Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Valve Cover

[RMHanes]

While changing oil this yesterday, noticed that there appears to be a "crack" in the front of the valve cover. Did not see any evidence of oil coming out but this may be just a matter of time. Murphy's law comes to mind right now. It will leak at the most inconvenient time and place! Has anyone come across this? This may be a good time to buy that new red (black?) Cummins valve cover also. Where is a good place to get this new cover? Any one know of the stock numbers for these two? How difficult is this changeout? Just to be sure, will also get a new gasket when I change this one out. Have a 98. 5 with the 24V and the back side nearest the firewall will be a pain for access. Will also look in the service manual but with all of the experience on this site someone hopefully has some goood hints on making this job go smooth!

 

[Oasis-3]

Red part #

RMHanes I have the red valve cover on and the part number is 3943668 from Cummins Power Systems Inc. this was November 10, 2001 and the price was $79. 21 shiped to my door. I did not change the gasket as the truck was still new when I changed it.

Just clean the area around the base of the old cover before you lift it out. It's an EZ job And looks

Good Luck

Cliff

 

[Steve Campbell]

Could it be just....

a casting mark???



There is no real "pressure" there, so a good cleaning with ether and an application of RTV selant will hold for quite a while (as I have done that a lot in the past). Kind of a poor man's way out.

 

[RMHanes]

Steve, you are probably right in that it is just a casting mark. This would be a round about way of getting that new valve cover though. What I may do before I do order the new red cover is remove the one on there now and have a look see on the back side of it. As said before, there is no leakage yet but then again this "crack" was not there previously. Look things over pretty good whenever the hood is up. This being right there whenever the hood is open makes it pretty obvious to spot.

Oasis-3, thanks for the information of the price and stock number of the red cover.

 

[Chipstien]

Red valve cover looks great on a Red truck. Oo.

 

[Steve Campbell]

RM....

Last time I had my valve cover off... ... it got too close to my belt sander... . and it no longer says DODGE on it, only CUMMINS 24 VALVE!!!



Thinking about that, with male cattle, when a couple of items are removed, it is called castration. I like to think of my "modification" as having reversed the above process.