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hey guys got a question just put my head back on and timed everything again she runs alot better but i noticed everytime i kind of push my car or drive it hard the valve cover leaks. its weird, i just replaced it two days ago and it didnt leak yesterday but if i run it hard on the highway and i parked for work and bam started leaking right in the front. maybe something with the crankcase ventilation? i replaced my pcv about a year ago and and seems to be working but not sure why it leaks. anyone else have this?

i just got home from work and bam its leaking down the front of the head again. seems whenever i drive on the highway or high rpms for a certain amount of time and now my distributor o ring is leaking and gets into my cap and the runs crappy. not sure whats going on

It seems that you engine is not relieving pressure, most of the time it would be your PCV. take it out and shake it. If it clicks its good, them make sure the line from it is not plugged.

just clean it out with gumout (the pcv)...

i was just wondering if you guys all had the same thing. my dad was thinking that on the valve cover itself the bolt holes are too long. like how the bolt holes on the bottom of the valve cover meet the head seem to be too long. and the gasket doesnt make a good seal, is this the same as on yours? i can take a picture youd like more info since its kind of hard to explain. hah

are u still having this problem? im having the same problem and im running the bp engine.

ya i still am, what type of valve cover gasket are you using? im using a crap one from a 45 dollar gasket kit from ebay. my last one was a toshino i think it was like 25 bucks but it worked very well and had a great seal on it. you could try using mazda brand gasket not sure.

Did you use a lot of sealant around bolt holes and edges - the first time i changed the gasket i used very little sealant and it started leaking in 2 days - i had to take it apart and apply a lot of sealant all over and then it didnt leak the whole time i had it.

[quote=Did you use a lot of sealant around bolt holes and edges - the first time i changed the gasket i used very little sealant and it started leaking in 2 days - i had to take it apart and apply a lot of sealant all over and then it didnt leak the whole time i had it.[/quote]

So using a gasket on a gasket. Not what to do.

Use RTV silicone just on the sharp corners, like were the cam is, not onthe corners of the gasket. The find the right torque specs and tightening patern.
You only use RTV when there is no gasket for instance the oil pan has no gasket, only on the main bearings.

cyclonekid78 wrote:

ariesdude wrote:Did you use a lot of sealant around bolt holes and edges - the first time i changed the gasket i used very little sealant and it started leaking in 2 days - i had to take it apart and apply a lot of sealant all over and then it didnt leak the whole time i had it.

So using a gasket on a gasket. Not what to do.

Use RTV silicone just on the sharp corners, like were the cam is, not onthe corners of the gasket. The find the right torque specs and tightening patern.
You only use RTV when there is no gasket for instance the oil pan has no gasket, only on the main bearings.

Applying sealant is recommended in the workshop manual -


If you look at it closely it tells you how you have to apply sealant all the way around on the valve cover edges.

the valve cover isnt tourqed down enough to geive the rubber a good enough seal so RTV is needed to fill the gaps

I guess there is no reason for a gasket them. But like I said, apply next to cams and dissy is all you need. RTV on a gaskets is just making it easier for it to slide on each other.

well i tried putting that sealant stuff on there and seems to have stopped it. ill see how long it goes, ya whats weird is the oil doesnt leak out where the gasket gaps over the cams and the disty caps. its weird but now i got a coolant leak at the heater core pipes and the disty cap thing is dripping oil so gotta fix that. thanks guys