i have a little tear about a 1/4 inch on my valve cover gasket. my old one is leaking all around do you guys think it is best to keep the old one our use after market one with small tear and will the pressure from the bolts hold the gasket down tight enough close up the tear

 

Buy a new one? at your Honda Dealer? Doesn't cost a lot either... 1/4" is a big tear...

 

thanks

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The-Kid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Buy a new one? at your Honda Dealer? Doesn't cost a lot either... 1/4" is a big tear...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ditto that. Probably 25 bucks, a ratchet and half hour and you're good... and make sure you get the spark plug tube seals and grommets too if it doesn't come with it.

 

you need to pick up a gasket sealant or else it will seals will burn up and you will have oil leak all around in a few months.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dleccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you need to pick up a gasket sealant or else it will seals will burn up and you will have oil leak all around in a few months.</TD></TR></TABLE>

what??? the way you make it sound is you need to use that around the entire gasket surface, you only need to put some Hondabond in the corners where the gasket goes over the cam caps.

 

i use something like this because oil leaked when i didnt use any sealant. im pretty sure i tighten the bolts down enough, since i didnt have a torque wrench then.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dleccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i use something like this because oil leaked when i didnt use any sealant.</TD></TR></TABLE>

There is no need to use any type of overall gasket sealant. All you need is 4 small dabs of HB and your good to go! Last time I saw a product like that being used, it was on an old 350 with an all cork gasket.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dleccord &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i use something like this because oil leaked when i didnt use any sealant. im pretty sure i tighten the bolts down enough, since i didnt have a torque wrench then.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've never used anything like that on my Honda's and I've never had a problem. It's not needed.

 

TouringAccord: you said something about using the hondabong by the cams on the gasket. ill look into that but what about where the gasket are facing towards the radiator? i got a leak there as well. the gasket is oem so for sure its not an aftermarket issue.

 

yep, thats the only place I've ever used anything, as per the service manual.

If you have a leak along the front after installing a new gasket, make sure the surface where the gasket seals is free of nicks or scrapes. Also make sure that the valve cover gasket groove is free of any gasket material before installing the new gasket. Maybe someone used a screw driver to pop the valve cover free from it's seal and nicked the surface not allowing the gasket to seal properly? You shouldn't need anything to help the gasket seal, if so there is something causing the gasket to leak or not seal properly.

 

Are you sure it's leaking along the entire front. Try cleaning it up and see if you can pinpoint exactly where that is coming from. Once it's heated up oil likes to move around and coat everything. It could be coming from around the cam seal and running along the front???? worth checking out. Honda gaskets are usually really reliable a long the front and back of the VC. That is as long as the two mating surfaces are clean and smooth.

 

alright ill try that.

my valve cover didnt budge when i first replaced it so i used a mallet. hope i didnt damage anything.

btw, once the valve cover is off, can we pour seafoam along the cam?

 

I used my hand or a rubber mallet to tap the valve cover loose. Better than pry at it. It shouldn't hurt anything though.

You can I guess... probably no different than adding it to the oil anyway but make sure you don't run it very long without changing the oil afterwards. Do you have a lot of build up in the engine?

 

i dont recall having a lot of build up but i see it would be better if you can pour it with the valve cover off since pouring in the oil cap might not reach other places.

damn and i just changed the oil like last week.