valve cover leak

[trashline]

i know that i read somewhere on here that chrome valve covers and chrome stuff always leak. well today i fugred out that after every three months why my plugs were failing. thi is what i cam eup with i wont be able to verify until anothe three months when i check my plugs again. ive concluded that since the seal and chrome valve cover were junk to begin with oil was flowing thourgh the bottom of the valve cover down to the spark plug holes then it was slowing seeping into the cylinder and then coating the plugs with oil. do you think this is possible? wheni pulled out the first three plugs the entire tip was oil soaked from before the threads to the tip of the plug with nasty oil deposits . the #4 cylidner was dry to begin with from the outside so i knew the plug would be fine. same with number 5 then number six i could see the oil without removing the plug so i knew it was bad. and it was. i asked a older mechanic and he said i was pulling this out of my ass. and then i asked a couple more people and they said it was possible. i was going thorugh about a quart every two weeks. also another conclsion to why my starting was so bad after the car sat for more then 20 min was bc the oil would seep and then coat the plug and create a mis fire till it burned off all the oil. but if i got to it real quick the car would start. if i started it from an hr wait it would blow out alot of smoke but if it sat for 20 min the smoke woudlnt be as bad. i hope i am right and solved multiple probs with the help of a gasket.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Tline:

Anything is possible. Well almost anything. Have you every tried to strike a match on a wet bar of soap?

The answer to your query will be to install a new gasket, with sealant, and spreaders to help the chrome cover seal, and watch your plugs to see what happens.

If that much oil is leaking around the plug seat and threads, you likely have other problems too. Or the plugs weren't seated- or the threads are badly deteriorated, or both.

Leaking that much oil is not good for your pocket book or the environment.

How long since you have changed the valve stem seals?

Enjoy the journey.

Adios, David

 

[trashline]

ive never changed anything on the car. when i first got the car i changed the valve cover gasket with a cork gasket. and i only put sealer on one side (engine side) . me and my friend had some trouble was slideing all over. this was all with the chrome cover. so today i pulled off the chrome cover and id say about 15 % of the old gasket was off the lip from the head. so i had another cover siting around stock ford one, and i cleaned both surfaces very well applied sealer to the head let it sit a bit then applied sealer to the cover let it sit a bit then put the gasket on and then put it one making sure it had a good seal. i then changed all plugs. so i am hoping this will work. when i first got the motor i did a compression test. the lowest was 120 (around) and the highest around 150. they were all between there mostly above 140 i think one was 120. so i dont think the rings are to bad. i belive this motor is hitting 300,000 miles in rolling over as i speak lol. i want to wait about a month and then pull the plugs to see what happens. i do have another 200 i can throw in but i dont have the time. itt would probably take me a day but i need to rent things. and i want to get all i can before this motor is done.

 

[Anonymous]

I have a chrome valve cover and never had a leak, go down to autozone and get the felpro rubber gasket it's alot thicker and requires no sealer (so it's reusable) and should fix your problem

mike

 

[Anonymous]

There should be a rubber like mesh for that .. its kinda like the lining of a fridge .... to stop the leaks

your valve cover probably just doesn't fit ...

 

[Anonymous]

I had better luck with cork gasket than rubber. Try gluing gasket to valve cover, not block, and check for any warps, especially around the bolt holes from previous overtightening.

 

[AzCoupe]

I agree with David. Get some spreader bars, which will help stop the valve cover leaks.

But I suspect worn valve stem seals are your biggest problem, from what you describe.

 

[trashline]

huh... ok well this is what i did do. i had an other "powered by ford" valve cover went to the zone and asked for the cork but got the rubber for the cork price. so i cleaned the head and cover extensivly. used liquid gasket on the block and on the cover then i put the gasket on the cover and installed that way went very smooth and there is no sign of leaking yet. last time i did it had alot of trouble and you could tell the gasket (Cork) was half off and half on.