Valve cover weep - what about careful torque down?

[Helmsman]

Hi guys, have a very slight leakage in the "usual" right left courner of the passanger side cover.
Rather than rip it apart and replacing the gasket right away, anyone who tried to simply torque down the one or two bolts in that courner? I understand its only 10nm torque so guess has to be done carefully.
Haven't been able to find anything about this, maybe because its a bad idea, anyone?

Edit: Or even 6nm only, picking up different values here.

[roastbeef]

I don't have much experience with them, but I do know they are one time use bolts and I probably wouldn't mess with them.

[tdott]

You can try it. But probably won't help. The finish around the gasket is likely flaking off and the rubber gasket becomes hard and brittle. Nothing will fix that.

[DukeofAlexandria]

Originally Posted by tdott

You can try it. But probably won't help. The finish around the gasket is likely flaking off and the rubber gasket becomes hard and brittle. Nothing will fix that.

This^.

Additionally, once the seal has been broken, it's not like a leaky sink water valve, once the oil has permeated to the outside, you probably just need to scrap it and put on a new gasket.

Try it out, but just expect to replace all the same, good luck my dude!

-Duke

[Helmsman]

Cheers guys. The weep is tiny so not planning to replace gasket any time soon but figured I can try to do a light fix mean while. We'll see, 6-10nm and grommet I guess won't take it far.

[Kiefermeister]

You can try at205 and see if that works. It might buy you some time. It's not snake oil in my book. Lol.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by Kiefermeister

You can try at205 and see if that works. It might buy you some time. It's not snake oil in my book. Lol.

that crap would probably cause more issues, clog up the oil cooler, vanos or other tight places.

Definitely never recommend that crap, but it's a free country, try at your own risk.

[Kiefermeister]

Originally Posted by tdott

that crap would probably cause more issues, clog up the oil cooler, vanos or other tight places.

Definitely never recommend that crap, but it's a free country, try at your own risk.

Yeap. I've used it. It works. Period. 'Merica. Lol.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by tdott

that crap would probably cause more issues, clog up the oil cooler, vanos or other tight places.

Definitely never recommend that crap, but it's a free country, try at your own risk.

Don't plan to do a reseal, that day I'll do the complete gasket, the idea was to simply torque down a tad. Surpricing if nobody have tried this, maybe I'll go first then.

Cheers

[Johal E32]

I would give it a shot.

Not E90 M3 exactly, but I have had good success tightening down my 540i (which has magnesium valve covers like the S65 motor) to stop a weep.

Use a 1/4" drive ratchet and a 10mm socket and gently apply pressure seeing if the bolt wants to tighten down any further. Be careful, as you do not want to strip the threads out of the head (which is why I said use a 1/4" drive not 3/8").

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Johal E32

I would give it a shot.

Not E90 M3 exactly, but I have had good success tightening down my 540i (which has magnesium valve covers like the S65 motor) to stop a weep.

Use a 1/4" drive ratchet and a 10mm socket and gently apply pressure seeing if the bolt wants to tighten down any further. Be careful, as you do not want to strip the threads out of the head (which is why I said use a 1/4" drive not 3/8").

Got it, sounds interesting mate, cheers.

[amrazM]

overtightening will make it leak more.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by Kiefermeister

Yeap. I've used it. It works. Period. 'Merica. Lol.

What car/motor was it? Where was the leak?

[Kiefermeister]

Originally Posted by tdott

What car/motor was it? Where was the leak?

I used it on my m3. It had 156k miles. Had just spent $3500 on maintenance at ACM and was told that my oil filter housing gasket area is leaking as was my valve cover. I wasn't spending $6000...With the mileage, I was told the covers themselves should be replaced etc. I used at205 as Acm recommended breakin oil change at 1000. I drove the car for 50 miles, kept rpms under 3000. Then the leak completely stopped. I then drained engine oil and poured in fresh oil. It was good like that. But for me it was a temporary fix to get all my maintenance done over winter which was all the gaskets, new covers, pullies etc. it definitely did buy me time. But hey, at my mileage, I was perhaps also willing to accept the engine crapping out. It's not a garage queen with low mileage after all. This was also used on all my rubber gaskets around the door and made wind noise go away. When I did the gaskets finally, I did have a rough time getting all the old gasket out of the covers, guess what made it soft and rubber like again for me to remove it? Small amount of at205 painted onto the gasket and the gasket pieces came right out. So, yeah for me, it worked.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Kiefermeister

I used it on my m3. It had 156k miles. Had just spent $3500 on maintenance at ACM and was told that my oil filter housing gasket area is leaking as was my valve cover. I wasn't spending $6000...With the mileage, I was told the covers themselves should be replaced etc. I used at205 as Acm recommended breakin oil change at 1000. I drove the car for 50 miles, kept rpms under 3000. Then the leak completely stopped. I then drained engine oil and poured in fresh oil. It was good like that. But for me it was a temporary fix to get all my maintenance done over winter which was all the gaskets, new covers, pullies etc. it definitely did buy me time. But hey, at my mileage, I was perhaps also willing to accept the engine crapping out. It's not a garage queen with low mileage after all. This was also used on all my rubber gaskets around the door and made wind noise go away. When I did the gaskets finally, I did have a rough time getting all the old gasket out of the covers, guess what made it soft and rubber like again for me to remove it? Small amount of at205 painted onto the gasket and the gasket pieces came right out. So, yeah for me, it worked.

Just realized you pour the stuff into the engine... not for me sir!

[Kiefermeister]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Just realized you pour the stuff into the engine... not for me sir!

Lol. I completely understand. I wouldn't pour this into a garage queen. But I have rolled the dice on a couple of cars with success. That's all.