Valve Cover Broken Screws...Help!!

Originally Posted by bighitbiker3

Okay so for some reason a new gasket didn't stop the leak..I put RTV sealant on the half moons, but maybe it wasn't enough? What i'm wondering is if I can do it again with the same gasket? I've driven with it for probably about a week and I still have a leak. How much RTV sealant should I use?

Thanks,
Elliott

where is the leak coming from? this is very important information.

1) RTV. a very little amount is required. you dont put it on the entire half moons. instead, you just put it on the edges of the half moon. I will see if I can find a picture for you. putting too much can affect the overall seal.

2) silly question but did you put the gasket on the engine first before securing the cover or did you put the gasket on the cover then try to secure the cover to the engine. this is also very important information.

see picture:



do the same for the back side

I put the gasket on the cover and did the RTV sealant all around the half moons. Do I cover those areas like you did on the photoshop? Or do I just put a thin line on those areas? Can I re-use the same gasket I used for the last one and just clean the areas?

Originally Posted by bighitbiker3

I put the gasket on the cover and did the RTV sealant all around the half moons. Do I cover those areas like you did on the photoshop? Or do I just put a thin line on those areas? Can I re-use the same gasket I used for the last one and just clean the areas?

there. you did two things wrong and this is what caused the leak. don't worry, I did the same exact thing on my first VCG job.

1) RTV. only put RTV on the areas where I marked it with Pink paint (on the corner edges of the half moons and on the side of the right and left bolts). you can cover the whole area where I marked with pink color. the key is not to put RTV sealant on your entire half moons and/or entire engine.

2) you need to place the gasket on the engine first and then put the cover on. do not lube the gasket. do not get the gasket wet with oil. clean the areas (engine and cover) where the gasket will touch with soap an water.

3) yes you can reuse the gasket since yours is practically brand new. just make sure you wash your entire gasket with warm water and dish washing soap. again, the valve cover gasket needs to be applied dry.

Dope man. Thanks so much. I'm going to go for round 2 on this one.

I just did the vcg replacement and snapped the bolt in between the cylinders that hold the brownish ground wire from the coil packs harness. I temporarily used lock tight to hold it in place and lightly screwed back in the ground wire onto the broken bolt. Would this be fine? It's only a ground wire so I figured as long as its held in place it's good.