The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Dang valve cover- stop yer leakin' !!!

I have searched the archives here, and can't find exactly what I'm, looking for so its time to ask away. My dang valve cover leaks oil. I have two of the steel ones for my 216, and spent an hour straightening them out. I am also using a quarter inch thick rubberized cork gasket. Yet they still seem. I realize that most people just goop them up with permetex before they stick them on the engine, but as I drive my truck so much, I have to adjust my valve lash pretty frequently. And, when I have the side cover off the engine, and the pan, I found lots of little pieces of permetex all-over the insides, and in the oil pump screen.

I see those fancy schmancy cast aluminum covers for sale. I read how they quiet down the valves, but do they help with the leaks? I would suspect that they would not bend like the sheet steel cover and therefore not be as prone to leaking.

Anyone like to chime in on this with their experiences?

This weekend is valve time again. For now I am going to just stick some grease on both sides of the gasket. I can't afford a fancy cover yet anyway, but am sick of wiping the oil off the side of my dang engine. (if any purist out there is just dying to trade their old clunky aluminum cover, for a beautiful, vintage 216 cover, let me know. Hahahaha- too much coffee!)

Silicone sealer and cork gaskets don't mix. They use silicone to hold the cork together, and when you add fresh silicone to a cork gasket - they break down and leak. Most people put the cork gaskets on dry. That's what I've always done, and it works for me.

i agree try the gasket with no goop,if its cork if its rubber goop er up,Mr.Lang! timbuk (lang)

Old Chevy sixes and old Harleys have one thing in common. If they aren't leaking oil they don't have oil in them.

Straight gasket lips, new gaskets, clean gasket surfaces, load spreaders and proper torque are the keys. Most people tend to over torque valve cover gaskets and exaust manifolds.

Oil leaks or oil weeping? Many people can be way to picky about what is normal too. If the oil is running down the sides of the engine, I would say that is an oil leak and a problem. If there is just residue oils (or weeping) that is considered normal on early engines.

I like cast aluminum valve covers simply because they have less tendency to leak. Factory pained valve covers are usually ok, although I've had some problematic ones. Cheap chrome is the absolute worst for leaks. I spoke with a rep from Fel-Pro a number of years ago and he explained that gaskets are not to be glued on, the gasket's job is to seal and if that doesn't work, there is a problem. Personally I like to get the surfaces as clean as possible, using usually brake cleaner on a rag to wipe them down, then lightly glue the gasket to the valve cover. I can normally re-use it many times this way. I have a solid lifter 427 in my El Camino and pull the valve covers probably 10 times a year. I think the last time I put gaskets in it was about 3-4 years ago. Nothing special, off the shelf cork gaskets from FLAPS.

Devin

I guess I'll start my saving. If only they came in bronze.

devin that 64 elcamino must be mental to drive.......

if your the contact area where the gasket is supposed to seal has a deep gouge or some sort of deformity in it that the gasket can't seal over, then scuff the area up a little and then apply a thin layer of JB-Weld on the surface. After 24 hours sand it till it is smooth and perfectly flat with a metal straight edge. It will last forever, that is great stuff. Good luck.

Timbuk- That one's the hotrod. It's a handful at full throttle, but pretty docile at lower speeds.

Devin