DUMPING OIL from the valve cover

[microCADDY]

OK i have been putting up with this for months now. Leaky pass side valve cover gasket. I have gone through 2 new cork gaskets & 2 different valve covers. Seams like once the engine heats up the gaskets does THIS

When this happens i DUUUUMMMMMPPPPPPP oil. When i put it on ever time it's lined up perfect

Anyone know what to do about this ?

[far rider]

Just a guess. Maybe your bail is worn and somewhat providing less pressure on the cover than necessary?
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67 zenith blue sunroof

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[L378]

You might want to post this in a technical forum, HOWEVER IF you've gone through 2 gaskets and changed the cover, and given that your gasket is sitting on the head in the photo - are you using gasket sealer?

[Desertbusman]

So what sealant did you use to hold it to the cover?

I use either Permatex Aviation or Gasgacinch. Other people use other products. But you have to use something since there is nothing to hold the gasket in place.
And then to keep it from sticking to the head I do a smear of grease on the gasket head mating surface.
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71 Westy

[microCADDY]

NO sealer was used. I pulled it off ever so gently to see what the gasket was doing & the fact the the valve are holding the bottom on.

Hell i even tried rubber gaskets.
chrome covers, stock covers, stock retainers & chrome retainers

[74 Thing]

Get a new OEM bail since you have not replaced that.

Put the valve cover on the head without any gaskets and see if it wobbles-if not it is straight and you are good-if it rocks or wobbles then replace it since the seating surface is not straight.

Clean the valve cover and get some Permatex and glue the gasket to the valve cover. On the side that contacts the head put a light coat of wheel bearing grease so it will come off easy. Then install it and you should be good.

[microCADDY]

ok sounds good. i'll work on that & see what happens

[aryue]

Chrome doesn't always get you home - The OEM parts shown in the link below are boring - but they work.

http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=1832

- Andrew in Austin, TX -
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[windsoreight]

You going to get lots of opinions. I have always used 3m yellow glue/weatherstrip adhesive. I glue the gasket to the cover. It sucks to remove but in all the 18 plus years I have worked as a tech I never had a leak.

[owdlvr]

Better yet, why don't we start with what your engine combination is. If it's a stock motor chances are the issue is with your valve cover and/or cover bail.

if it's a non-stock motor there is likely a different solution required.

-Dave
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[microCADDY]

OK the engine is a loaner 1600 sp with lots of chrome tins.ALT swap & came with chrome china made. Like i said i have tried 2 new cork & 1 rubber gaskets, tried chrome cover & the stock cover. tried the chrome retainer & stock retainer clamp.

[KopfenJager]

Use stock bails, stock valve covers and quality cork gaskets. clean cover good, especialy where the gasket goes. Put a thin bead of silicone on the vlave cover where the gasket sits. Place gasket on valve cover push down so gasket sits down in cover. Use cloth line clips to hold gasket in place and wait overnight for silicone to dry. clean head gasket surface and cork service and clip em on. We have done this for years and the most we get are a few drops, no sucked in gaskets or puddles.

[SRP1]

Ok here is what you do;

Parts;
Use only an OEM cover, no chrome stuff.

The Covers;
You can do one of two things to the cover to fix the gasket moving problem.
A-You can have a small tab welded to the inside of the cover that keeps the gasket in place. This is nice because is makes for replacing the gasket at a later date easy
or
B-Glue the gasket into place with one of the mentioned silicone or glues.
I like the 3m weatherstrip adhesive as mentioned by windsoreight.
It holds well and cleans up ok with brake parts cleaner.
The trick to using any type of glue or silicone is that the glue must dry before you install the cover, also all parts must be completely oil free. I have a scrap cylinder head laying on the bench that I use to this job. I position it all up, then simple lay the cover on the head until the glue is dry, then install on the car.

The Bails;
Bend the ends of the bails inward on each end, this will bring the load tension on the cover back to new.
So if you where to lay the bail on a flat surface you would bend it inward at each 90* angle flex inward here >I___I< and here.
Clamp a 2 x 4 in a vice with a hole just large enough to pass the end bail through, then just slightly flex the bail inward while the other portion is being held stationary with the 2 x 4. Do this for each end of the bail.

If you carefully follow what I just wrote and you will not have anymore valve cover leaks, that is unless you have a bent or rusted out cover.

SRP1

[Altema]

I'm assuming you already checked the head to make sure the bottom edge is not concave or that the ends are not raised?

Paul

[microCADDY]

O i know chrome sucks. I put a real good bend back into the retainer clamp, cleaned everything up good again & reinstalled. Took it for a nice hot ride & got the engine warmed up. NO DRIPS

Now i have done this before with little to no drips. Then i go for an hour or so ride & it's starts dumping again.

Don't have anywhere to go that far today so when i do & if it happens again i'll the the whole silicon / orange gunk thing

BTW they are top notch cork gaskets i have been using

[microCADDY]

[vwracerdave]

Do not use silicone inside the valve cover. The extra that gets squeezed out can get into the oil pump and block a oil passage and blow up the engine.

I use Gaskacinch or aviation sealer. Seal the gasket to the valve cover and then put it on the head dry. Let it sit overnight to cure.
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[mark tucker]

hmm I dont use any thing.what we have hear is falure to comunicate!! oops failure to hold the gasket. just clean the serface good, get a automatic center punch or a regular center punch with a sharp point, and you can add about 4-5 dimples to the head serface that will hold the gasket, or do it to the vc or both.the first time mine did sortt of what your did that fixed it. no goo no silyconey cloging up the screenerey aken my eyes, do this dont do that cant you read the sines?"the serface is to slick".and sometimes the gasket grows& poouches out, you can also trim the gasket a little smaller on the ends so it has somewhere to go.but the pimples should keeper skeered straight

[nobuggybob]

And put the engine seal in
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[KopfenJager]

If ya have enough silicone sqeeze out and plug up an oil passage, 1) you used way to much silicone and 2) your not running a filter after the pump or a screen before of it. Thats one of the silliest thigs I've read so far on The Somba.