How often do you tighten your valve covers and how much?

[Lord Sparky]

I tightened mine about a 1/4 turn since the new gaskets.

 

[1969383S]

Every year and just a tickle with 1/4 in ratchet in palm!

 

[ch1ll]

I use a nut driver. Much better feel.

 

[1969383S]

I use a nut driver. Much better feel.

What Fell in your hand makes you happy! light pressure!

 

[junkyardhero]

i just run 'em on till my elbow clicks and all the rtv i betty crocker'd up on there squishes out

if i'm feelin' lazy i'll zap 'em with the 3/8" impact

 

[Professor Fate]

Cork, rubber or silicone/metal gaskets?
One engine I put the silicone/metal layered gaskets on about 4 years ago and haven't touched them since. Haven't leaked a drop.
Another engine with cork gaskets I snug up about once a year, beginning of the season with a 1/4 drive palm ratchet. Not tight, just snug. There is a in/lb torque listed for them, but can you honestly say you've ever seen someone use a torque wrench on valve covers?

 

[Bewy]

I use studs....with nyloc nuts. The nuts can be tightened with minimal force to stop leakage......& distorting the v/covers.....but will not come loose because they are not that tight.

 

[eekvonzipper]

I have Solid Lifters... So, All the time!

 

[413]

Yes they need tightened a few times with new gaskets. Then once every spring, and very little.

 

[harrisonm]

Pretty much every spring. I usually spend 4 or 5 days doing a very thorough detail job on it. That is a good time to do it. Like @1969383S said, I use a 1/4" ratchet and just snug them a bit.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I use a very vintage (late 40s early 50s) Snap On FAR70B. Some incorrectly call it an air ratchet, but it's not. It's a nut runner made for low torque, high speed assembly line work for such things as tin on engines. It only goes about 5-8 foot pounds, but it gets there in a HURRY. I had a close family friend who was a Snap On dealer just lay it in my hand one day and he said "don't say I never gave you anything" and I've been using the hound out of it ever since. He even gave me a new replacement head for it, which I've never needed to install. It still runs like a new one.

 

[Syleng1]

Rarely, do I tighten the valve covers. I’m just using fel-pro cork style you buy at Napa and a slight bit of RTV on the cover side only - just enough to hold it in place. If I smell a burning oil under the hood, then I check. Typically just an 1/8 turn will do it. If the covers are coming off for valve adjustments then I put new gaskets.

 

[Super-Cuda]

Its been my experience that most people overtighten the bolts for the steel valve covers, distorting the mounting rail.

I was watching Graveyard Cars one night and ole "cousin Douggie " had a great tip which I now use.

A little skim of gasket adhesive on the gasket and the valve cover , then, set the gasket into place in the valve cover and let it set up.

Then, a skim of adhesive on a properly cleaned cylinder head surface and install the cover with hand tightened bolts being careful not to squat the mounting rail.

Works for me.

 

[TrailBeast]

Silicone over steel Magnum gaskets with fabbed aluminum valve covers, so no retightening here.

 

[416stroker]

Factory Service Manual says 40 inch pounds. 1/4-20

 

[ProjectBazza]

Its been my experience that most people overtighten the bolts for the steel valve covers, distorting the mounting rail.

I was watching Graveyard Cars one night and ole "cousin Douggie " had a great tip which I now use.

A little skim of gasket adhesive on the gasket and the valve cover , then, set the gasket into place in the valve cover and let it set up.

Then, a skim of adhesive on a properly cleaned cylinder head surface and install the cover with hand tightened bolts being careful not to squat the mounting rail.

Works for me.

Pretty sure I saw the same episode, but for years now I've been applying RTV to just the gasket and the cover, and I leave the head surface "dry", in case I ever need to remove the cover later. It's worked well for me...

And to the OP; Yeah. Sometimes I have to give them a "slight twist" every now and then.

 

[LJ67barracuda340]

Mopar permanent silicone. I never have to touch them and no leaks. Ive had the covers off a few times to check things and the same gaskets are still being used. cost more but only once.

 

[Demonracer]

I'm with LJ67, I have the sandwich silicone gaskets and my covers are off and on frequently to check valve adjustment. I've had the same gaskets for over 10 years.