[NickD]

Looks like I also have the old style valve cover that should also be replaced, but no leaks as of yet. And really hate for this to happen 300 miles from home. And running the engine lean is not a good idea, combustion chamber temperature increases drastically that can cause other problems like head gasket failure and burnt exhaust valves.

Was wondering how you explained this to your dealer, couldn't find a recall or even a TSB on this subject. Did you just tell your dealer your valve cover is bad, even if it isn't? And just give him that 55573746 part number and say I want a new one?

Ha, already told my dealer prefer to do this myself, least I know its done right. Heck, a lot easier than on a Supra, have to remove half the engine just to get at the valve covers.

 

[NickD]

Response from my dealer on this valve cover issue:

"Good morning Nicholas,

Unless it's a recall we cant replace it unless there is a failure to the
part. Im thinking it's a very small percentage of the vehicles out there. I
havn't seen it yet but that doesn't mean there isnt a potential problem. At
this point I think its best if you just keep and eye on it and if a leak
shows up we should address it at the Neillsville location.
Please let me know if you have any questions at all.

Sincerely Jerry"

 

[NickD]

This got me thinking when I didn't have a problem with GM valve covers. 30 Olds was not a problem was a flat head, didn't have a valve cover. But 33 Buick on up were problems, First were using a cork gasket, if you tightened the bolts to tight, would put dents in the bots holes. Always had to use a hammer on a flat surface to make those flat. Too loose, the bolts would come loose and get leaks.

If just right, that cork would compress and give leaks, a thick coating of RTV would help them. On my 454, Fel-Pro solved this problem with a composite gasket and spacers embedded in the gaskets, this way you can properly torque the bolts down without putting dents in the bolt holes.

Got that 33 Buick in 1955, this is 59 years later, still having problems with valve covers. Or at least potential ones for the moment.

 

[NickD]

For the heck of it, checked all 15 torx screws on my 1.4L valve cover. All 15 had to be turned at least an eighth of a turn before I hit 79 in-lbs.

If they came that loose from the factory, no wonder why we have valve cover leaks.

 

[NickD]

Do these sleeves or metal spacers extend out the bottom of the valve cover? If I compare this with the Fel-Pro gaskets using sleeves or spacers, they were not as thick as the gasket itself. So with the bolts tight the amount of compression of the gasket was limited. Without the spacers could crush the gasket.

But would stand to reason if all the valve cover bolts were loose, gasket wouldn't have any compression whatsoever. Another problem using plastic, is typically the rate of thermal expansive with temperature is greater than said cast aluminum.

Did read some post where oil leaks were noted, in particular on the inner part of that U. Loose bolts could be the cause, RTV would definitely help.

Didn't go that far to even remove a bolt, just that they were all loose. See what happens. But still wonder how the new valve cover differs from the old one.

Positive crankcase ventilation was a welcomed change when they came out in either the late 50's or early 60's. When a breather pipe was used, crankcase would have a vacuum that sucked up road dust when you took your foot off the gas. Would help if you shifted into neutral when coming to a stop. When overhauling an engine, you literally needed a shovel to get rid of the sludge in an engine.

Was fed back to the base of the carburetor so the carburetor would stay clean, but this all changed when manifold fuel injection was used. This crap from the crankcase would pile up on the face of the injectors and cause spray problems. So by fixing one problem, created another. All deals with having carbon in our fuel, very poor heating value with a host of problems.

Carbon build up always has been a major problem, not only this, but outputs CO2 and CO that is a killer. We tried to change this in the early 70's, but congress said, NO! Still saying NO!

 

[NickD]

Bought new gasket today... Cruze started misfiring the other day so didn't really want to drive it much and assumed it was my spark plugs again. Popped the hood today to find this.

You must be opening your hood rather infrequently, just yesterday had to go to another town 50 miles away, opened the hood for a quick check, takes about ten seconds to check all the fluids and obvious leaks.

Also give my hood latch a shot of lubrication spray, if you don't, may find you can't even open your hood.