Leaky Valve cover

[andrewjscott]

Well, I can't figure out why I spray oil all over my exhaust manifold. Got new valve cover gasket, didn't help. Got new valve cover (old one was cracked, in a different place) didn't help. Tried tightening bolts to barly finger tight all the way to hand tight with a spinner driver. Still oil leaks. I know I shouldn't have to but is there any harm in running a bead of silicone around the mating surface?

 

[Amazin' Wasian]

The oil could be coming out of your dipstick or your oil cap.... Look and see if the rubber piece under your oil cap is hard.... If so replace it... I would also try replacing your pcv valve...
Nick

*edit* sorry read your post wrong.... Is it still leaking out of your valve cover? Or are you just noticing oil on your exhaust manifold and cover? If its leaking at the gasket, some rtv silcone should fix it....

 

[VelocitàPaola]

You could buy a new gasket set and torque each of the valve cover bolts to 2-3 ft.-lbs. (not an in.-lb. more!). The RTV silicone isn't a bad idea either, though. It's probably the cheapest solution that'll work.

 

[andrewjscott]

I did buy a new valve cover gasket. Didn't really help. I think i'll throw some RTV on it as I don't wanna have to buy a 2nd new gasket

 

[VelocitàPaola]

RTV is like duct tape, it fixes everything.

 

[halligoo]

Where did you get your 'new' valve cover. If from EBAY, Junkyard, etc., then the new one is probably cracked too. If you have oil on top under the spark plug cover, then look at your valve cover in the dark with a flashlight behind it. Maybe you will see light around one of the bolt holes.....

 

[c5chris]

The only place you need RTV on your valve cover is on the half-moon plastic piece. Other than that, the rubber gasket is sufficient enough. I bought an OEM gasket and it stopped mine from leaking. The 2 sets I bought from autozone leaked after a few months of installation and I did the installs correctly.

 

[andrewjscott]

The valve cover was bought off somebody. Said it didn't leak. Spark plug well is clean, its leaking from where the cover meets the head...and there is no visable cracks, even around thebolt holes. And the was an OEM gasket, bought 4 days ago. The old one was a topline one (came with my rebuild kit) so I figured I'd replace it w/ OEM and it would resolve the issue....but it didn't.

 

[halligoo]

There is a little hole in the valve cover above the exhause manifold. It is a 'weep' hole in case oil accumulates in the spark plug area. I thought that it might be coming thru that little hole.

 

[andrewjscott]

i thought so too, but no oil in the spark plug well to drain out. it has leaked all along the front edge of the valve cover (inluding down the head)

 

[oldman]

Sounds to me like a possible excessive crankcase pressure if you have already gone through changing the VC and gaskets. Is the distick popping out? Did you pinch the dipstick tube shut because it was popping out? Have you check the pcv valve? Are both pcv and breather properly vented? Are you blowing smoke out of the tailpipe?

 

[andrewjscott]

I have a straight fitting in place of the PCV and running both breather lines to a catchcan that vents to atmosphere. No smoke blowing out the tail pipe and no dipstick poping out (not pinched). So I don't think excessive crankcase pressure is the issue.

 

[oldman]

I have a straight fitting in place of the PCV and running both breather lines to a catchcan that vents to atmosphere. No smoke blowing out the tail pipe and no dipstick poping out (not pinched). So I don't think excessive crankcase pressure is the issue.

Then you're down to another cracked VC or you suck at installing gaskets.