New valve covers but still leaking

[smokey911]

I've just fitted new turbo lower valve covers and silicone beaded gaskets which has helped to some degree.
But you can see in the pics that oil is still leaking and forms a drip on the lower edge of the cam towers.
What's the next step, oil return tubes, rocker shafts or both ?

[MongooseGA]

I'm definitely a novice, and you've probably got loads more experience with these cars than I do, but I've been told to avoid using silicone when sealing the valve covers.

Any weight to that?

[James Brown]

no he is using the silicone gaskets. might be the rocker seals. give a few days to drain the oil out, it might be ok

[afterburn 549]

install the RSR "O" rings

[kodioneill]

Silicone beaded gaskets are the best you can use. The upper covers can warp too. Check the position of the rocker shafts in the cam towers. I don't think seals are necessary I never had a rocker shaft leak after proper installation. Make sure you torque them to 21 foot lbs.

[gamin]

Good grief. I may be out of bounds here, buy I simply don't understand all of the concern about minor oil leaks. I've owned some type of air cooled Porsche since 1967 and all of them dripped. As long as they were minor I let them go and drove the car. I just think that a lot of people spend a lot of time and money fixing things that don't need to be fixed until the motor is out for something more major. Put a drip pan under it.
Just my thoughts. Or $.02. Or whatever.

[Cairo94507]

Gary- I understand your position re waiting until a motor comes out to address oil leaks. But personally, leaks drive me nuts because I like a clean, drip free car with no burning oil smell or smoke as I drive. I know my wife would get kind of upset if our driveway started to have a drip pattern on it too from driving in and out. I fall on the type A side mostly, so no surprise I don't like leaks and that I support Smokey911 in his quest to abate all leaks.

[redridge]

based on Pelicans description.... you should put a sealant on the inside of the gasket, anyone know what this sealant is?
Here is Pelicans write up...

"These gaskets should be replaced every time that you adjust your valves. You should also put a little gasket sealer on the inside of the cover where the gasket mounts to the cover. This should prevent the oil leaks that sometimes occur when there isn't a really good seal. Buy an extra pair or two to have on hand next time you adjust your valves!"

[smokey911]

Originally Posted by gamin

Good grief. I may be out of bounds here, buy I simply don't understand all of the concern about minor oil leaks. I've owned some type of air cooled Porsche since 1967 and all of them dripped. As long as they were minor I let them go and drove the car. I just think that a lot of people spend a lot of time and money fixing things that don't need to be fixed until the motor is out for something more major. Put a drip pan under it.
Just my thoughts. Or $.02. Or whatever.

I can live with a few oil leaks, however this one drips right onto the headers which constantly smoke.

[smokey911]

Originally Posted by kodioneill

Silicone beaded gaskets are the best you can use. The upper covers can warp too. Check the position of the rocker shafts in the cam towers. I don't think seals are necessary I never had a rocker shaft leak after proper installation. Make sure you torque them to 21 foot lbs.

I'll check the position of the rocker shafts and re-torque if necessary if that doesn't work I'll look at RSR seals and new return tubes.

[sballard]

+1 on re-torquing the rocker shafts. That reduced my oil leaks by about 90%. Note that there is a higher recommended torque value from the original. I don't remember what the new value is but it is easily found with a search. I did mine with the engine out. MUCH easier that way.

[ratpiper71T]

Keep working on it and if you can't get every one, don't lose any sleep. If the wife has something to say, take advice from the man (007)!

Barbra Walters interviews Sean Connery on slapping women - YouTube

Gary- I understand your position re waiting until a motor comes out to address oil leaks. But personally, leaks drive me nuts because I like a clean, drip free car with no burning oil smell or smoke as I drive. I know my wife would get kind of upset if our driveway started to have a drip pattern on it too from driving in and out. I fall on the type A side mostly, so no surprise I don't like leaks and that I support Smokey911 in his quest to abate all leaks.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

install the RSR "O" rings

What are RSR "O" rings?

Originally Posted by gamin

Good grief. I may be out of bounds here, buy I simply don't understand all of the concern about minor oil leaks.

Small oil leaks don't bother me enough to loose sleep. However, it would be nice to be able to park in "someone else's" driveway whne visiting. I never park in anyone's driveway because I would leave spots.

Also, I have an asphalt driveway that needs to be replaced. The primary cause of its deterioration is years & years of oil leaks. Asphalt dosen't like oil leaks - over time.

[jmcn3rd]

any chance it is coming from higher up on the engine and not the valve covers at all. Gravity tends to make all leaks look like they are coming from there but could be originating higher up, like the infamous thermostat leak dripping down. Just a thought.