[Vwdiesel] cam cover strips ... leak cures

[The President]

Here is a cure for those repetitive valve cover oil leaks...

It was several years before I discovered this and stopped that compulsion to 
'nip up' those 10mm nuts just a little more after each tinker with the valve 
shims etc. This may be common knowledge but no mechanic ever suggested this 
to me and all I met just advised a new soft cork gasket. (the introduction 
of the all in one rubber gasket helped somewhat).
If you look at the picture you will see an upside down valve cover. Notice 
the ridge where the stud hole is. It looks like a mountain; but in reality 
is only a few mm from its peak to the trough between holes but my camera 
compressed the perspective. When the gasket has aged and hardened/compressed 
the overtightening means the nuts bottom out before sufficient pressure is 
applied to the bulk of the gasket. After I was quoted £50 [$ 100] for a 
cover from the stealership back in the early 90's which I wasn't prepared to 
pay when it was a $400 car
Research told me all this needed was plannishing back the other way using a 
piece of girder as a makeshift anvil I may even take it beyond flat 
slightly....

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1064/imgp2967valvecoverdistortioncr.jpg

Mark


>From: Sandy Cameron <scameron at compmore.net>
>To: vwdiesel at audifans.com
>Subject: [Vwdiesel] cam cover strips
>Date: Tue, 01 Aug 2006 16:41:15 -0400
>
>I am replacing the gasket under the cam cover. This engine has been opened
>several times (head gasket, other stuff)
>
>Which way should the strips be installed.
>
>One end has a longer point than the other. Which one points to the cam 
>sprocket?
>
>The strips are bowed, should they be installed with the bow up or down in
>the middle?
>
>Does it really matter?
>
>Sandy
>
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