Valve Cover Bolt(s)

[cypherround07]

Having an issue screwing in the center rear and center front bolts on the valve cover, w/o them (I think) are spraying/leaking oil in my engine bay. For the life of me I can not get these 2 bolts to screw in even though they are the correct size and they will screw in the other spots on the valve cover. Any ideas? Should I maybe undo/loosen all the bolts and then start in the center and worth my way around?

 

[Bud92gsx]

The holes may be stripped.In that case a simple helicoil will suffice.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-miscellaneous/361131-how-install-heil-coil.html

 

[cypherround07]

Thanks bud, trying to refrain from having to drill into the head though if possible.

 

[92AWDHX40]

You may not have a choice, if your threads are stripped, or find another head.

 

[wkmitsu]

Try just running a m6x1.0 tap in them first before you go helicoil. If you can get the tap started in the first few threads, you can clear the rest out and probably still be ok. These bolts shouldn't be torqued more than 3 ft-lb.

 

[cypherround07]

Try just running a m6x1.0 tap in them first before you go helicoil. If you can get the tap started in the first few threads, you can clear the rest out and probably still be ok. These bolts shouldn't be torqued more than 3 ft-lb.

Thank you for the tap spec, I was just going to ask that. I am certainly hoping that all I have to do is run the tap. I know it use to bolt on just fine so it could just be something is blocking me from getting them down far enough or even oil pressure there is oil in the threaded area(?).

 

[92AWDHX40]

Oil pressure where is the stripped bolt, im confused, the valve cover bolts shouldnt have anything to do with with pressure, if its stripped some where thats just that if your going to retap it, that should take care of the bolt not threading the way it should, or am i missing something. This happens more than often we can tap it and rethread the damaged areas, and find the correct bolt to replace it.

 

[ChrisMgst]

Will the bolts thread in without the valve cover on? If so than you don't have a serious issue. Just barely thread each bolt in evenly, and make sure to use a nut driver.

 

[cypherround07]

I will take pictures of the exact location and then post the pics. I'm going to try to loosen all the bolts then tighten from the middle out see if that might work.

Well my hypothesis did NOT work, loosening the rest of the bolts then starting from the middle out. Same problem though seems to just spin when trying to tighten. The result of this issue is oil leak/spray (never seen it do it with the hood open, only after I drive it). My theory is its the bolts can't think of anything else. Don't let the picture fool you the amount of oil on the valve cover is only from a 15 min drive around my town. I usually wipe all the oil down each time it comes out so it is, what I believe, to be a significant oil issue.

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[V12 Killa]

Remove the VC and inspect the threads and check if the bolts screw in. If not re-tap them. Have you inspected the VC for any cracks??

 

[Rock2610d]

First thing I would look at is the oil fill cap. I do not think oil can get where yours is without a crack or oil leaking from cap.

 

[cypherround07]

Remove the VC and inspect the threads and check if the bolts screw in. If not re-tap them. Have you inspected the VC for any cracks??

Not yet, will have to do that and double check. I know they worked before we built the head.

First thing I would look at is the oil fill cap. I do not think oil can get where yours is without a crack or oil leaking from cap.

This would definitely be a good place to look since it's a significant amount of oil, IMO.

 

[Mokkan]

Its pretty unlikely that oil is spraying up from the valve cover and ending up on top of the engine. It would be spraying all over your engine bay and hood if that were the case. Its probably leaking out from the oil cap.

Clean the valve cover, then zip tie a paper towel or shop rag around the cap and see if it has soaked up oil after running the engine.

 

[cypherround07]

Its pretty unlikely that oil is spraying up from the valve cover and ending up on top of the engine. It would be spraying all over your engine bay and hood if that were the case. Its probably leaking out from the oil cap.

Clean the valve cover, then zip tie a paper towel or shop rag around the cap and see if it has soaked up oil after running the engine.

Excellent idea! Will try that tonight.

 

[gixxer6]

I haven't tried this personally, but if you have stripped threads and don't want to drill/tap, this is an option: Loctite® Form-A- Thread® Stripped Thread Repair - Henkel

 

[cypherround07]

Well found the cause of my oil leak, cracked valve cover (wasn't looking for that earlier). Must have recently happened, when we rebuilt the head the valve cover was checked and didn't have cracks. As far as the bolts go, they just need to be retapped which happening next weekend when I get it to the fab shop. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[Xarlos]

Well found the cause of my oil leak, cracked valve cover (wasn't looking for that earlier). Must have recently happened, when we rebuilt the head the valve cover was checked and didn't have cracks. As far as the bolts go, they just need to be retapped which happening next weekend when I get it to the fab shop. Thanks for all the help guys!

Hi, my GSX has a similar issue, but it has also oil next to the oil Cap (on the 16 valve letters) and inside the spark plugs channel, not in the area where the plug cover screws (refering to the blue cricle on your pic). I also have a friend with a GST similar problem.

I'm going to try covering the cap as described above, but can you tell me where was your crack on the valve? I know it may not be the same on mine but just wandering.

I also notice on my cover and my friend's cover, that there are 2 holes on the right side of the cover, one right on the front (next to far right screw) and another one behind, inside the plug's channel. Is this normal? it seems to leak oil from those holes. (I will search the forum for this, but I ask here because seems to be a related issue)

thank you.

 

[AndersonsDSM]

you can re tap those bolts without coming close to any valve train components. youll be ok