Alright I changed my valve cover gasket awhile ago and have been getting this bad oil leak ever since. Now I think it was dragon that mentioned to put some RTV on it and I didn't think you should but I am going on and doing that but its a black high pressure and temp kind.

Now I got a few questions other than that.

I went ahead and started cleaning the inside of the cover and I got a before and after picture.



Now with that muched baked on oil and me just changing the breather hose I figure I get as much dirt out as possible so the pumps and hose don't get clogged.

So here is my 1st question there is a piece inisde the valve cover where the air exits. Can this piece be removed? I want to get in there and clean it out as well. Here is a picture of it and the RTV I am using.



My last question. I noticed that the bottom of the cover is chipping and it was only on the passenger side. I don't remember dropping this cover and it isn't just happening in the one spot but across the whole bottom. You think it may progess to a point where it won't be usable?



I know I asked alot but if you can give me any input that would be great.

 

I do not think it will get to an unusable point, or at least not any time soon.

 

Okay but is there a way to get that piece off?

 

Not that I've ever seen. On the 12v you can disassemble the scrubbers but it's all cast as one piece as far as I can tell on the 30v.

 

but there is a parting line if you can see it. I think it is slid over those locating pins and then the pins are rounded off so they stay in. Any idea on how to clean inside there?

 

Oh no kidding? Honestly I didn't know that - I don't recall seeing that in mine but it makes sense. I think you probably could grind those pins to free it up and epoxy them back on later but I'd suggest getting another valve cover to try it on first, from a car at a salvage yard maybe. That way you can try it and see what way to do it without potentially ruining one that you need for driving the car. An alternative would be to soak the cover in a shallow pan of concentrated degreaser and seafoam to let it break down any crap that has built up in there.

 

I may may just go with the degreaser and see what happens.

 

Brake or carb cleaner? Or you can soak it in Sea Foam...

 

I'm actually against using rtv on gaskets. I had my coolant flange replaced about a year ago using rtv and it seemed to have eaten up one of the o-rings or didn't let the o-ring make a tight enough pressure seal which started a coolant leak. I just replaced it myself this week with no rtv and it's nice and dry.

 

It depends on the gasket, and valve cover gaskets are supposed to have it.