Valve Covers on too tight?

[Por_sha911]

Just did the valve adjustment 3 days ago. Tightened down the valve covers with new Silicone bead gaskets, crush washers and lock nuts. Drove it around town for about 30 minutes. No leaks, no problems.
After sleeping on it, I'm thinking I may have tightened the nuts too much. I'm concerned that when I really heat things up I could warp a cover or do damage to the stud but on the other hand, will I loose my gasket's sealing ability if I loosen things up.
Do I:
1) leave well enough alone and drive - or -
2) go back a loosen them up and re-tighten them with less?

Obsessive/Compulsive Paranoia or Careful attention to detail?

[mschuep]

I think they only call for about 7ft/lbs torque, so chances are they're too tight. If you took them off, new gaskets and nylon nuts would be recommended by most

edit: for spelling recommended wrong

[Rot 911]

I can't tell from your post to what torque you tightened them so hard to say if they are overtorqued.

[Por_sha911]

I didn't use a torque wrench but just kept going around tightening them till the nuts didn't turn with a 3/8th ratchet. They're really snug. Could be 20-30 lbs
I'm thinking if I back off the pressure, the gaskets will hold in place till I re-tighten them with less pressure or would the "damage" already be done?

[Early_S_Man]

Joe,

The spec for use with those green siliconed-beaded gaskets is 6 lb-ft, which can't be measured accurately with a 3/8" or 1/2" drive torque wrench! That is actually lower than the value for the M6 chain cover studs ... for which I recommend a 'four-finger' grip on a small combination wrench -- four fingers of your dominant hand snugged-up close to the socket end of the wrench to minimize leverage.

I don't think there is much danger of damage to the studs, and the gaskets probably haven't taken a 'set,' yet, so go ahead and loosen the valve covers after jacking up that side to minimize oil spillage. If you have a 1/4" drive torque wrench ... use the 72 lb-in [6 lb-ft] value on the nuts, otherwise try the 'four-finger' method.

Good luck!

[Por_sha911]

Considering that they are already torqued down pretty tight, I'm thinking I may need to make them a little tighter than normal to make sure the gaskets stay sealed. What do you think?

[ael911]

I did my first adjustment last winter, overtorqued the nuts. It didn't leak right away as a small drip started to occur about a week later near #3 and 6 cylinder. I replaced the gaskets and nuts and used Warren's method. No leaks now and it's better to leave them loose and re-tighten them later than to over tighten.

[Por_sha911]

Well, I went back and check them all. They were a little tight but not as bad as I had feared. I guess the Obsessive Compulsive Paranoia was kicking in but better safe than sorry. I will sleep much better now (even though I will check for leaks for about 2 weeks after ael911's encouraging word about the leak showing up a week later.

[rnln]

If it's already done and no problem no leak now. I would leave it alone.