having real trouble getting valve cover to seal
 

So things are a bit odd. When my motor was built, and the valve cover sealed the first time after things were fine for about 5 months. Then it started sweating at the rear eventually turning into a slight drip. So I pulled the cover, bought a new gasket and re installed it with gasket sealer on the corners of the cam seal caps and CAS cap seal. It was OK for a day then it was leaking like crazy this time now from the rear and also the drivers rear half. I pulled it again, new gasket again and re torqued everything in the correct order and it's still leaking. It's getting really annoying because it's dripping on my header and smoking significantly. I don't want to drive it until this is fixed.

I have a new Capri cover on the way and another gasket waiting to go on to see if it was a problem with the old valve cover.

Ideas? Has anyone had a problem like this before?

Stick your dick in it.

Then

Do not overtighten.

Tighten in star pattern. Tq spec is like 7ft lbs or somrthing pussified.

Start light. If still leaking then tighten a littke.

Then bow down before your new god. Me.

That's what I've been doing.

Should be working.

Rtv cornaz????

what corners? by the cam seal caps? yes.

I will try my new gasket tomorrow and see what happens.

if you want over board and maybe not abbsolutly pretty. Take the cover off, clean the sh-t out of it. Use a cu-tip with one end cut of and spread the RTV in the groove, then spread it on the top of the head (which is clean too) where the cover sits on. Bolt it all together and let it dry for a day. You may be able to see the goo after but it should seal. Over Kill--the way too go when all else fails.

letting the rtv dry is a good idea

also do acompression tewst you may have horrid blowby pressurizing valve cover,

I know you just had a rebuild, but . . . .

If you're doing everything right and you've got oil leaks popping up here and there -- you may very well have a pressurized crankcase from blowby. Are your breather hoses clear? If they are, you might want to do a compression test. This may be a symptom of something else.

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https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1334468338

What do you mean breather hoses clear? They look like any other breather hose I've seen. I did modify the cover though, drilling and tapping the top with a big NPT brass fitting about triple the size of both stock ones. Could that be the issue? I don't see how it could, really... because it should theoretically have more flow than the stock ports.

I have a leak down tool at work. I guess it's time I check the health of the motor anyways. I am not getting any blowby, and never have in my catch can so it's hard to say.

wtf type of RTV are you using.

i like ultra black for the 6 spots you need it.

I'd have to check but it's just some high temp permatex stuff. It's not leaking from those areas though, it's leaking from the side above the header and the rear opposite the CAS.

I'll take some photos and post up.

If it's leaking from those spots, and you have the proper torque on the bolts, then the cam cover might be cracked or something.

I was thinking that. Do they ever warp at all? When I put the new cover on on Monday I'll see if it solves the problem. Here's hoping.

I doubt it. There's a thick rubber gasket and the bolts aren't strong, so there's no reason for it to warp.

the VC on both my ludes warped...but ive never had issue with the miata.

Could it be something simple like the CAS O-Ring?

No.

Clear as in not blocked. But, if you're not getting anything in the catch can, probably not blowby.

u prob have a squirrel or butt plug in your breather hose. That is what hornet means.

Thanks. I said it all wrong.

Gotcha. No it's not blocked. One of the first things I checked. This motor has never given me any blowby to worry about.

Alright so I re sealed it today. Made sure all the mating surfaces were completely dry and scraped off all the old goo. When I pulled it off though, there was oil on the entire mating surface of the whole gasket. Is that a sign that I overtightend? I did it again today with a new gasket and in the proper order slowly tightening everything down and doing a few "laps." it's currently drying. How long should I leave it before starting the car up?

I also made sure to clean all the old drips off so I can watch and see if any new sweating appears.

36 hrs

well i guess i won't be going to work for 2 days.

tube says fully cured in 24 hours. i did it this morning so it should be close enough. that's not where it's leaking from anyways so i think it should be ok.

So I may have figured out why it's leaking. After re-sealing yesterday I kept a close eye on it after driving a short distance. The gasket was fine, but I noticed oil coming out of one of the bolt holes. I thought this was odd, so I popped the cover back off and discovered that the bolt cylinder part (cylinder that the bolt goes through) was missing a small bit and looked like it was not touching the head flange anymore. It seems like its a bit of a press fit to seal off the bolt hole area from oil. I think this is where the oil has been coming from all along. I threw some goop in it for the time being until i finish up my capri cover. We'll see tomorrow if it stays leak free and if so, that's what the problem was.

This is what was broken. Not that exact hole, but that part.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1334721075