Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Valve cover gaskets leaking... again

[JeppinHackSaw]

Ok, I put a set of VC gaskets in, stock valvetrain, bolts, studs, everything on the head is stock.



Anyways, I put a set in about a month ago, and about 3 days after I put them in, they were fricken leaking again... bugs the heck out of me. Is there anything else that you guys are doing to keep them from leaking? I put them in w/no silicone or anything like that. . I dont think that its a good idea to have that in there... but. . if it works for some. . im considering it.



Is there something else that I can try first before I booger up my VC's with silicone?

 

[Shadrach]

WHAT BRAND GAKETS ARE YOU USING? THE CUMMINS ARE A GRAY RUBBER AND SHOULD GO ON "DRY"- NO OIL ON THEM EITHER. Shadrach

 

[Joe G.]

It's very easy to get #5 or #6 in so they are not quite right. The gasket is not seated on the cover so it leaks. Check carefully with a small mirror. If everything is clean and dry when you install them you should have no leaks.

 

[JeppinHackSaw]

#1-3 cylinders are the ones that I am having the problems with... I bought some gaskets from the local parts house... Im thinking they were made by felpro. . not sure though. . They were black rubber. . I put them on dry, and wiped the gasket mating surface really good before putting them on... grrr. this is really making me mad...

 

[DBraunig]

Here is the Cummins pn# 3930906, for the gray marine gasket, Dodge pn#05003468AA, if you need them.



Dave

 

[AWray]

I purchased a black set of Fel-Pro from Auto Zone for about $6 each. They have been leak free.

 

[Willys]

The grey cummins ones work well. I put them on my trucks and have been leak free since. Before the entire upper end of the engines were covered in oil. Now to fix the rest of the leaks... .

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

If you're constantly fighting leakage it could be the sign of a tired engine, or excessive blowby caused by a faulty vacuum pump or turbo leaking past the seal. I keep leaking oil on my '96 a lot because it's tired at 405k.

 

[SMorneau]

make sure you replace the O-rings under the shoulder bolts they are what keep the other gaskets in compression.

 

[dpuckett]

I have used the grey gaskets for the last 3 or so years. MUCH better seal and reusability than black. I have gotten them from Cummins/ CaseIH or the local parts store and had good service.



I always put the gasket on the valve cover first, then put it on the head as an assembly, so to speak. The grey gaskets are a hair bigger than the valve cover, so when I compress them onto the valve cover, they stay on to install on the head, and I KNOW they sealed.



Make sure your gaskets are clean "inside" where the VC actually seats in the gasket.



Daniel

 

[K5IP]

Make sure that your crank case vent tube is open. I have a small can on my vent to keep it from dripping oil on my driveway, but if it fills, and causes the vent to be closed off, my valve cover gaskets start to leak.

Rog