rocker cover gasket

[johns3]

hi folks, think my rocker cover gasket is leaking oil. Providing i keep the oil topped up as a temporary measure whats the worst that can happen? its a slow drip ive noticed not exactly a flood. can it still be driven or is it a bit of a gamble?

[SotonS2]

I got a couple from Halfords a while ago. Cheap as chips and only a 10 minute job (or 20 if on the alternator side).

As long as the oil level is OK then I can't foresee any problems apart from a cack looking engine and drips on your driveway.

[Wildfire]

If it get on the exhaust manifold it can smell.

[bugsy]

One word of advice, If you buy gaskets try and get the ones with glue on the back, it makes the job a lot easier.
And one other warning, when you take the alternator off, look carefully at where the spacers were, otherwise it can be a pain.

[johns3]

cheers for the help guys. Would you reccommend buying the ford genuine part gaskets or 2nd source them from halfors or a motor factors. If they are so cheap i might as well go for ford i would think?

[bugsy]

johns3 said:

cheers for the help guys. Would you reccommend buying the ford genuine part gaskets or 2nd source them from halfors or a motor factors. If they are so cheap i might as well go for ford i would think?

I don't think the Ford ones are sticky backed, I'd try the motor factors.

[jons_s3]

FAI ones are sticky backed (part no. RC435S). £7.43 for the pair from Camberley Auto Factors. I changed mine recently, but found that they didn't stick too well, despite giving the surfaces a good wipe down (they're a bit tricky to manipulate and tend to brush on the oily rockers during fitting). Used some gasket sealant with them and haven't had any leakage problems.

>> Edited by jons_s3 on Tuesday 19th April 17:04

[Wildfire]

If you can avoid gasket sealant on the cork type gaskets. Generally they are cork so that you can compress them for a good seal. Can't remember if they are cork style or not, but gasket sealant is pretty horrendous stuff. Especially when you have to remove it.

[tvrgit]

Cheap ones ie Halfords) are just cork - if you overtighten them, they split and squish out and then they leak - badly. Nothing wrong with them though as long as you tighten them just enough to compress them without squishing them out. Halfords ones are also sticky backed, but aren't _quite_ the right shape so have to be stretched a little bit before sticking them on.

If you put gasket sealer on the cheap ones, it lubricates them slightly and makes it more likely that they'll squish out.

Ford ones have little metal pins as spacers so you can't squash them too much - the cork compresses down to the level of the metal and that's it. They also fit the shape of the rocker cover a bit better.

So I would say use any gasket that fits, don't use sealer, and don't overtighten it. Job's a good 'un.

I have realised while writing this post, how sad it is that I know this stuff - I mean a treatise on cork gaskets, jees...

[lwt]

While you have the covers off, it's worth checking that they are flat. They distort easily if someone just kept tightening the bolts to try and cure a leak, and then you'll never keep it dry. Use a straight edge or a bit of glass to check. To straighten, use one of those rubber hammer things to tap the flange around each hole back level with the rest of the edge. I did this plus dry-fitted Ford gaskets and no leaks for 3 years+.

Ian.