5 quick operation and Maintenance Qs

5 quick operation and Maintenance Qs

I like how there is always information available from everyone here on this site. It really helps narrow things down.

BillGrissom said
When you pulled out the PCV did you feel for puffing out of gases at the valve cover hole? Strong "blow by" is an indicator of worn rings. It sounds like most of the oil loss is seepage from the valve cover and the spark plug tubes of your "drool head" engine. The rubber seals for the spark tubes are very cheap and available, so change those. When you remove the valve cover, make sure the surface is flat and no bulges from over-tightening the nuts. Hammer those flat. Those are common leaks. Read up on valve cover gaskets. Most like rubber, some cork, and I think some just use straight RTV "for a gasket". If you use the later, you will spend hours removing it next time you need to adjust the valves.

Nothing noticable coming out of the open hole where the pcv was removed during checking. The valve cover is definitly leaky. I now have oil on top of it, and all over the pcv hose that goes from the valve to the intake area. I am going to try and kick the vc into shape. I want to put the old one back on, and adjust everything flat. I moved the heater hoses out of the way to monitor it for now and try to figure out where oil likes to shoot out. It appears to mostly be coming out of the bolt holes under the bolt heads and washers, and the lower edge that is closest to the spark plugs, but the oil on top of the pcv hose I still dont understand. I've tried both rubber and cork. They yeilded the same result.

bad440 said
the tube seals should come with the valve cover gasket....

I've bought 3 gaskets, and none came with the seals. Parts stores I go to can't find the tube seals at all.

"Overheating on the freeway-do you have a hood-to-radiator bulkhead seal on it? "

No. There's nothing to seal the hood at all. The hood itself likes to "bounce" a little at speed, so it's pretty obvious air is picking up under it. What is a good remedy for this? Or do I just need to find the seal? was there one to begin with?