Oil leaking from valve cover bolts

[vtboy51]

I replaced my valve covers and gaskets last fall and now a small amount of oil seems to be leaking out around the bolts. Can I put some RTV in the bolt holes to help seal things up?

 

[Skiddy]

yes small amount won't hurt anything

 

[gnpenning]

When you had it apart did you flatten and straighten the sealing edge and bolt holes ?

 

[vtboy51]

When you had it apart did you flatten and straighten the sealing edge and bolt holes ?

It's been a while now since I've swapped it, but from what I remember I just cleaned off the old gasket and layed down the new Perma Dry gasket and put things back together.

 

[FordBronc]

Cork or rubber gaskets? I'd take the covers back off, use a steel straight edge and flat ck them on the underside where the bolts come thru. They get bent in those areas from over tightening. A little ball peen/bucking bar action to straighten.

And yes use use a thin bit of high temp RTV (the Right Stuff by Permetex) is awesome.