Leaky Valve Covers!

[haydenm315]

From day one I've had problems with my valve covers leaking. It sneaks up through the bolts and where the gasket meets the camshaft bearings on the end. I'm guessing too loose on the bolts or hardened gaskets in them. Maybe I'm not using enough RTV where they say to on the corners. I freak out on the valve cover bolts because I've broken them in the past and had to hit up pick and pulls. I've got extras as a matter of fact for that reason. The leak where the gasket goes around the camshaft end journals is also annoying. Mine leaks out the front/rear passenger exhaust cams.

I can go about 1000 miles before losing a qt which isn't too bad. I replaced the gaskets last 60k. I have problems with leaks around the valve cover bolts. I'd rather them not leak on stuff.

I am replacing my CID sensor and noticed it's pretty dirty around there. It's caked up over time dirty there. I want to say it's sneaking by the valve cover and not the cam seal. There was some oil in the sensor, but not a lot. I could see how it would make it's way in over time on the housing. The sensor is not dead and is very old. I suspect it's beginning to fail due to slightly hard starting from time to time. I slacked last 60k on it. I think the oil would've killed the sensor if itwas leaking through the seal. I inspected the seal with a mirror/light and it appeared clean. I replaced it about 60k ago when I installed some cams.

Could someone give me some advice on sealing this badboy back up again?

 

[LJRuddy]

Graba set of valve cover gaskets which include plug well gaskets. Odds are, if your valve cover gaskets are leaking, your plug seals are on their way out as well... Also, purchase cam seal gaskets. Those are as easy as 1 2 3 to change. Might as well grab a cam sensor while you are at it... they are very cheap and it makes sense to change it while it is off anyway.

EDIT: After reading ur post again:
I know that u already changed the seals but thats the only place oil could leak from... perhaps u put the cam seals in backwards? I know that one side has a grove in it and the other does not...

 

[haydenm315]

Graba set of valve cover gaskets which include plug well gaskets. Odds are, if your valve cover gaskets are leaking, your plug seals are on their way out as well... Also, purchase cam seal gaskets. Those are as easy as 1 2 3 to change. Might as well grab a cam sensor while you are at it... they are very cheap and it makes sense to change it while it is off anyway.

I've got a cam sensor to put in.

EDIT: After reading ur post again:
I know that u already changed the seals but thats the only place oil could leak from... perhaps u put the cam seals in backwards? I know that one side has a grove in it and the other does not...

The grooved side is in. Pretty sure I did it the correct way. Only 1 could possibly be leaking.


I was hoping to reuse the gaskets since they aren't that old. Is 60k pretty much the life of the gaskets? The plugs aren't leaking YET. The gaskets were all replaced 60k ago. I was hoping to do them again the next 60k. What you're saying is the gaskets are done?

I'm seeing $81 for a felpro set from rockauto. I guess I have no choice. Looks like the SHO maintenance bill is up to $550. If you look at it from a 3 yr maintenance perspective it's not bad. If you look at it like my wife does, it's bad.

 

[Devin]

RCM has em for 69.99, but with shipping you are looking at more like $76.

 

[haydenm315]

RCM has em for 69.99, but with shipping you are looking at more like $76.

Who is RCM.. Gettin tired of acronyms. Can't seem to find this one.

 

[CerberuS]

http://home.earthlink.net/~rcm_automotive/index.html