Valve cover gasket leaking

[canonize-ryda]

My valve cover seems to be leaking from right above the exhaust manifold. I started it in maybe 10 degree weather. oil pressure was up over 60 at start and lowered to 40 within a minute or 2. I think i have excessive oil pressure causing this leak. I have installed a oil catch can to help take away pressure. The gasket is new and siliconed so it shouldn't leak on its own. I have noticed however that someone plugged the holes that are drilled in the cover near the cam gears, maybe this has something to do with it. This is a 2g valve cover if that matters.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[Kod]

That's not that bad I'm usually 100 plus psi at start up. If the gasket looks like it's pushing out then probably a bad pcv valve if not probably just a worn gasket.

 

[1457gvr4]

The valve cover gasket doesnt "see" any oil pressure. It might see a little positive pressure from the crank case, but not enough to blow the gasket out. Chances are the gasket is worn or the valve cover is not bolted down tight enough or too tight as to pinch the gasket. Proper torque is 2-3 ftlbs.

 

[ty92dsm]

Did you torque the VC bolts to the right torque? Most of the time people tighten them until they feel tight and it smashes the gasket out and causes it to leak even when they are new

^beat me to it

 

[LiquidX]

How tight did you tighten the bolts down? Hell, I've reused the VC gasket plenty of times and it actually has a tear on a corner and it still doesn't leak. Either it was installed wrong or you have a crack somewhere if it is in fact from the gasket.

The top center stud for the exhaust manifold goes through the head and will leak oil if not sealed properly, there may be 1 other one as well on the driver side but I cannot recall if that's correct or not.

The holes you are mentioning are most likely the drain hole that connects the spark plug valley and the outside of the VC. All it does is allow any excess liquid that builds up in the valley to drain out so you don't flood the spark plug wells. It doesn't connect internally at all and all 4g63 valve covers have those holes. No issues plugging it up other than if the valley fills with fluid, it won't drain out.

 

[Kod]

Also best using 3m adhesive over a gasket maker.

 

[canonize-ryda]

Well i thought it was my pcv and i routed it into my catch can, and blocked the manifold. Its a brand new gasket but ill check to make sure its sealed. Half of my vc bolts are stripped on the head.

 

[1457gvr4]

Its just the center exhaust manifold bolt for some stupid reason.

 

[Calan]

The gasket is new and siliconed...

That ^ may be part of your problem.

The VC gasket should go on dry, except for a very small amount of RTV in each of the "dome" corners on the head and across the ends of the half-moon seal.

Otherwise, it's most likely due to the VC being warped or cracked which are both very common.



EDIT:

Or this:

Half of my vc bolts are stripped on the head.

 

[canonize-ryda]

Yea i used rtv to get it on. I think i may have overtightened them but like i said some are stripped and i cant get them all tight. Ill try loosening them up and maybe even restabbin the VC. So you guys wouldn't worry about it? I was thinking crank case pressure or something but lets hope its the gasket. It doesn't leak out but sputters out like if you were blowing spit out of your mouth.

 

[1457gvr4]

Which bolts are stripped? Crankcase pressure in the head may escape through the gasket if not sealed properly.

 

[canonize-ryda]

Front center is the worst, which is like 2 inches away from the leak. Id assume its that bolt needing to be tight and ill have fixed my problem.

 

[1457gvr4]

That sounds like your problem. Heli-coil it.

 

[canonize-ryda]

I cant find those anywhere. Any good ideas where to look?

 

[Calan]

Just so I have this right... you started a thread asking why your VC gasket would be leaking, and 7 posts in we find out that you have a bunch of stripped bolts so you can't tighten it down; including the one right next to the leak?

Now that's funny right there.

 

[canonize-ryda]

I really wanted to make sure it was something more Damaging than just the leak. I thought something about excessive pressure and didn't want to drive or start it knowing it could have some problem making it act this way. Thanks for the positive reasurance that it was just a gasket leak... Yea now it does sound like maybe i shoulda have the whole story to begin with. my bad guys.

 

[clipto]

Did you buy a cheap valve cover gasket? Check out the felpro the "real" rubber one cost about $40. I have never seen leaks from those just make sure tighten down just right, not to tight as we all know valve cover cracking is fun but you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[canonize-ryda]

It was a evergreen gasket... less than 40 for the entire gasket kit .

 

[Silver99OZ]

It was a evergreen gasket... less than 40 for the entire gasket kit .

Not a good decision, those gaskets are useless. I have always used felpro valve cover gaskets with no leaks, I used one of those cheap ones once and all of the tube seals around the plugs leaked. Filled all of the plug holes up with oil and make one hell of a mess on my freshly painted valve cover.

 

[canonize-ryda]

Indeed, i have learned the hard way.

 

[clipto]

Indeed, i have learned the hard way.

Don't sweat it I am sure we all have bought the cheap valve cover gasket for our car , and I am sure some still do.

 

[Sleeper1gfwd]

Heli-coils can be had at most fastener places...around me would be York castanets, fastenall, or a bolt patrol...good luck

 

[bryanwheat]

Not a good decision, those gaskets are useless. I have always used felpro valve cover gaskets with no leaks, I used one of those cheap ones once and all of the tube seals around the plugs leaked. Filled all of the plug holes up with oil and make one hell of a mess on my freshly painted valve cover.

Evergreen gaskets are perfectly fine. I've personally used atleast 20-30 of their gasket kits. Not a single problem. They also have a more complete gasket kit than felpro and all others.

 

[92talonawd21]

so you guys are sayin not to use rtv besides in the domes ### mines leakin up top out of the spark plug holes but im guessin its becuase of the rtv

 

[1G90TalonTsi]

I cant find those anywhere. Any good ideas where to look?

Napa sells them id go with 1/4 x 20. Its the most common thread size

Jared