Cam cover gaskets

[alan-primrose-etype]

A couple of questions for the more advanced chaps out there.

1 should I renew copper washers when replacing the cover gaskets.

2 should I use additional sealant with gaskets and if so which one,

3 do I need to torque down domed nuts and if so to what poundage.

Also any further advise to prevent oil seepage would be appreciated.

kind regards
Alan

[christopher storey]

Alan : I use a gasket sealant made in Germany , red in colour, name escapes me but Hutson's of Bradford stock it. I have found this to be the best I have encountered. It should not be necessary to use new copper washers provided they are not chewed up, bent, or unduly engraved with circular marks. However, I have found it is a definite advantage to use a smear of silcon sealant on each with a view to filling the annulus between the inner face of the washer and each stud . I have never managed to find a torque setting for the dome nuts. It is VERY important not to tighten them so much that they start to distort the cam cover , and to this end I use only a small 7/16 spanner with the heel of the hand applied along rather than across the spanner so that the torque applied is very limited

incidentally, after my recent engine rebuild I found that despite these measures I was still getting very significant exhaust side oil leaks. Eventually I traced these to the two very coarse thread screws which secure the rear cover plate on the left hand cam bank.It turns out that these go through into the oil gallery, and PTFE tape applied to them eliminated the leaks

[adam]

Hi
If you are going to reuse copper washers it be best to anneal them.Just heat them to cherry red and plunge into water ,now will be softened to reuse

[MarkE]

I?m very old fashioned when it comes to gasket goo, Alan, but we are talking about old fashioned engines!

I use Blue Hylomar on the bottom face of the gasket and a thin smear of grease on the top face, and this has always sealed the cam covers properly. I wouldn?t use silicon sealer on the gaskets as a tiny blob getting into the oilways can create havoc, and I?ve seen this happen with professionally built engines. A little bit on the washer / stud would be a pretty safe bet though.

I?ve used the blue Hylomar for 30 years or so no, but I must admit, I?ve never done an XK engine. Quite a few V12 Jags, which tend not to leak out of the top anyway, and lots of Lotus Twincams, which have the reputation of being oil gushers!

[PETE V]

Just to echo MarkE's note, I find blue Hylomar the best product for this type of assembly and have used it for 30+ years.
I think it was first developed for use in building Rolls Royce engines

Regards

[JEP41]

Hi Alan,

I do the same as Adam and anneal the washers then reusue.
For a sealant I use Wellseal it does a good job of sealing and is easy to remove, we use it on Industrial Turbines. Make sure the cam covers are flat with a straight edge before replacing and like Christopher says, don't overtighten a gentle twist of the wrist is all I use, but I do check them periodically as it is possible for the gasket to compress over time and the nuts to become loose.

[1954Etype]

Hi Alan,

I do the same as Adam and anneal the washers then reusue.
For a sealant I use Wellseal it does a good job of sealing and is easy to remove, we use it on Industrial Turbines. Make sure the cam covers are flat with a straight edge before replacing and like Christopher says, don't overtighten a gentle twist of the wrist is all I use, but I do check them periodically as it is possible for the gasket to compress over time and the nuts to become loose.

I'm surprised Peter C hasn't pitched in yet with his EvoStik solution for sealing copper washers yet!

[alan-primrose-etype]

thank you all chaps for your quick response,s
i think owning an e type with this kind of support
is very reassuring....

kind regards
Alan

[Nick]

15 ft-lb torque is quoted for the cam cover nuts in the Jaguar World Engine overhaul book by Jim Patten.

Nick

[Dave K]

Just to echo MarkE's note, I find blue Hylomar the best product for this type of assembly and have used it for 30+ years.
I think it was first developed for use in building Rolls Royce engines

Regards

Pete,

Your right Hylomar was developed for use on RR engines we use it on our RR Avons and RB211's.
Good stuff.

Dave

[on2wheels]

Hy lomar everyone!
Is that the stuff they make in a blue and red version?
Why do they do that?
What's the difference?

Nick.