| Author | Message | ||
| Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Member Username: Lawrence Post Number: 655 Registered: 4-2002 |
Did mine a year ago on my 328. I have no leaks. I followed Verell's instruction regarding adding clearance to the gasket in the vicinity of the O-rings. I also torqued the valve cover acorn nuts a little at a time but I started at the center as you would do an oil pan gasket. I used the red RTV on the back cover and some black sealant (made for Mercedes) a Porsche technician swears is better on the front gasket. We shall see if one works better than the other. So far, so good. | ||
| Dave Helms (Davehelms)
Junior Member Username: Davehelms Post Number: 54 Registered: 5-2003 |
Verell said it all. Ferrari uses a product called Three Bond 1211 to seal the corners. It is a very light viscosity RTV sealant. This being thinner than the regular RTV tends to push the excess out, with out moving the gasket around. Ferrari had hundreds of oil leak warranty claims on the 348 due to the gasket touching the oring, so this is the area to pay the greatest attention to, as Verell says. The only thing I might add, is to torque the cover down in multiple stages. I very lightly tighten the corners first to push out the excess sealant and not have the gasket move,and go about other projects for a few hours before torquing to spec. Warning, I have rebuilt more than a handful of Ferrari engines that failed due to the oil pickup being plugged by RTV worms from too much RTV being used here! The last was a 456M that one of those worms plugged the oil feed to one head. As Verell said, only a match head size glob! | ||
| Andrew A. Illes (Andyilles)
Junior Member Username: Andyilles Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2002 |
Sometimes, ya just gotta wonder where some of these "experts" "learn", huh Verell? You'd be surprised how many times we'd see that EXACT thing come in, after supposed F "trained" wrenches got done. Shaking my head. | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member Username: Verell Post Number: 824 Registered: 5-2001 |
Andyilles, re:"scratched your head about that slow leak too" When I took delivery of my car, I drove it home & gave it a thorough look-over. I found oil on the cam belts & dripping out of the cam covers. Took the car back 3 times to the dealer's mechanic who'd done the 'major service' as part of the sale. He kept it 2 weeks, 2 weeks, & 3 weeks respectively & never stopped the leaks. Only positive thing I can say is that he didn't charge me. I finally got ticked off, ordered gasket & seal sets & tore into it myself. Found star-shaped oil traces coming off the heads of all 4 cam gear retainer bolts. Also found the gasket ends had cut 3 of the o-rings. Oh, yes, there was red RTV about 1/2" thick along the edges of the cam-head seam in the cam seal area of the cam-head seam. The cam seal ring o-rings had red RTV sealing them in place. Of course when I put it together, I managed to scrape the RTV off of the front exhaust cover gasket on a stud. (immediate small leak). Mid-summer oil started reappearing. I'd gotten trimming the gasket ends wrong, & put sealant into the o-ring groves, & had to go in again a year later(sigh). Then went in again the next year because a timing drive bearing failed on the 1st drive of the season & I went in a 3rd time... Could the bearing failure have been related to same wrench(less) jockey removing & reinstalling the nuts for the timing drive gears with a f@$#% AIR CHISEL - See my pix in the archives. | ||
| Andrew A. Illes (Andyilles)
Junior Member Username: Andyilles Post Number: 89 Registered: 10-2002 |
Yup... I agree with both Verell and Steve 100%.. nothing more needs be said. Know what else works great Steve? Instead of white grease... steal your wife's Pam spray!! It's the world's best kept mold-release secret! Verell's "breaking" the head/cover seam suggestion may need elaboration. That just means to file the sharp edges to an EVER so slight bevel or radius. (scratched your head about that slow leak too, huh Verell?  ) | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member Username: Verell Post Number: 816 Registered: 5-2001 |
A couple of tips: Do the gaskets have the pre-cut half-circle for the o-Ring that retains the aluminum ring holding the cam seals? If not, then carefully cut a clearance notch, leaving 1/32" to 3/64" clearance around the o-ring. A very sharp X-Acto knife works best. The clearance is needed because the gasket will absorbe oil & swell. If it's exactly butted up against the o-ring, it will cut into it(been there) and you'll have a very hard to locate very slow oil leak. Also, DO NOT put any sealant in the o-ring groves. The o-ring has to be able to float so that the cam seal will align itself properly on the cam. Smear the o-ring with engine oil, & make sure it can rotate in the groove in the head. Oh, yes, before you install the o-ring, very slightly 'break' the sharp edges formed by the head-cam cover seam, & bottom of the o-ring groove. The cam cover has to compress the o-ring down into the portion of the groove in the head. It tends to get pinched & cut by these sharp corners. Breaking the edges & pre-oiling the o-ring greatly reduces the chance of this happening. Put a match-head sized dab of RTV on the trimmed ends of the gasket at the o-ring groove. You want just enough so that the RTV will seal the trimmed area. If you use too much RTV, it will push the end of the gasket out of the seam and you'll have another very hard to find oil leak(been there 2). There's several entries in this thread that I wrote up for other listers: http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/65844.html http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/103720.html The 328 engine is essentially identical to the QV engine as far in the cam seal region. | ||
| Steve (Steve)
Member Username: Steve Post Number: 405 Registered: 2-2001 |
PJ I just finished a belt change and valve adjustment. Someone told me on this site a few years ago to take your finger and wipe a film of white grease on the head and use hi-temp non hardening red sealer on the cam cover.I only put a skim coat on the cover and a little at the cam seals. Then put the gaskets on the head and put the cam cover on and tighten it up to 6 ftlbs or 78 inlbs. So when you need to do this again the gasket comes off of the head and you can take the red stuff off with with your finger nail. | ||
| Paul Jeffery (Peajay)
Junior Member Username: Peajay Post Number: 63 Registered: 4-2002 |
Yes sorry I didn't mention, it's a 328. | ||
| Andrew A. Illes (Andyilles)
Junior Member Username: Andyilles Post Number: 88 Registered: 10-2002 |
Peajay... what engine? Some work fine "dry", others can use help. | ||
| Paul Jeffery (Peajay)
Junior Member Username: Peajay Post Number: 62 Registered: 4-2002 |
What's the general opinion on replacing the cam cover gaskets, do you put on the new gaskets dry or do you use a sealing product ? If you do, what do you use ? Any advice on making sure there are no leaks ? |