ble2011

I noticed a little oil weeping from my lower valve covers. I'm thinking of replacing the gaskets this summer. Any issues with just ordering "normal" replacements, or are some better than another?

nine9six

I ordered my OEM's from Sunset, along with new hardware in case a hex head got striped.

Make sure you have a quality 5mm shorty 1/4" drive hex and torque wrench that goes below 7 ft lbs.

Take your time and clean up both mating surfaces where gasket contacts. I applied a thin film of oil to the gasket (just like an oil filter) to prevent sticking or pulling as the gasket squishes.

Tighten hardware from the middle out, in a crossing pattern. I torqued to 5 ft lbs first and finished to 7 ft lbs.

I did not have to remove heat exchangers.

ble2011

Thanks for the info. How did you do it without removing the heat exchangers? I tried checking the bolts and I couldn't get to most of them because the heat exchangers were in the way. I used a small bicycle torque wrench and it was still too big. What type of torque wrench did you use? It would be great if I didn't have to remove the heat exchangers.

P-daddy

I also did the lowers without removing the HE.

vincer77

Make sure you get all new hardware. The old ones seem very soft. I got the bolts from McMaster Carr:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#91274a143/=10ibnjw

I did mine with engine out. If taking off heat exchangers make it easier, they are not very hard to remove. After R&ing the engine, everything else seems easy!