My valve cover seals were replaced about 8 months ago, and now they're leaking again. Is this pretty common for an EA82 with 180,000 on it? Do they need to be re-torqued periodically?

Talking about the little rubber gaskets between the front and rear covers right? They might be leaking becuase the plastic is deformed over the years. Those things will melt and deform from heat Are any of the bolt threads stripped out not allowing you to torque them all down evenly? That would cuase some gaps in the seal also.

 

This is why I threw mine away Mine had stirpped out threads and were all deformed.

just so morganm doesnt sound completely retarded, Subarube, at first was calling them timing cover gaskets.

his post has been edited.

 

im at 5k since last time, and its not leaking. i used a little bit of blue silicone on mine, and new rubber washer tingies.

just so morganm doesnt sound completely retarded, Subarube, at first was calling them timing cover gaskets.

his post has been edited.

Well you're almost correct. I originally said "cam covers". I couldn't remember what they're called on our subes. How about "cam housing cover gaskets"?

My new cam cover/valve cover gaskets also have about 5k on 'em and are not leaking. I cleaned up the metal gasket surfaces real well, used no RTV, and tried to be careful staggering the torques on the rubber thingy nuts (which get torqued down all the way to stop) as I torqued 'em all down.

 

Are both sides leaking, or just one?

It seems to be both that are leaking. I think it been around 6-7k since they were replaced. I guess I will re-torque 'em and hope for the best.

i think gettin em clean is a reely big deal, along with correct torque. this is one of the reasons so many peepl dont like ea82s as much, as ea81s.

and if somebody overtorqued them before you, they could be warped, and may never seal good again.

Ohhhh THOSE cam covers

 

Roger that, they leak huh! hahaha I put brand new seals on mine, cam cases were cleaned real good. They still leaked within 1500 miles =P Everyone warned me when I rebuilt it that I shouldnt get angry when the thing leaks oil from those and the oil pan! LOL Needless to say it 'sweats' oil from those rocker panels and the oil pan

 

Lets not talk about how much oil blows by my rings.... k thx !_!

Maybe I'll grab some covers from the cleanest JY EA82 I can find and switch 'em out. One that looks likes it wasn't leaking before it died. I don't know the history of my vehicle too well, so they could have been overtorqued by some renob along the way. Thanks for the replies.

I replaced mine almost 11K ago, and still have a good seal (no leaking!).

I did clean the heck out of them and was careful when torking them down,

or maybe I have just been lucky (it was my first time).

Cheers,

Chris

Mine have at least 30,000 miles that I know of on them, and best guess is at least another 30,000 before I got the car. 181,000 on the clock, and they don't drip a drop.