Constantly leaking oil

[loyaltotheranger]

What are the best valve cover gaskets ( cork or rubber )to run and if its cork how much RTV should you put on. Then how should the valve covers be torqued down, what order and how tight. I have used both and i cant get it to stop leaking oil.

 

[djurs]

Straight out of the FAQ:
Replace with Fel Pro "Rubber" or Fel Pro "Blue" and leaks should be taken care of.

 

[almostclueless]

I'm sure there is a torque spec for the valve covers.....I personally just use a nutdriver and avoid applying ridiculous force with it.

 

[loyaltotheranger]

Oh ok right on, sorry if i ask questions that have been answered, I'm new to this forum and am still getting the hang of where to find specific information, there is just sooo much. but I will check out those fel pro blues

 

[loyaltotheranger]

but wait, it says to try the Fel Pro rubber, which is what i have, and its still leaking, whats to make me believe the Fel Pro Blues will work any better.

 

[JRanger91]

The valve covers themselves can be the cause of oil leaking, the sealing surface needs to be flattened out back to normal so you have a flat sealing surface. They bend when torqued down too tight. After that, clean the sealing surface on the head and valve cover real well, I run an abrasive wheel over them and wipe it clean with acetone. Get a good adhesive, like 08001 super weatherstrip and gasket adhesive, and put a clean thin bead around the gasket area, inside of the bolt holes, with no breaks in it, let it tack up a little, then put the covers back on. Snug with a nutdriver as mentioned above is good, you don't want to put too much pressure on the valve covers as to bend them again.

 

[Mutant Pony]

Around here it is difficult to find a set of 2.9 valve covers that haven't rusted through. Are you sure that it is the Gasket?
Cork conforms better but, it seeps oil. Why do they use cork stoppers on expensive wine? It allows the wine to "breathe". No matter how perfectly sealed a cork gasket is it will seep oil through the cork just enough to collect dirt and form a build up. Not enough to notice on the dipstick.
I always use rubber gaskets, NO SEALANT, loctite in studs, and use nylock nuts.

 

[Natedog]

The valve covers themselves can be the cause of oil leaking, the sealing surface needs to be flattened out back to normal so you have a flat sealing surface. They bend when torqued down too tight. After that, clean the sealing surface on the head and valve cover real well,..............then put the covers back on. Snug with a nutdriver as mentioned above is good, you don't want to put too much pressure on the valve covers as to bend them again.

Use the blue ones....here's my thread linky:
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1684

$$$$, but worth every penny!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cocoasranger]

I saw the blue gaskets for the 89 Ranger on Amazon.com a while ago for only $12.00. They had multiple sets in stock. May still have them.

 

[IMenriched]

When rebuilding my 2.9 and with World heads ...i had the dreaded valve cover leaks too....I found the the valve covers(VC) barely would lip over the fender side of the heads...so I bent the lip of the VC out to accomindate the heavier casting and managed to get it sealed up.

Just what ahppend to me...maybe not everyone.

 

[JavaG66]

Valve cover gaskets

but wait, it says to try the Fel Pro rubber, which is what i have, and its still leaking, whats to make me believe the Fel Pro Blues will work any better.

The Perma-dry("FelPro Blues") are formed around a metal frame and are stout enough to prevent over-tightening. They are not your run of the mill gasket. If you think burning oil smells as good as wine, use the cheap ones. Otherwise fork over the $$$ and tighten to 3-5 ft-lb. I used an inch-pound torque (36-60 in-lb) wrench to give me a little better feel for what I was doing when I installed mine.

 

[177CIOfPureLove]

In my experience, the first time i replaced my valve cover gaskets was in the truck with the felpro rubber gaskets and the high tack so the thing would stick to the head while i put the valve cover back on. It leaked a little bit out of one spot on each head, which any oil leak is too much for me. When i was putting the new 2.9 together on an engine stand i saw that the gasket was poorly fit to the top of the head and was a little on the larger side, and i got 2 of the same felpro rubber gaskets, same size too big IMHO. I used them anyway with the orange high temp oil resistent sealant (copper something, forget who makes it, i swear by it) and i have since put 30,000 miles on that with no leaks whatso ever.

***just make sure the gasket is seated on the head as best you can***

 

[loyaltotheranger]

ok well I figured out that it wasnt my valve covers leaking, it was the lower intake, when I put the new heads on i didnt silicone the bottom part where the lower intake meets the block, thats a big weight off my shoulders