Rocker Cover Installation Basics - SC2

[TwoFistedJustice]

After an oil change, I found fresh oil coating 3 of 4 spark plugs on my SC2A. (the one with the drain pan bung)

My assumption was that the rocker cover gasket was not sealing around the plugs, and this proved to be correct.

This is my first time having a valve cover off of a car. (motorcycles, sure, cars no)

I'd like to only have to install it once. So I have some basic questions:

When I pulled the rocker cover off here is what I found:

• The gasket appeared to be good. (replacing anyway)
• The fasteners were unevenly torqued. Some required a little elbow and others required no elbow to loosen.
• There was RTV gasket maker on only the short side near the timing chain.

I have seen a different SC2 which had a massive oil leak at the timing chain end of the rocker cover.

Questions:

Is there a design flaw that necessitates RTV at that location, or is what I'm seeing likely a case of sloppy installation?

Is there anything peculiar to this engine that's going to come back and bite me in the rear 200 miles from now?

Are there any other possibilities beside the gasket that could cause the spark plugs to be fouled with fresh oil?


Here's a picture of the engine top. You can see where the spark plug gasket had oil flowing around it.

SC2A Rocker Cover Leak.jpg

[alexofnazareth]

Were any of the threaded bolt holes stripped out on that side? If the bolts can't clamp the valve cover down, the gasket doesn't seal too well.

[S.Bretz]

A pea sized dap of RTV where the timing cover and head come together is standard practice. I think it my be in the OEM repair manual too.

I go a little further with the RTV. I smear a thin layer around the plug well holes to help the gasket out. You don't need much, just a very thin smear so that the gasket has something to smoosh into when you torque it down.
The bolts don't require a lot of torque. It is less than 10ft/ft if I remember correctly. A 1/4in driver is all you need to reinstall the cover bolts.

[TwoFistedJustice]

All the threads were fine.

I found one of the center grommets was chewed up, which I think started the oil flow.

I also figured out that it needs RTV only where the case parts are joined. There was just way too much when I opened it.


Sent from my rotary phone using Tapatalk

[TwoFistedJustice]

I go a little further with the RTV. I smear a thin layer around the plug well holes to help the gasket out.

Is this a common failure point?


Sent from my rotary phone using Tapatalk

[siris]

I see third gen, which indicates plastic valve cover, which are normally poopoo.

[TwoFistedJustice]

Will earlier covers fit?


Sent from my rotary phone using Tapatalk

[alexofnazareth]

No.

[TwoFistedJustice]

Sent from my rotary phone using Tapatalk

[leighv]

3g valve cover is fine if you torque to spec and use correct torque sequence. make sure gasket surfaces are clean and dry.

[TwoFistedJustice]

3g valve cover is fine if you torque to spec and use correct torque sequence. make sure gasket surfaces are clean and dry.

According to the OEM manual, spec is 22 foot pounds. I believe that if I torqued it to that, it would crack. I used 89 inch pounds per the interwebs.


Sent from my rotary phone using Tapatalk

[S.Bretz]

22 pound feet is too many. That spec may be for something else.

[TwoFistedJustice]

You are correct.

“Rocker arm cover to head” I thought meant valve cover. Reading more shows it is actually “Camshaft cover to head”

Thank you for the correction.


Sent from my rotary phone using Tapatalk