Leaking valve cover gasket - should I replace it myself? - Page 2 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

greenmachinedriver · 06-13-2011, 10:58 PM

even if its a casting porosity issue they probably wont replace the head or valve cover anyway, they will just scrape some formagasget in the area of leakage. i would pull the cover and look at the gasket to see if there is a defect, if not add a very small amount of silicone to the suspected area and re-install with the proper torque and monitor for leaks.

caverman · 06-13-2011, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenmachinedriver

even if its a casting porosity issue they probably wont replace the head or valve cover anyway, they will just scrape some formagasget in the area of leakage. i would pull the cover and look at the gasket to see if there is a defect, if not add a very small amount of silicone to the suspected area and re-install with the proper torque and monitor for leaks.

Thanks....

That was kind of the idea I had. Take it out and look to see if it looked pinched or something. I not run a small bead of silicone to fill in any imperfections. At least that's we would do on my old 350 so I figured it would basically apply the same on the LS.

MARINE1991 · 06-13-2011, 11:31 PM

I would take it to the dealer and make them do it...

If the service manager refuses I would ask to speak to the owner of the dealership..

could not hurt to try and get the dealership to fix it under warrenty, I know the tune and long tubes will be an issue, but if they value your service they will fix it..

caverman · 06-16-2011, 10:33 AM

I decided I was going to do it myself so I wouldn't have to deal with going back and forth to the dealer and/or worry about them voiding my warranty or screwing something else up. Plus, this is my first LS motor so I figured the more I do the more I learn about them.

First off......Holly Crap! I had to pay the Camaro tax to get a valve cover gasket. I could only find them at the Stealership. $25 for one.....yes, I said one. That would be $50 for a set. Luckily I only needed one.

Other than that it was straight forward and didn't run into any issues other than I tried to do it without taking off the coil pack mounting bracket. I was able to get the valve cover off without taking that bracket off but there was one bolt I just couldn't get in straight because that bracket was in the way. Once I removed the bracket everything went back together just fine.

I did notice that the little indentions in the gasket that help to hold it into place were a little bigger and wider than the one I took off. I'm hoping that the new one is a redesign of an earlier version and will help keep it from leaking.

Start to finish was about an hour and that was taking my time to clean the valve cover, head, block to get all the oil off.

So far....so good. No leak that I can see after driving it and getting on it some last night.

I'm glad I chose to do it. Self satisfaction, nothing got screwed up on the car, and techinically I still have a power train warranty.

BowlingSS · 06-16-2011, 11:23 AM

I am glad you did it yourself and it does not leak. I hate taking my car to a dealer.

Bill

Juiced1 · 06-16-2011, 03:08 PM

Good deal. That's odd that you had a gasket issue like that. Most people reuse them tons of times with no issues. Must have had a dud.

06-16-2011, 10:33 AM	#18
caverman Drives: '69 SS Convertible Join Date: May 2009 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 7,111	I decided I was going to do it myself so I wouldn't have to deal with going back and forth to the dealer and/or worry about them voiding my warranty or screwing something else up. Plus, this is my first LS motor so I figured the more I do the more I learn about them. First off......Holly Crap! I had to pay the Camaro tax to get a valve cover gasket. I could only find them at the Stealership. $25 for one.....yes, I said one. That would be $50 for a set. Luckily I only needed one. Other than that it was straight forward and didn't run into any issues other than I tried to do it without taking off the coil pack mounting bracket. I was able to get the valve cover off without taking that bracket off but there was one bolt I just couldn't get in straight because that bracket was in the way. Once I removed the bracket everything went back together just fine. I did notice that the little indentions in the gasket that help to hold it into place were a little bigger and wider than the one I took off. I'm hoping that the new one is a redesign of an earlier version and will help keep it from leaking. Start to finish was about an hour and that was taking my time to clean the valve cover, head, block to get all the oil off. So far....so good. No leak that I can see after driving it and getting on it some last night. I'm glad I chose to do it. Self satisfaction, nothing got screwed up on the car, and techinically I still have a power train warranty. __________________ *-2010 Camaro* 2SS \| M6 \| VR w/White Stripes \| 1 3/4" KOOKS - 3" Magnaflow \| LPE 3.91 gears \| ADM tuned \| Halltech w/ADM Scoop \| Spohn/BMR Trailing Arm/Toe Rod \| BC Coilovers\| Pedders FE4 ZL1 swaybars \| Cradle/Diff/Radius Rod bushings \| VMax TB \| Morimoto Projectors \| MGW shifter \| Red Calipers Build Journal

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
aftermarket car cover	011silver 2SS	Cosmetic Maintenance: Washing, Waxing, Detailing, Bodywork, Protection	15	11-04-2010 12:23 AM
Billet Custom Products LLC has released a NEW all billet valve cover kit for the 2010	Bruce at Billet	Wash/Wax/Detailing and Cosmetic Maintenance Parts	0	10-10-2010 05:42 PM
Engine cover MOD	d69chris	Cosmetics and Lighting Modification Discussions	33	09-16-2009 11:02 AM
Piston to Valve Clearance?	My First Camaro!	Camaro V8 LS3 / L99 Engine, Exhaust, and Bolt-Ons	3	08-18-2009 08:26 PM

06-13-2011, 10:58 PM	#15
greenmachinedriver Drives: white 2010 ss and 2011 6.2 silvy Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: dfw Posts: 316	even if its a casting porosity issue they probably wont replace the head or valve cover anyway, they will just scrape some formagasget in the area of leakage. i would pull the cover and look at the gasket to see if there is a defect, if not add a very small amount of silicone to the suspected area and re-install with the proper torque and monitor for leaks.

06-13-2011, 11:31 PM	#17
MARINE1991 Drives: COTW 8/29/11 2010 CAMARO Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: HOMELESS Posts: 10,010 View My Garage	I would take it to the dealer and make them do it... If the service manager refuses I would ask to speak to the owner of the dealership.. could not hurt to try and get the dealership to fix it under warrenty, I know the tune and long tubes will be an issue, but if they value your service they will fix it..

06-16-2011, 11:23 AM	#19
BowlingSS Camaro Owner Since 1987 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS L99 RJT Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 2,185	I am glad you did it yourself and it does not leak. I hate taking my car to a dealer. Bill

06-16-2011, 03:08 PM	#20
Juiced1 Account Suspended Drives: 2012 2SS CAMARO 45th Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: St. Charles, IL Posts: 18,648	Good deal. That's odd that you had a gasket issue like that. Most people reuse them tons of times with no issues. Must have had a dud.