Stop a leaky valve cover

[63comet]

What are the best ideas to stop the valve cover from leaking on my 250. I thought I had a rear main seal leak and now, I think it is coming from the valve cover seal. I have used the neoprene gasket, is the cork better? Also, what do you guys use for silicone or gasket sealant.

 

[JackFish]

Permatex Rubber Gasket Dressing, in a yellow spray can.
Maybe the flanges on the cover are bent out of shape a bit.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy comet:

In addition to the sealant you might pick up some of those valve cover spreader washer. They spread the torque over a wider area. Don't over tighten.

I was having a terrible time getting one of the cheap, stamped, chrome plated valve covers to seal up. I tried all kinds of tricks.

The best trick was taking a stock "Powered by Ford" valve covers to the plater. No more leaks.

I hate leaks! Good luck.

Adios, David

 

[HotRodLarry]

You could always check to see whats left of the gasket. I did that and there were two bad spots on the gasket. $12 later I had no more leaks.

 

[63comet]

Thanks for the info guys, Larry, I will check it out, but it is a new gasket, I just installed. Dave, you probably hit the nail on the head. It is one of those stamped out chrome covers. I believe I will go to the junkyard and pick up an old Ford cover and get me a set of the spreader washers. Problem is we don't have any chrome shops around me anywhere in upstate NY. So, I will have to clean it up and pearl paint it. Thanks again.
Homer

 

[Junk-Falcon]

you can use

 

[Anonymous]

MY MECH slightly bent the lip of the valve cover so it was flat...it was a chrome aftermarket...and no more leaks.,..

Oh, I had the spreader washers and old school valve bolts that I could tighten....so if it did leak, I just gave it a turn...which it didnt

 

[CobraSix]

I never did get my chrome stamped valve cover to stop leaking. I tried neoprene, cork, sealants...etc. Cork was a little better, mainly due to the fact if fit better where the neoprene one always bubbled up some when you put it in the guild holes of the valve cover. I went back to my old school orange one with a cork gasket. Not a drop of oil leaked since.

Slade

 

[63comet]

Thanks for everyones help, I replaced the neoprene with a new cork and installed it using red high temp silicone, I also replaced the T bolts with the old original valve cover bolts with spreader bars. So far, no leaks, I will run it for awhile and check the bolts and probably snug them ever so gently, so as not to squash the cork . Also to note, I had 2 different cork gaskets (rebuild kits)with 1 being twice as thick as the other, I used the thick one and it went beyond the lip on the valve cover. Thanks again.
Homer

 

[AzCoupe]

All the chrome pans on the market, including the ones I sell, are made in China. Low quality steel, and cheap plating jobs. Unfortunately, they are all that's available. I've thought about dropping them for my website, but I sell quite a few. So I figure if my customers want them, the least I can do is offer them at a lower price. Corteco recommends cork gaskets, but the biggest error is over thightening. The chrome also makes it harder to seal. Best solution, buy an alloy cover. I think someone sells them.

If you want to go with a stock cover and have it chromed, let me know. I think I have a couple good ones laying around and I have access to a great chrome shop. Not sure what they charge, but guess it would be around $80 bucks. If your interested, I'll get a quote from them. I have to call them tomorrow anyway, to see if the alloy covers are done.

 

[63comet]

Mike, Thanks for your offer to check out the chroming. Yes, I would be interested in getting one of the Ford ones chromed, if you don't mind checking it out and getting back to me with a price. Thanks.
Homer