leaking oil

nsjames · Dec 28, 2010

I have a couple torque wrenches.
a cheap HF one that goes in the trail box, it's accurate to maybe 15% of the reading

a lowes husky one, it was like 90 bucks, it's good to about 5%.

and a cheapy beam one I use for lugnuts, accurate to however well you can read it.

JDM_Rook · Dec 29, 2010

So after i painstakingly installed the new grommets on the valve cover bolts, I place the valve cover down through the spark plug tube and begin to tighten down the bolts first by hand. I noticed the longer bolt on the back closest to the timing cover isn't going in well. It was hard enough to find the hole by feeling around, but once i started i noticed it was a lot of resistance then very easy..... repeating. So I knew something was up. Pulled the bolt back up and noticed shaving on the bolt. I think this might have been faulty to begin with since i had such a bad leak. So now I need to have a new helicoil put in. I have never done that before. Do i need to dissassemble the head and take it off to send to a machine shop to be fixed? Just want to get it done and over with.

Hope these pictures help some....lost my decent camera and relying on a backup.

The Problem:

And the good one on the Front

JDM_Rook · Dec 30, 2010

HondaLuver83 · Dec 30, 2010

You stripped the threads in the head. Whenever your using a steel screw or bolt to something soft like aluminum u gotta make sure u thread the bolt by hand first and put. If any bolt gets tight right away u have not properly alighned the threads. Youre gonna need someone that know what theyre doing to tap the holes out again and replace the bolts with bigger ones. I wouldnt attempt anything else just to cause more damage.

nsjames · Dec 30, 2010

helicoils are not hard. If you can run a hand drill straight and use a tap then you can helicoil that.

Just make sure to use some tapping lubricant as to not gall the tap in the aluminum.

Otherwise yes, you're taking the head off, but I would just do it in the dirveway on the car, we're talking about a valvecover bolt here.

Head to the local fastenal or what not, get the proper sized helicoil, bit, and tap. You'll need the installation tool as well. Drill hole, tap it, install helicoil with locktite and you're on your way.

It might be cheaper to take it to a machine shop as the tool and such is a bit costly, but it's also a PITA to take the head off, your call.

JDM_Rook · Dec 30, 2010

I called a local auto service shop and they said they can take care of it. So, hopefully everything turns out like it should. I am hoping this is the last major problem for a long time....I have a feeling the threads were f****d to begin with due to the fact that there was a lot of oil leaking in that area. I noticed all but that bolt made that "snap" breaking noise when loosened.