leaking valve cover
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 653
Likes: 105
From: New Dominion, PE
leaking valve cover
I did the valve covers over in late fall 2024 ....did the fuel injectors while I had everything apart. Cleaned and painted the covers. The valve cover
gaskets that were on were reasonably new so reused them. I didn't drive the truck before putting it to bed for the winter.
Well, got back home and fired it up to go for an MVI and she was a cloud of smoke. Pulled over to see what was going on and saw oil dripping from
the drivers side valve cover right onto the manifold.
So, that will need to come off and repaired. Should i just put a new gasket on this side? Should I be using RTV on the gasket to make it stick
to the valve cover before re-attempting the re-install?
gaskets that were on were reasonably new so reused them. I didn't drive the truck before putting it to bed for the winter.
Well, got back home and fired it up to go for an MVI and she was a cloud of smoke. Pulled over to see what was going on and saw oil dripping from
the drivers side valve cover right onto the manifold.
So, that will need to come off and repaired. Should i just put a new gasket on this side? Should I be using RTV on the gasket to make it stick
to the valve cover before re-attempting the re-install?
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 653
Likes: 105
From: New Dominion, PE
I believe it was the rubber coated cork style. this was done 7 months ago... I ran my finger around the perimeter of the valve cover and could feel the gasket..no bulges. anything is possible I guess.
So these type gaskets go on dry then?
So these type gaskets go on dry then?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 2,607
From: Near Salt Lake City
Make sure there are no cracks in the metal around the bolt holes in the valve cover
The factory Ford metal and rubber gaskets do work well for years and years, if your valve covers were designed to use them
They must be perfectly flat to use those gaskets
The factory Ford metal and rubber gaskets do work well for years and years, if your valve covers were designed to use them
They must be perfectly flat to use those gaskets
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 653
Likes: 105
From: New Dominion, PE
any cracking. but will when I take the drivers side one off.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 2,607
From: Near Salt Lake City
You are liable just to see a spot where you slipped the gasket
Rarely, do they crack, it is just something you check
I've seen it about 3 times in 45+ years of wrenching, once on my own car, damn thing would not stop leaking, finally saw the crack
Rarely, do they crack, it is just something you check
I've seen it about 3 times in 45+ years of wrenching, once on my own car, damn thing would not stop leaking, finally saw the crack
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Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 653
Likes: 105
From: New Dominion, PE
I have a small welder I can use to repair any cracks, flatten with a dolly hammer and grind to uniform flatness. I'm assuming that is the fix for this if it is the case?
I used 13 ft lbs on the bolts torqueing them in a star pattern.
I used 13 ft lbs on the bolts torqueing them in a star pattern.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,556
Likes: 851
Probably over torqued.
check valve cover flatness with a steel rule or straight edge.
ive only used cork, never put sealant on, never had a leak, hand tightened, ya get a feel for these things over time.
use a smaller torque wrench, 1/4 or 3/8 not a 3/4 drive.
check valve cover flatness with a steel rule or straight edge.
ive only used cork, never put sealant on, never had a leak, hand tightened, ya get a feel for these things over time.
use a smaller torque wrench, 1/4 or 3/8 not a 3/4 drive.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,811
Likes: 1,022
I tend to shy away from silicone sealer and gaskets. Done right, the gasket will do the sealing. If you can't prepare the gasket surface properly, then it will leak.
As mentioned above, flat sealing surfaces are the trick. Clean/oil free surfaces too. To date, I am using the same valve cover gaskets on my 95 F250 that the factory installed. I have replaced the factory valve covers with aluminum 20+ years ago and I have had them off at least twice. If they are leaking, it's something I have not noticed.
Tighter is not better as mentioned above. It is an art where you do not have to use a torque wrench to put on a simple valve cover and have it not leak.
As mentioned above, flat sealing surfaces are the trick. Clean/oil free surfaces too. To date, I am using the same valve cover gaskets on my 95 F250 that the factory installed. I have replaced the factory valve covers with aluminum 20+ years ago and I have had them off at least twice. If they are leaking, it's something I have not noticed.
Tighter is not better as mentioned above. It is an art where you do not have to use a torque wrench to put on a simple valve cover and have it not leak.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 468
Likes: 67
From: Near SLC Utah
From my experience, don't waste your time with the cork gaskets or really any other ones besides the silicone steel core gaskets, they are pricey compared to a traditional set of gaskets but well worth it.
I used them on my oil pan and valve covers, even properly torqued they became oil soaked and just leaked. I picked this one up from the local parts store. https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...r+gasket&pos=0
I used them on my oil pan and valve covers, even properly torqued they became oil soaked and just leaked. I picked this one up from the local parts store. https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...r+gasket&pos=0
Thread Starter
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 653
Likes: 105
From: New Dominion, PE
From my experience, don't waste your time with the cork gaskets or really any other ones besides the silicone steel core gaskets, they are pricey compared to a traditional set of gaskets but well worth it.
I used them on my oil pan and valve covers, even properly torqued they became oil soaked and just leaked. I picked this one up from the local parts store. https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...r+gasket&pos=0
I used them on my oil pan and valve covers, even properly torqued they became oil soaked and just leaked. I picked this one up from the local parts store. https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...r+gasket&pos=0
The rubber/cork ones installed from 2023 in ottawa are pretty new...hate to just trash them but will bite the bullet if the rubber cork ones leak. PITA having to take the intake off
for the passenger side as well (which is not leaking).