I just changed my valve cover gasket, spark plug tube seals and the valvecover bolt grommets. I was tightening the valvecover bolts and decided to tighten the bolt a little more firmer and ended up snapping the end of on of the bolts off into the head. I put a little rubber **** in the bolt hole, kind of like a cork for a bottle.

My questions are

1. Is it ok to leave the rubber cork in there?

I drove it for about 10 miles and no oil leaked out from the cork or the gasket; on top of that im too tired to take it off again. I did just install a new valvecover gasket and put silicone around the whole gasket so I think it wont leak from the valve cover gasket or the rubber cork.

2. How do I remove the broken bolt peice thats stuck in the head?

Do I drill it out?, my friend told me to use a bolt extractor from like an autozone or something. I was just gonna drill it out.

3. Is it safe to have just 4 bolts holding it instead of the 5?

I put all new gaskets and silicone

 

To remove the broken piece from the head you will need to remove the valve cover.
Looks like you might have enough broken off to be able to use two nuts to remove the broken piece just tighten them up and turn the bottom nut lefty lucy, the top nut will keep it from turning if its tight enough.
If that does not work then vice grips or a small pipe wrench. Why not wait until your valve cover starts leaking to do this since its not leaking now.

 

so it should be fine to drive it like this till i have to change the gasket again right?

 

I did this same **** when I was changing my valve cover gasket.. went to the stealership to grab a new one and had the guy there laughing that they snap off all the time and told me to quit beastmastering them in.

I left the broken bolt in the valve cover because I noticed it was spraying a bit of oil out of the hole. I drove around like that for about a week lol, and I didnt re-change my gasket, and its been fine. but I wouldnt drive around with 4 bolts in there.. def get it sorted out

mine was broken off so far I had to take to a shop and have them extract it out.. I didnt trust myself to do it because you have to do it perfect.

 

it could leak tomorrow, it could leak a year from now, it could never leak. But if it was my car i would fix it, just because.

 

I think Ive got two or three of those broken right now. They suck.

 

 

i broke one of my vc bolts...holds oil fine. lol

 

check above it on your hood

 

i put a rubber cork in it, not oil near the cork or on the valve cover. none coming out of the valve cover gasket. Would I lose any compression?

 

the general consensus is its your car, and if your happy with the cork than let it ride. Personally I believe they put that many bolts in the vc for a reason, so when mine broke I got it fixed as soon as I had a day off to take care of it.