Did I use too much liquid gasket?

Hi Troy - I used Permatex hi-temp RTV on my valve cover gaskets (outer circumferences). The general guideline is to use as thin a coating as possible, but this stuff is thick, and I wanted to work quickly before it set too much, so did the best I could. I did have a little bead up on the outside, and know there are small beads on the inside too. I think I'm going to do a relatively early oil change to check if I'm seeing any RTV in sump.

I know most don't use any, but since the gaskets were not perfectly flat in a few spots, and outer circumference didn't have red teflon (or whatever) strips on them, I decided to use the RTV. I also tapped on the covers with a wood block around the plug holes to help make sure the covers and gaskets sealed around those before I tightened all the way.

 

The oil filter pick up strainer and the oil filter will stop whatever might come off in that particular spot however a major cause of oil leakage at the cam seal housings in the 4 valve motors is from sealant clogging the drain back holes just behind them and flooding the surrounding area with oil looking for an escape path.

 

Wasn't there a TSB on just this problem and a hole drilling fix or something?

Also, I used the anorobic (sp) gasket sealer on my cam covers and seals. Expensive compared to the others, but for 2.5 years and no leaks, me thinks it was worth it.

 

328 had a mod to the cam seal carriers for drain back and 348 had a mod to the drain back holes.

 

3 that I can recall right off the bat. One was still in warranty and was a 1.5" worm that completely sealed the oil feed to a 456 1-6 head.

 

Same thing reached an epidemic in BB's and TR's. So much so a service bulletin was issued and the factory changed their assembly procedures.

One reason we have all reduced using RTV to a bare minimum.