96foe

Someone please help me. My lower valve covers were leaking so I bought some billet aluminum valve covers. I didnt go crazy tightening them and they are leaking as well. I am very frustrated what am i doing wrong?

garrett376

Make sure the surfaces are super clean and dry, plus Curil-T placed on the gaskets will do the trick (whether they are billet or not!).

tbennett017

7 ft lbs is all it takes... if the gaskets are new, tighten them in a pattern, working outwards from the center. Don't over-tighten them, as this type of gasket doesn't work with too much pressure.

+1 on the cleaning. Any grit or schmutz will cause a leak.

springer3

Are you sure it is the valve cover leaking? Any oil leaking out higher on the engine will hit that seam on the way down. That makes it look like they are leaking. The 964 has excellent valve cover seals. Just keep it clean, and avoid sealants. They are not necessary, and a problem to clean off when you have grooves for the seals.

boxsey911

It looked like the new billets had not cured my cover leaks either when I first put them on. I did not have a suitable torque wrench first time so tightened them up by feel. So a couple of weeks ago I took them off again, cleaned the contact surfaces, bought a new small torque wrench and new gaskets and refitted them with the correct torque. I also replaced a few studs that I knew were loose from the first time.

Mine look to be still leaking at the bottom unless it's oil migrating there from my other leaks. So you're not on your own. I'm done with chasing leaks for the moment and will get them all addressed later in the year by having the engine out and doing them all in one go.

Sten

I bought some billet lower covers and had similar issues - ended up having 1mm machined off the faces as the (genuine) gaskets were not being compressed enough and oil was weeping out. No leaks now..