I'm having a reoccuring problem where my valve cover gaskets seem to be getting sucked into the head. I'll put them on, install the cover, and they will be sitting perfect. I go drive it, a few minutes later i see smoke. I pop the hood and the gaskets are sucked inward in the spaces betweent the cover bolts.

Excess crankcase pressure would be blowing them out wouldn't it? Why are mine getting sucked in? I had been using cheap cork gaskets, but the set of Earls steel reinforced units just got sucked in too...

I'm lost. This is just one of many plagues i'm having with this thing. Then i gotta figure out why it appears yet another set of spark plug wires have spontaneously lit on fire. This set just has hot spots on them, i stopped the motor before they actually caught on fire like the last set....

Eric

 

Do you have a PCV valve? If so, do you also have an air inlet breather of some sort in the other valve cover?

Also, a bad intake gasket will cause all sorts of strange things; the bottom of it across the intake ports is between the crankcase and intake vacuum, so if it fails there, it will allow vacuum into the crankcase and oil into the intake.

 

the passenger cover has a pcv valve goin to the inlet on the backside of the intake manifold. The drivers side has a fresh air breather thing...

 

Cork gaskets I'd bet, they may actually be shrinking as the engine heat dries them out. Try the Moroso valve cover gaskets that summet sells. They have a steel shim core and blue rubber on either side, they give a nice positive seal and won't move once in place.

 

morley,

the set that just got sucked in were earls steel shimmed gaskets. Bascically the sma exact design your talking about. They sucked in just like the rest of em...

Eric

 

Then they're probably not getting "sucked" in, probably more like "squeezed" in by the way the pressure of the valve cover presses on them.

Try putting them on with gorilla snot. Dose the valve cover and the gasket individually with it, let it dry most of the way (15-20 min.), then carefully place the gasket into the VC; then dose the other side of the gasket, and the sealing (I use the word loosely) surface of the head, and let those dry, then assemble them.

 

i'm sorry.....gorrila snot?

damn, now where did i put that damn monkey?!

i've got this stuff called gasket shellac, would that work?

Eric

 

Over torquing the valve cover then.

 

3M 08001 Weatherstrip Adhesive... it's yellow... you'll understand how it got its nickname when you use it. Also available in black, 08008. Permatex also has a similar product.

Be certain that the valve cover flanges are straight. Hammer the bolt holes back out flat, or even just a little bit raised, if they're dented in like they always get from overtightening.

 

alright well i'm off to the store now. Hopefully that takes care of THIS problem, now back to my little spark plug wire problems... (see my other post)

Thanks again guys.

Eric