Leaking camshaft covers

[265bhp]

Evening all

I have a gentle persistent oil leak which eminates from the covers…..apart from wellseal on the gaskets is there any other method of sealing that you chaps utilise please
i am reticent to tighten the nuts further as they are already nipped enough I think

Many thanks
Jonathan

[Gfhug]

Jonathon, from the joint to the head or from the hood down nuts? If from the nuts I’ve used Dowty washers to good effect.

Geoff

[265bhp]

Hi Geoff
I think its more the seal/joint between camshaft cover to cylinder head

[Gfhug]

From reading on the forum that seems to be notorious for the early cam covers and wasn’t it one reason for going to the later, ribbed covers as they are stiffer? I’ve read of people having their covers skimmed flat, but that requires the head to be perfect, too. Could putting a second gasket with wellseal or aerospace grade blue hylomar between them as well as to the faces help? Note aerospace grade not the other hylomar.

Good luck

Geoff

[265bhp]

Hi
Well…worth a try…let’s see if anyone else chips in…otherwise that’s a phone call to Barratt’s in the morning..!…:)

[mgcjag]

Check the flatness of the covers with a straight edge.....you can use a sheet of plate glass which will be flat....with grit paper to flat them......iv always had good success with wellseal but applied to head and cover and both sides of the gasket. ......very popular on JL is the thicker cometic gaskets, but i havent tried them......Steve

[bitsobrits]

I've become a big fan of Cometic valve covers (use them on my E and Elan) because they simply work, and are reusable indefinitely with reasonable care. No need for any additional gasket sealant either. On the E type, just a small smidge of silicone at the rear where the gasket meets the 'D' plugs or tach generator.

The normal caveats about starting with a clean, true surface do apply.

[RICHOT]

I've had this trouble (leaking rocker covers) with my E type and my two XK120s (which had the 'studless' cam covers).
I resolved this by getting a sheet of cork composite and making my own gaskets and sealing them on with Hylomar.
Never had a leak since.
You do initially have to retighten the nuts a few times after driving.

Worth a try?

Richard

[265bhp]

Thanks guys…SNG are out of stock for the Cometic type with no know delivery date..I have a couple of spare sets of the typical ones so I might try doubling up the gasket with wellseal and try it

[Gfhug]

Jonathon, have you tried direct to Cometic themselves? Or talking to Martin Robey, Rob Beere, etc? Maybe they could help

Good luck

Geoff

[mgcjag]

I cant really see doubleing up a standard gasket actually doing anything......if they were soft then yes but you cant tighten the covers tight to form the gasket into a shape to make up for non flat surfaces or you could crack the covers.....thats why the cometic work i think......real answer is flat surfaces....Steve

[politeperson]

I use black Winns gasket silicone and I get no leaks.
First I check oil flow to the cams and valve clearances, because once this is on, it takes extra effort to remove the covers!.
I glue in the half moon seals.
I glue the gasket to the head, using a light amount of silicone and I squash it all flat with my finger so it doesnt squish out.
I then let it half go off over 20 minutes.
I use a smear on the covers and fit them.
I then use a dab on each valve cover thread and I drop new copper washers on.
I then add the dome nuts observing whether they tighten the washer or bottom out. They only want tightening a bit more than hand tight.
I then wipe off the excess silicone with rag and leave it over night.
I then run it up to temperature and check each thread for leaks, adding additional copper washers if I think a dome is bottoming out.
Works for me, done it over 20 times!

[265bhp]

Hi guys

I used one gasket in the end as the cam covers were virtually flat….and I need to use the car on Friday…let’s see what wellseal on all sides does and I will report back

If it still fails then I may try the black winns gasket method….!

Let’s see….