loose valve cover bolts?????

[superbeetle73]

ok . so ive been seeing oil spots on the ground and smoking from valve cover area. so i figured i get some new gaskets and put them on. well i get my big screwdriver and all the bolts are loose. i only needed a screwdriver for 2 out of 18 bolts. is this normal. has anyone else had this problem?? i put new felpro gaskets and hex head bolts and flipped the pressure spreaders. so far so good.

 

[seawalkersee]

Did you flip the covers over and hit them in the holes with a ball peen hammer? You should do that to pimple the covers, and make sure the rest of the cover is flat. This will ensure you have the right pressures on the gaskett.

SWS

 

[flareside_thun]

Well, that might explain why my valve cover bolts kept "coming loose".

 

[seawalkersee]

Yeah, if your valve covers look like this, " ) " with the bolts (coming to the left from the right) on the top and bottom, you can see how the gasket would not seal. Knock them flat, and then take a ball peen hammer and smack the holes to get more tension on them. Hold it down JUST fine.

SWS