!$% oil drips from valve cover studs/nuts

I am getting really flustered trying to kill the oil drips from my exhaust valve covers!!!

Oddly, I have never had major problems with the common seepage around the edges: my problem is with seepage/drips from just a few of the nyloc nuts/studs on each side. Of COURSE they are the lower ones that sit right above the SSI's!!!

First I tried simply using new nyloc nuts and aluminum crush washers with the original (mag) covers.

Next, tried a little blue loctite -- no diff.

Most recently I installed turbo valve covers, the "new style" beaded gaskets, and all new hardware. I have tried various torque settings; have tried curil sealant on the threads; nothing will completely stop the drips!

My only two thoughts at this point are (a) teflon tape or (b) pulling the covers off again and using a little high-temp sealant on the studs where they pass thru the covers.

Any other tips appreciated! The clouds of smoke at stoplights are getting really embarrasing and annoying! At least I didn't get meatballed at Willow the other day, but the corner workers were probably thinking about it.

Chris C.

I checked first to see if Pelican carried these gaskets; they don't. I was having the same problem as you and these silicon gaskets worked for me.
..http://www.***************/am/page_listings7.asp?c=21300&p=31985#54855

I am running the silicone beaded gaskets (and I got them from Pelican)...

I had that problem last week. The problem was the torque. You have to torque one in the up side then the same nut on the down side. And just torque till you feel it geting preasure....Yes, you will think that with that torque the oil will spill over....
The problem is that if u put too much torque the gasket will have different preasure by the nuts and in between nuts....thats why it drips by the nuts....
Good luck.

a lot of those "valve cover" leaks are actually rocker shaft or head to cam tower seepage. the studs are surrounded by the gasket material, there's no oil pressure forcing the oil thru. if you have resurfaced your covers and there's still a leak, i would look elsewhere.

Thanks guys -- I will take a close look again on Saturday. Last time around I did follow the "two-stage" crosswise tightening procedure, i.e. first diagonally/crosswise to about 4ft-lbs and then to about 8ft-lbs.

The covers are dry for the most part so I don't think it's coming from somewhere else, but it certainly might be.

Will let everyone know what I find...

The SILICON rubber valve cover gasket really do work. I have them on 2 engines and no leaks. One engine has had the covers on & off 3 times for normal maintainence and still no leaks from the silicon gaskets(now 40k miles). The other engine has had the covers off once.

2 words of advice - torque the nuts to the spcified value that comes with the gaskets(this is less than Porsch's spec.) - DO NOT wash the gaskets in any solvent, just wipe them when re-installing. I do not think you will be disapointed with these gaskets, besides they have a lifetime warrenty.

Ken

Another place to look as a cause would be excessive crankcase pressure. This is caused by blowby past the piston rings which pressurizes the case, then finds its way out through the weakest joint (valve covers?). The engine has a normal vent to the air cleaner. Might this hose be plugged?

If you've exhausted the gasket/flat valve cover route, try a compression/leakdown test and see if everything is okay.

Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars/

campbellcj,

Is this what you're talking about?!




Matt Holcomb

Matt - yes, that's one of 'em.

The problematic ones are mostly the lower-rear. I'll check everything out thoroughly on Saturday and see what happens.

Hello

1.) make sure you have the correct aluminium washer and the correct nut. They have an special high temperature nylock insert. Normal inserts will leak and suck the oil.

2.) Like John pointet out there are other resons. one is an leaking upper valvecover. If you overthight them they will stand up in the corner and like unvisible into the cap beetween shroud and cam housing.

Early thin black covers are a good partice to learn how to thight down correct. Hihgest level is needed for 901 engines ( 6 studs and cork )

Grüsse