Bottom valve cover bottom bolts still drip

[kent olsen]

Changed the oil and adjusted valves. Cleaned up the valve cover (turbo covers, 3.0L) mating surface and put on the good valve cover gaskets. When I checked for leaks, after a 100 mile drive, the bottom nuts had a drop of oil on them. I was able to tighten the nut, gently, 1/8 turn.

I'm thinking about adding some hard rubber gaskets that fit tight over the stud to see if that will help. My valve covers are 15 years old on my car and the few that drip, drip on the collector on the SSI which some times causes smoke or oil smell.

Any suggestions???

[zedsn]

I used a dab of permatex gray around the stud area after I cleaned it with brake cleaner and then tightened up the nut to spec and let it sit overnight and it worked for me. No more drip. Kinda like your idea with a rubber gasket.

[gomezoneill]

Use the gasket kit with the silicone bead on the lower gasket. Don't over torque the bolts. Check covers top and bottom for warping.

[vulcan300]

Did you reuse the old nylock nuts? If so, that's likely why you're getting drips. If new, go with a pit of permatex sealant as zedsn suggests.

[juanbenae]

I always flat stone the valve cover surfaces every time I have them off. as you are aware the soft washers that come with the gasket set are single use and a crush washer to aid in sealing. maybe one of the surfaces the nut washers seats to has a knick or burr that's fouling the new washer or not allowing it to crush enough to seal?

spit balling here...

[zedsn]

I ran new nylocks and still had drips until I used oil resistant permatex.

[gomezoneill]

Saying Permatex on this board is like showing Dracula the Cross!

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by zedsn

I ran new nylocks and still had drips until I used oil resistant permatex.

if you are counting on the nylocks to contain oil you are,,, well nuts...

[zedsn]

My 930 covers were flat and used new graphite gaskets along with new nylocks and had drips at the bottom so used gray permatex and solved my problem is all that I am saying and the guy asked anyway so why the hate?

[DaveMcKenz]

Originally Posted by zedsn

My 930 covers were flat and used new graphite gaskets along with new nylocks and had drips at the bottom so used gray permatex and solved my problem is all that I am saying and the guy asked anyway so why the hate?

Hopefully he was joking.
Permatex where exactly?
Thanks,
Dave

[juanbenae]

ive never had to use anything other than the silicone gaskets soaked in WD-40 spray just before install and a specific torqueing sequence visiting each nut 3x minimum.

the WD-40 prevents sticking the next time you remove the covers, which is nice to be sure. more importantly it gets the thirsty gasket to absorb & swell from the outside from jump at install. I prefer my inner & outer gaskets edges to be swole concurrently.

[stevesc_us]

Installing rocker shaft seals will typically fix this problem.

[mikedsilva]

Originally Posted by gomezoneill

Saying Permatex on this board is like showing Dracula the Cross!

haha
hilarious

[zedsn]

Hi Dave, I took off the nylock and cleaned around the stud with brake cleaner and put a dab around the stud then put the nylock back on and torqued to spec and let it sit overnight and drips went away and still gone after a couple of months so far. Only had trouble with a couple of bottom ones on either side. Maybe I should not have used graphite gaskets but people do use them.

[groovydude]

Which Permatwx product are you all referring to?

[kent olsen]

Well I found some tight fitting rubber "O" rings i put on yesterday. Today I'll run my test road then let it sit for awhile and check again for leaks. If that doesn't work I'll try the permatex. Which product????

[Jeff Alton]

Have you checked to make sure your cover sealing surface is flat? This the root cause of these sorts of leaks. The nylock is not for sealing, though some dispute this...

[Claus Poulsen]

Originally Posted by stevesc_us

installing rocker shaft seals will typically fix this problem.

+1

[Peter Zimmermann]

Interesting reading for the OP, from a while ago:

What is the Torque for 911 Valve covers

[zedsn]

Permatex ultra gray #82194 is what I used.