I took my spark plug cover off and I saw some oil spitting out around the third cylinder area. When I tightened the nut, I heard a pop. Immediately, I took the valve cover off and start to see if there were any cracks. There were no cracks. I checked the gasket, it's fine. I got scared so I didnt tighten it so muchn right now. I only tightened it very little and I still heard that pop. So do I need a new gasket or do I need a valve cover? And damn...i am going to get a tune soon but I dont think it should affect performance. It only takes some more oil every now and then right? Please help!!!

 

What nut are you talking about? the valve cover? maybe it was another bolt which is not as tight as the one you tightened, and the POP was the valve cover riding up a groove on another nut/bolt. tighten all of them the same (torque wrench) and do the popping one last and see if it is still there.

 

the valve cover bolt made a popping noise. And right now, oil is coming out of that nut. do I need a new gasket or do I need a new valve cover. I cant find a torque wrench that has 31 in-lbs!!

 

Then maybe the "popping" sound is the bolt that you are tightening, riding up the groove. no big deal. maybe the valve cover is not 100% strait. if it is 99.95% strait, it would pop like that. Yes I would get a new gasket, isnt it a liquid gasket? dont put anything there but a stock replacement! Dont cut corners!!!! re-take off the valve cover and hand tighten all bolts and torque opposite bolts down a little at a time until ALL are the same specs! take your time. were the other bolts removed also? I think its a EVEN torque issue. DONT tighten one to spec, then move to the next, do it like I said above.

 

call your friends or neighbors, they have to have a wrench, dont guesstimate on a different wrench! the valve cover is riding up one grove of the nut, then when further tightening the valve cover will POP over the nut. This is kinda hard to explain, but you dont have a major issue. You can't half-break a nut, its either sheared in half or its fine!

 

it's not the liquid gaskets. it';s the rubber gasket on the cylinder head. i'm gonna take everything apart and see what happens again. it's probably not tight too. And I gotta find a torque wrench that reads in-lbs

 

Your on the right path. Equal torque, gradually building up to specs and you will be fine! you can rent one from "auto-zone" I believe. Good luck. you can probably look at the hole where the bolt/nut was, and see it maybe bent!

 

i think i get what u mean. THANKS VERY MUCH. because the first time, I thought it was 31 ft-lbs and before I can torque it to 31 ft-lbs, i snapped the bolt in half and i went out to buy a new one. I'll go to auto zone or anywhere to see if I can get a better torque wrench. The bolts are pretty loose because I basically hand tightened it with a with socket and tightened it a lil more with the wrench and left it. Once again...thanks!

btw, THERE'S a slight tapping noise right now...i never had any before after the installation of my cams. You gotta pop put ur ears close to the hood to listen to it. Is that a big problem?