Oil Leak

Frisky Arab · May 2, 2012

So for a while now I've had a very minor oil leak (Like a drop every couple days) that wasn't a really big deal, but kind of bugged me. Found out it was because one of my valve cover bolts was snapped inside of the head.(The top right corner if you are looking towards the windshield) Took all the other bolts off and removed the valve cover to see if the threads were poking out some so I could get it out with pliers (It wasn't) and while I was putting the valve cover back on and tightening the bolts, the top middle bolt snapped in the head as well (FML). Now it is leaking oil out the back of the valve cover.

Question is, how do I get those bolts that snapped out of the head?

Valet · May 2, 2012

I think there was a thread with this very problem.. or maybe it was a DIY... Check the painting valve cover one in the master list. I think that may have been and issue in there.

2000BlackCoupe · May 2, 2012

drill it out. but ive never had much luck with broken bolt extraction kits, im terrible with **** like that haha

Frisky Arab · May 2, 2012

cleansleeper said:
I think there was a thread with this very problem.. or maybe it was a DIY... Check the painting valve cover one in the master list. I think that may have been and issue in there.

Just checked it, doesn't say anything about snapped bolts.

Thought about getting a reversebit for my power drill and seeing if once the bit catches while spinning in reverse it could unscrew the threads. Then again it could also just drill right on through the bolt and cause even more problems.

Bax · May 2, 2012

Frisky Arab said:
Just checked it, doesn't say anything about snapped bolts.

Thought about getting a reversebit for my power drill and seeing if once the bit catches while spinning in reverse it could unscrew the threads. Then again it could also just drill right on through the bolt and cause even more problems.

My dad used one of those reverse bits when a bolt head broke off on the exhaust manifold on his truck. I haven't used one myself, though. So I'm not too much of help, I just wanted to mention that. :ugh2:

bucho44 · May 2, 2012

Just your luck today. I just finished doing this. I used 3/32 tap out drill bit to get a hole started. Then, tapped a reversible screw extractor with a hammer on it and drilled/unscrewed it out. Size of the extractor doesn't really matter as long as it bites in the pilot hole.

Russianred · May 3, 2012

^ Exactly the method. If you do it right - you should have no issues. It's all about how you start and get grip on the pilot hole, and how slowly you use torgue to extract the piece. If it slips, hole strips, gotta re-do it :eusa_doh:

Finicky process.

Read up in detail about bolt extraction on the internet - that should help.

bucho44 · May 3, 2012

Yes just don't drill too fast or mess it up because it gets scary when it comes to rethreading those bolt holes. The walls are pretty soft and there's not a lot of room to play if you have to use those Heli coils or upsize for new bolts.

GravitySucks · May 3, 2012

bucho44 said:
Just your luck today. I just finished doing this. I used 3/32 tap out drill bit to get a hole started. Then, tapped a reversible screw extractor with a hammer on it and drilled/unscrewed it out. Size of the extractor doesn't really matter as long as it bites in the pilot hole.

This. Its pretty easy to extract a bolt end, just have to be precise while doing it. Should be able to find an extractor kit with the taps pretty cheap.

Frisky Arab · May 5, 2012

Thanks for all the input guys. Had to order 2 new bolts online cuz nobody carries them anywhere, but when they get here I'll take all this information into consideration to fix the issue.

Always something with this car. No matter how many tools I buy, I never have the right tool for the next problem it's gonna give me...