94 7.3l valve cover bolts wicking oil

[Exhumis]

Hi folks,
Put new valve cover gaskets on and now I'm getting oil wicking up the bolts. Only wicking on the center two bolts closest to exhaust manifold, both drivers and passengers side. Bolts were torqued to spec. Used the felpro rubber gasket as I'd heard good things about it, installed according to their spec without rtv.
Any ideas?

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[franklin2]

I would pull the bolts, put a little rtv in the hole and re-install them. Black rtv won't look too bad if it squishes out against your purple valve cover.

 

[Exhumis]

I would pull the bolts, put a little rtv in the hole and re-install them. Black rtv won't look too bad if it squishes out against your purple valve cover.

I dunno, it's gonna clash something awful. . I'll give that a shot and report back. Thanks!

 

[IDIBRONCO]

I know that I'll probably get all kinds of hell for saying this, but I don't think that you tightened the bolts down tightly enough. In my opinion, the torque specs are for the cork gaskets only. You don't tighten them very tightly and they'll almost always leak if you don't use RTV on them. I ALWAYS use the good, rubber gaskets and never use RTV on them. I tighten the bolts as tightly as my 1/4" drive air ratchet will tighten them and it's rated at 30 lb-ft. we used to tighten them down at least that tight at the shop Ii used to work at. I'm not going to say that I never have problems with them leaking (all gaskets will eventually leak), but it's seldom that I do. When I do, it's usually due to installer error.

 

[79jasper]

If those wing washers are warped (most of them are) put the crown up.

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[IDIBRONCO]

If those wing washers are warped (most of them are) put the crown up.

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I assumed that was a given, but you know what happens when you assume...

 

[Exhumis]

That's all good info, thanks folks. I did check the wing washers and flipped accordingly, I'll try tightening down the bolts and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Exhumis]

Reporting out with my results.
Used compressed air to blow out the bolt holes, then flushed with brake clean then blew them out again. Smeared The Right Stuff around each bolt then carefully threaded them home. Double checked to be sure the crown of the wing washers was peaked. Torqued each bolt down to 6ftlbs alternating each bolt, then torqed again to 20FTLB. Let the The Right Stuff cure for about an hour, started her up and let her come up to operating temp and let her idle for a good hour.
NOT LEAKS!

 

[IDIBRONCO]

NOT LEAKS!

That's good. I'd hate to see you defile those valve covers!

 

[IDIBRONCO]

NOT LEAKS!

That's good. I'd hate to see you defile those valve covers!

 

[Exhumis]

That's good. I'd hate to see you defile those valve covers!

Daughter was watching me like a hawk. Don't put that black stuff on my purple things daddy!
I said well baby it's leaking we have to fix it.
She pondered it and said OK, but be careful.
Yes ma'am.

 

[Alwaysreadyrob]

Great post, more like reading a story,
great that you included your daughter.... those purple valve covers are sure one of a kind !