97 Saturn dual cam Valve cover casket

Is there a trick to putting on a new valve cover casket? I put on the new
casket and it continues to leak in various places. The casket is rubber.
Am I tightening it down to hard? Could the plastic valve cover be warped?

 

If you over tighten something you can make it buckle... I havent done a
valve cover on a Saturn but I know on Honda's there are about 4 spots or
so that you have to hit with RTV.

 

For future reference, what you're talking about is a 'gasket' (g). I
can't say for sure with your car (!?), but my valve cover is most
certainly not plastic. I'm not sure what prompted you to decide that
the gasket needed to be changed, but here goes.

Yes, it could be warped, although this would probably only happen if the
cover were (removed and) installed improperly. Most drive-train bolts
(engine, transmission, axles, wheels, etc) on a car have torque
specifications. The DOHC engine valve cover bolts are 89 in-lbs. (Note
INCH lbs, not FT lbs - big difference) If you apply more force than the
spec, you can damage the gasket, the valve cover, the cylinder head, or
other parts of the motor. The eleven (11) valve cover bolts should also
be tightened in a specific sequence, and not each one all at once.

You do need RTV, where the cover makes contact with the cylinder head,
near the timing cover.

-rj
98SL2

As an aside to the above, just my opinion on the situation:

Not to discourage you from working on your own car or to come across
condesencing, but I would take this to a dealership or a professional
mechanic to have it looked at and repaired if nessecary. Drive if the
shop is close or have it towed if not, depending on how much oil you're
losing. Although unlikely, it is possible that you've bent the valve
cover or the head by overtightening the bolts.

Again, not to be overly critical but all I have to go on is what you've
said here. Perhaps you're a mechanic who has never worked on saturns
before, tho I suspect not. This is a place where wanna-be garage
mechanics are encouraged, but sometimes one should start slow.

There are lots of little things you can do on your car (tire pressures,
check misc fluids, air cleaner) and not have to be concerned that doing
it wrong would lead to a serious problem like a loss of oil (pressure)
through a broken gasket. Once you're confident in those things, get a
friend or the dealership (Saturn dealerships still do this, right?) to
show you how to change the oil, or how to check/change plugs/wires.
Work your way into "more complex" tasks like replacing an engine
seal/gasket. While you're at it, pick up a Haynes or Chilton manual.
The Haynes is #87010 and is purplish-red on the cover.

Again, please don't take this personally - I'm just trying to look out
for you and your Saturn.

 

Richard
Hate to bust the bubble here but the vc is definitely plastic. At least on
my 96 SL2. Just did the hob on mine too. Very easy and straightforward. But
one does have to be careful with it because it is plastic and the gasket is
more like a giant O ring than a gasket.
Larry

 

oi. Too much time this weekend in the sun working on datsun roadsters.
You're right, my bad. When you said that yours is plastic, it dawns

 

Its possible that he bent the head by overtightening the bolts?
ummm.......ok.......

 

The valve cover would break, the bolts would snap, or the threads would
of been pulled out well before that head felt anything from those
quarter inch bolts and that plastic valve cover. :-\

 

LOL thats what I'm saying. And I'll even tell you the first thing that will
happen, the threads will pull out. Be very careful with them they are more
fragile than one would think.........