This...this is VERY bad isn't it?

scrapper

scrapper

New member
Noticed I was leaking oil.
2002 237k miles.

Discovered this. This crack.
 

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I wouldn't say it's "very" bad, not good but catastrophic. Looks like the bolt just got overtightened and now you need a new drivers side valve cover.
 
For the sake of everyone reading, the torque spec on these bolts is VERY low. There are posts where higher values are incorrectly mentioned, and this has happened before.

I would guess by the deformation on those sealing washers, this has been over tightened.

I don't have the spec in front of me but it is low, in inch-pounds not in foot pounds. Be warned.
 
I've never touched that bolt ever and it's last services were the timing belt, oil changed and all done at a local mechanic. Damn...
I'm not taking this well. She's got big time sentimental value. Shit!!!
 
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Had the same thing happen after I took it to a local shop and they over-torqued, same exact location. They patched it up and I didn't notice for months until it started leaking again. I JB Welded it, held up for over a year now. A new valve cover is only about $100 if you'd rather go the proper route. Good luck!
 
Pfft my jeep has a plastic valve cover and it warps like every 3 years and leaks.(I'm waiting on a 5.3l or 5.7l to swap into the damn thing) Get a new valve cover it's not the biggest deal in the world.
 
You need to take the upper intake off (two pieces). It's not the most simple task ever, but it's not hard. Probably take 3 or 4 hours.
 
While you have the intake off, I'd go ahead and replace all the gaskets and seals on the passenger side too. They're probably going to leak in a while if you don't.
 
Yep, somebody screwed up with the tightening of the valve cover bolts. But, it's my belief this is more of a case of not tightening the bolts down evenly rather than over-torquing the bolts. If you don't evenly tighten the bolts down, slowly bringing the valve cover snugly to the head, you could cause the valve cover to try to bend. Say you tightened down one side more than the other and the side tightened down more is touching the head surface while the other side still has a gap. When you start snugging down the other side, you're asking the valve cover to bend. But, since the valve cover is a cast piece, it's not going to bend, it's going to crack. I had a coworker have this happen to his 3rd Gen. I told him this was an obvious mistake and the shop should be buying him a new valve cover and replacing it for free. The shop wouldn't buy him a replacement valve cover but they did replace it for free. This is more fuel to do your own repairs to make sure it's done right.
 
Thank you, guys.

I appreciate your quick replies. I'm no mechanic so this isn't the first
time you've helped me out.
I'll be searching for replacement parts today in between working and
cursing my mechanic.
 
mtbtim said:
Yep, somebody screwed up with the tightening of the valve cover bolts. But, it's my belief this is more of a case of not tightening the bolts down evenly rather than over-torquing the bolts. If you don't evenly tighten the bolts down, slowly bringing the valve cover snugly to the head, you could cause the valve cover to try to bend. Say you tightened down one side more than the other and the side tightened down more is touching the head surface while the other side still has a gap. When you start snugging down the other side, you're asking the valve cover to bend. But, since the valve cover is a cast piece, it's not going to bend, it's going to crack. I had a coworker have this happen to his 3rd Gen. I told him this was an obvious mistake and the shop should be buying him a new valve cover and replacing it for free. The shop wouldn't buy him a replacement valve cover but they did replace it for free. This is more fuel to do your own repairs to make sure it's done right.
Click to expand...

I'm sure the manual illustrates it, but who reads manuals?

Tightening any multi-bolt, sealing surface (like a cylinder head, oil pan or valve cover) requires pattern tightening (like lug nuts) done in stages. The pattern is usually around and across, gradually tightening each bolt or stud the same value, and repeat with increasing tightness/torque to get to final torque spec. This promotes even sealing of the entire surface and less chance of cracking or warping.

Over torquing is always bad, like on oil pans or timing cases that are made of stamped steel - everyone's cousin Jimmy has created an oil leak by over tightening one of those. When in doubt google it or ask.

Get you a new valve cover and some gaskets and sealant and get er done. And don't let cousin Jimmy help.
 
Ask [MENTION=85046]nissanh[/MENTION] if he has one. I had a cracked passenger side and bought a used OEM cover from him.

It's not that big of a deal, just change it asap and continue checking oil before driving it.

I wouldn't take a road trip right now.
 
fblainen11 said:
Ask [MENTION=85046]nissanh[/MENTION] if he has one. I had a cracked passenger side and bought a used OEM cover from him.

It's not that big of a deal, just change it asap and continue checking oil before driving it.

I wouldn't take a road trip right now.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I sent him a PM.

I'm trying to decide if I'm up to this as opposed to taking somewhere
and risking this again since this likely originated from taking it to a mechanic.
 
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