my solution and i am jb welding the two lil holes. i wanted to thank all you people that read my question right and didnt read bits and peices and jumped to conclusions thanks alot guys. and if you guys are in denver colorado lets meet up and have a dsm gathering. beers on me

Jb weld the holes on the valve cover and dont use the spark plug cover like me. I think it looks better anyways.

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that looks nice!

Sounds like he punched through the head with the bolts not cracked the rocker cover? I would have expected it to strip the threads first.

Did I understand correctly?

Those will have to be welded up.

and that is why you are a wiseman