Mister Willie

So I got this pain in the ass oil leak on my 84 pickup. It's got a newer 22R engine so I'm posting here.

I have an oil leak I suspect is coming from the rear of the valve cover. I'd like to know how tight I should be tightening those nuts that hold the cover down. Anyone have any suggestions to finding the right amount of torque? I know it's weird with the squishy valve cover gasket and the squishy grommets that seal those holes that the studs come through.

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

if its leaking, its time to replace the seals. All 7 of them. (1 Main gasket, 4 grommets, and 2 half moons)

The more you tighten it, the more it will leak on our engines.

I would suggest replacing them all, and using some FIPG to seal the top edges where the half moons go in.

old4runner

I can't find a torque spec in the Haynes manual, the last time I did this I made sure all of the seals around the studs were compressed and I used a torque wrench to make sure I torqued everything evenly, but didn't have a specified value to torque everything to. When I got done everything was dry as a bone.

Good luck.

ovrrdrive

Definitely time for a new gasket kit. I think the spec is only like 12 pounds on those nuts, and if you tighten them too much the rocker arms can hit the valve cover.

Be sure to clean everything very well and use RTV on the edges of the half moons as directed in the FSM...

idanity

good advice there.
the 22r's can be tricky, the dealer told me (when i bought all seals) that the valve cover should be on just enough to squish the 4 rubber grommets, and no further.

doing so, may cause ticking from the valves hitting the cover (or something).
anyways

get a plastic razor blade, and clean off all the old seals,
i used all new (0.E.M. ) gaskets and also (orange, hi-temp silicone) sealant on the moons, and thats it.

no more leaking.
btw, when i bought it, i had a mudd-slide coming out of it, from the front. and literally scrapped about a half inch (15mm) of sludged oil from the block, just to clean it up 1st.

hope that helps

MMA_Alex

i had the same issue. also the grommets were worn out and crushing further than they should be so they got replaced too.

I think i got the felpro set. Grommets & gasket, and it was like $8-10 if i remember right

Mister Willie

everything has already been replaced with new stuff from Engnbldr when I did the HG. And yes, I used a sealant on the top and sides of the half moons.

I'll try to clean off the engine and see if thats actually where the oil is coming from. If that doesn't work, then I suspect a rear seal.