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Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:14 am

ive replaced the valve cover gaskets and it still has i little leak. will this do any damage? ive been cleaning it off before every drive but there is still a little smoke from the oil caking on the manifold.

Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:59 am

Are you using the cork or rubber gaskets? Rubber leaks. I use cork and VERY lightly grease both sides, and have no leaks. I used rubber once and it leaked BADLY.

Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:08 pm

cork only. ill try changing it again tomorrow.

Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:16 pm

Some glue the cover side on, I just use grease. It is such a thin coating that it almost won't wipe off--it just smooths the cork surface so your finger barely glides.

Also, are your bail wires tight? They can get bent and then not hold the cover on tightly.

Wed Jul 16, 2008 12:23 pm

I agree about the rubber vs cork. I had the same annoying leak of oil from my valve cover onto the heater box, making my cabin smell when I would heat it. Completely fixed by switching to cork gaskets.

Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:06 am

hehe, i was getting confused about the responses only being about cork gaskets.... and then i read my original post. im a dumb ass. lol.

anyhoo, what i meant to ask was will the oil dripping on my manifold cause any harm to the car?

Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:37 am

It keeps things from rusting and smells bad. Collects dirt and won't look good.

If it all leaks out then yes more harm will be done.

You may also have a bent valve cover. Nest time you take it off, check it for straight and level. Also look at the surface of the head where the valve cover sits. If it has any deep scratches, this can also cause a seep.

As for gaskets, I used to have leaks when I glued them. They were also a pain to get off. I now put them on dry or as KTPhil said with just a little grease.

Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:08 am

Oily sticky dirt on an air cooled car will shorten it's life. Clean is cool.

Thu Jul 17, 2008 9:27 am

Like drscope said, check for bent covers or dings. I had a set of stock VW (mex, I think) covers that fit very sloppily and leaked. After 5 minutes of adjusting the fit with a hammer, a pair of pliers and some bending, they fit well and no longer leak. I had to to the same with some shiny aftermarket chrome ones once when I was younger and stupider.

Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:05 am

Checlk the push rod tube seals also.. I have had them leak and oil run down onto the valve cover and drip on the heater box...

Just a thought.. I use the rubber gaskets with sealer and never have any leaks...

Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:51 am

The damn valve cover gaskets tend to "cup" on the bottom when putting them in. Like stated before use some grease lightly to hold them in and when putting them up onto the engine look and make sure the bottom is down flat and not cupping up.

Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:45 am

Something we do on our race engines to keep the gasket in place, is to tack weld a small strip of sheet metal on the inside of the covers.

This gives the gasket a recess to sit in and it can't pop out or get sucked out from under the cover.