Torque Spec for Valve Cover Nuts?

[Quickstep192]

I have some oil leaking from my valve cover nuts. I'm planning to snug them up and replace the crush washers.

Is there a torque spec and tightening sequence for these nuts? I don't see a reference in my Tech Spec book.

[T77911S]

if you don't have the turbo valve covers get them, keep the originals.
get the orange replaceable gaskets
clean the cam tower surface very well
clean all the studs. I used a die and dw-40
new nuts and washers(for looks)
very lightly snug the nuts. if the gasket squeezes out, they are too tight, if you get a drip, just a light snug.
no more leaks

make sure the cam line is not leaking where it attaches to the tower. oil will run down and make it look like the nut is leaking.

same with the seal between the chain housing and cam tower.

[BlueWing]

When I did my first valve adjustment I started this thread.

HTH

How can I feel 6lbs. of torque?

Terry

[76FJ55]

Not just for looks. The washers are actually aluminum crush washers, designed to help seal the stud/nut assembly with the valve cover. And the new nuts are installed to ensure the self locking feater is in good shape and will keep the nuts from backing off. Due to the low install torque, friction alone is not sufficient to keep the nuts from coming loose.

[john walker's workshop]

Good and snug, but not so much that the washers distort and grab the stud, making it a bittch to get the covers off later.

[Peter Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by BlueWing

When I did my first valve adjustment I started this thread.

HTH

How can I feel 6lbs. of torque?

Terry

...and I stand behind my comments in post #21 of that thread!

[75 911s]

A lot of good info in Peter's post ^ -here is a shortcut -

Personally, since I have a well used 2.7 with flexy mag case, I torque by feel. I use a 1/4 drive and "choke up" near the ratchet to tighten down the nuts. You can easily tell if it's too tight or too loose. the small ratchet, and holding it near the head, limit how tight you can get it.

[T77911S]

if you stay original, don't EVER use gasket maker/sealer

[Quickstep192]

I was looking for washers and gaskets and noticed the washers are aluminum; I expected them to be copper crush washers. Are copper available? Are they better?

[Canada Kev]

Stick with the aluminum washers. They work just fine.

[gtc]

Am I the only one here that reuses the nyloc nuts and aluminum washers?
I'll usually clean them in my ultrasonic parts washer and then reuse them once or twice, until the nuts start to lose their plating and look ugly.
I've never had a problem with the nuts "leaking" or backing off. I think any leak here would be indicative of a bad seal at the gasket.
I also don't understand why people think a nyloc nut is supposed to provide some sort of thread seal. If you want a nut that seals the threads, use one of these:
https://www.boellhoff.com/de-en/products-and-services/special-fasteners/sealing-nuts-seal-lock.php
*rant over*

[proporsche]

gtc..absolutely correct..i do to reuse the nuts..and have no problem with it ...and to make it tight just use my hands..why would anybody use a torgue wrench..? beats me...as John said make it snug..as said above 18 is normal for 8mm ...once you do over 500 you will get the feeling in your hands;-)

Ivan

[Geneman]

these aluminum washers are not " crush washers " just standard washers you try to crush them and you are way too tight... as prop says its all feel.. if it leak a bit ... put some more " feel" into it...just my 2 cents going out now to do it!

[juanbenae]

I'm no torque wrench, I am however a tool... thanks, ill be here all week...

if you are going to go as far removing nuts to replace crush washers you might as well just replace the gaskets with the kit & it's all new hardware. id just torque the leaky ones a bit until you do an oil change and replace everything then. stoning the valve cover surfaces with an oily flat stone is encouraged before reinstall. if you don't have the turbo valve covers as mentioned above it's a good $100-$125 get.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by Geneman

these aluminum washers are not " crush washers " just standard washers you try to crush them and you are way too tight... as prop says its all feel.. if it leak a bit ... put some more " feel" into it...just my 2 cents going out now to do it!

maybe the purported single use of them has had them labeled a crush washer? they don't crush, but do distort just a big if snugged up properly, by feel in my tool case...