Weeping Valve Cover Gasket

Fonz54

TJ Enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2018
Messages
975
Location
Monterey, CA, USA
Last year I changed the valve cover gasket. Used the FelPro kit with new grommets. Cleaned the cover and the head and installed the gasket without any Permatex. When I was checking the oil today I noticed that on the passenger side a tiny bit of oil weeping all along that side of the Leakin' Lena's valve cover (for those of you who recall Beanie and Cecil). I checked the the torque on the bolts and they were spot on. The only thing I could figure is maybe the cover is slightly bent. I was thinking of maybe getting a new gasket and using some sealant to see if that keeps Lena from Leakin'.

VC-Cover.jpg
 
If it's a rubber gasket you can try again. You could do it with some RTV or carefully check the cover. The advice not to use RTV is for perfect parts. In the real world sometimes things don't seal. Just like lube lockers don't always seal sometimes other parts don't either. Personally I'd let it slide or give it a little extra torque within reason first.
 
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If it's a rubber gasket you can try again. You could do it with some RTV or carefully check the cover. The advice not to use RTV is for perfect parts. In the real world sometimes things don't seal. Just like lube lockers don't always seal sometimes other parts don't either. Personally I'd let it slide or give it a little extra torque within reason first.
Yep. If flange on valve cover is tweaked, some RTV may be in order. I personally hate the stuff when used where it wasn't originally necessary... I battled this very issue on a 258, first with plastic valve cover and then with a stamped unit. Cast aluminum managed to seal without anything but a felpro gasket. I've had the same experience on small block chevy's and now almost swear by cast aluminum valve covers when looking for replacements.