Valve cover question & Upper Maint.

[javve]

After doing a bit of searching I am still at a loss and maybe a little more confused than before. Seems SHO's can be good for that

I had an oil leak on the rear side of the motor on the passenger side. I thought maybe it was coming from the camshaft position sensor area. I took the valve cover off, took the cover off the sensor area, noticing previously someone used make a gasket stuff. I took the other camshaft cover off finding the same thing. I took the front valve cover off and behold when I removed the cover for the cam, same thing.

To be clear I am talking about the three aluminum covers that sit right next to the valve cover, two being held on with two bolts and one being held on with four bolts. I looked online finding every gasket except for something for those.

Is there a proper name for those and is there a gasket for them or is it common to use gasket maker? Car has 167K miles, so thinking since I am this far I may want to think about changing the timing belt? Going to do some checking on here about valve adjustments too. Cleaning the intake manifold as well, talk about a lot of black gunk on the walls.

 

[jayro]

If I am understanding correctly, you are talking about the cam caps that the cam seals go into, correct? If you are talking about the mating surface where they meet the head, Im pretty sure they do not make a gasket for it. In the engines that I have worked on (and stated in my manual) you use a small amount of rtv on the very edge of the cap to insure a seal. You just want to be careful not to get rtv in the groove that allows oil to flow to where the cam journal is.

Also, a leak from the passenger side rear is most likely going to be the rear cam seal, or possibly your rear valve cover gasket. My bet would be on the cam seal.

 

[javve]

Thanks. I'll replace all three cam seals since I have both covers off. I'm seriously considering taking the timing cover off to inspect the belt. The serpentine belt does need changed for sure. There is a small crater in part of the belt.

I found rtv in the grooves, so it is good that I removed them anyway. It appears the grey/silver rtv was used before. Looking forward to a dry non smokey engine.

Tracked down a plenum gasket, egr gasket, and the cam gaskets. Now to be able to go get em!

 

[LOUDSHO92]

We have gaskets: SHO Source

 

[javve]

We have gaskets: SHO Source

Thanks for that but I found everything at Napa close to here so when I can get them I will not have to wait for shipping. It is my main transportation so want to get things done fairly quick but will take the extra time to check the timing belt and such as well.

It is a matter of funds right now otherwise I would order then have them ready for me by the time I was ready for them.

I may be looking at getting shims once I get a hold of a feeler gauge and check the valve clearance.

 

[itwonder]

The camshaft seal caps were sealed with RTV from the factory.

 

[93rev2sev]

And you'll need to take the whole front of the engine apart to get the cam seals replaced...

And you HAVE TO replace them now that you've removed the cam caps.

 

[javve]

And you'll need to take the whole front of the engine apart to get the cam seals replaced...

And you HAVE TO replace them now that you've removed the cam caps.

So I might as well change the timing belt in the process... I was planning on replacing them anyway since I have things torn down this far.