Recently I changed the spark plugs at 112k miles and while doing so I discovered the spark plug gasket failed so I changed the valve cover gasket kit and fixed that problem. But now I smell oil burning on the case.. If your looking at the block, the top right hand corner down below the past the valve cover is a small pocket that oil is collecting in.. Then under the block the oil pan is half moist and half not? Perhaps I didn't tighten down the valve cover? I'm lost.

 

did you follow the torque pattern for the valve cover?

Also. You can definitely cause leaks by overtightening.

 

I was not aware of a pattern.. I tightend them down moderately but with a little kick at the end of the turn to make sure they we're tighten down properly..

 

There should be a pattern to torquing them down and you're going into a aluminum head I doubt it's anything over 8 ft/lb which moderately and with a kick is probably way over that. I'm guessing you're in the 20-30ft/lb range.

Anything that is on a engine it's a good idea to look for the proper torque and the proper torque pattern.

Here you go. Looks like 7.2 ft/lb which my wrench doesn't do that so I always go up to 7.5. Scroll to the bottom of this page. You may want to buy a new gasket as well. Oh and don't forget the part about the liquid gasket. You can get the OEM gasket maker from a dealership it's called Hondabond, it's really good stuff. Or you can just get the red permatex **** from autozone.

be sure to clean off the old liquid gasket as best you can and dry up the mating surfaces. apply the dab of the liquid gasket to those four spots and put the cover on and torque down in steps so go hand tight with just the socket and extension then snug with wrench, then with torque wrench to 7.2 ft/lb. you shouldn't get any leaks after that.
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