1. Some members were not receiving emails sent from XJbikes.com. For example: "Forgot your password?" function to reset your password would not send email to some members. I believe this has been resolved now. Please use "Contact Us" form (see page footer link) if you still have email issues. SnoSheriff

    Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

valve cover spitting some oil

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by slackard, Oct 11, 2013.

  1. slackard

    slackard Active Member

    Messages:
    275
    Likes Received:
    99
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Earth, Terran System
    so i finished up a valve job and took out the xj650 on an 80mile there and back again adventure and it seems my valve cover is spitting a bit of oil.

    Valves are in spec, and i have only had the cover off 2-3 times since installing the new gastket (aftermarket) and pressure washers (<300 miles ago)

    according to the stain on my jeans, its spitting a bit right around where the half-moons are on the right side of the head right near cyl4 exhaust.

    has anyone seen this with the aftermarket valve cover gasket? The cover bolts are as tight as spec'd.. hard to believe the pressure washers are already worn out too.


    any ideas?
     
    slackard, Oct 11, 2013
    #1
  2. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    419
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    You mean you finished doing your valve adjustment? A "valve job" entails pulling the cylinder head for disassembly, valve lapping, etc.

    But to answer your question: yes, it happens. WHAT happens is the sharp corners on the head where the half-moon cutouts are don't want to "seat" in the gasket exactly the same each time so it "weeps" there.

    The solution is to apply a VERY LIGHT SMEAR of RTV just in the "corners" where the round plugs "sprout" from the gasket itself. You don't need much and it only needs to go right in those corners.

    I've had the same issue myself after the third re-use of a valve cover gasket, OE or aftermarket.
     
    bigfitz52, Oct 11, 2013
    #2
  3. slackard

    slackard Active Member

    Messages:
    275
    Likes Received:
    99
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Earth, Terran System
    re-shimmed valves, yes... Not a full blown "valve job" per se.

    I will try the RTV as perscribed

    Thanks
     
    slackard, Oct 11, 2013
    #3
  4. spinalator

    spinalator Member

    Messages:
    675
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Regina, CANADA
    +1 for fitz, I was able to get 10K out of a weeping lid with his method.
     
    spinalator, Oct 11, 2013
    #4
  5. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    419
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    Or more. It happened on both of my 550s upon the third re-use of the gasket; but with a very slight dab of RTV the gaskets continue to work just fine even on multiple subsequent re-uses.
     
    bigfitz52, Oct 12, 2013
    #5
  6. Keith30

    Keith30 Member

    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    MI
    Good advice. Will be doing valve adjustment in the offseason and will use rtv now. My valve cover gasket it slightly leaking from the front at the moment.
     
    Keith30, Oct 12, 2013
    #6
  7. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    419
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    The advice applies to re-using a recently replaced gasket with equally freshly replaced "donuts." One that has 5000 or 10K miles on it; not an original.

    I didn't mean to imply that RTV will work to cure an old gasket that is leaking.
     
    bigfitz52, Oct 13, 2013
    #7

Share This Page