Leaky Valve Covers.

[Christopher R.]

Changing the intake manifold on my C1. Like everyone else, I had problems with oil creeping up the middle mounting bolts and pooling onto the manifold. So I spent a fair amount of time this afternoon cleaning out those holes so that I can use thread sealer when I remount them.

Then I took the valve covers off. I have the usual valve cover leaks. When I took out the bolts, the lower ones - the outboard ones, were dripping with oil. Now I know where some of those leaks came from. What's the best way to seal those bolts? I know that they don't go into the valley like the intake manifold bolts. But oil does creep up them and out.

[William O.]

Re: Leaky Valve Covers.

I have been using Permatex for 25 years with great success.

http://www.permatex.com

[Barry K.]

Re: Leaky Valve Covers.

i used permatex ultra-cooper on both the intake and valve cover bolts simply because I already had the tube in my hands and open from putting the intake manifold on.
no leaks on any of the bolts

[John H.]

Re: Leaky Valve Covers.

The primary leak mechanism is between the cover and the gasket, not between the gasket and the head. I adhere the gasket to the cover ahead of time with a bead of Permatex Ultra-Copper, and make a "ring" of bead around each bolt hole as I run the bead. If the cover flanges are dead flat (especially at the bolt locations), dry as a bone.