Motor oil leaking from bolts

[chato de shamrock]

1995 S14 KA. I noticed small amounts of oil coming out of the center bolt (circled in red) a few weeks ago and just recently noticed it started leaking a bit from the front-center bolt (circled in yellow) as well. I tried tightening them but they're as tight as they can get. I loosened the center bolt and noticed the motor oil began to seep out, so i tightened it back up. In the picture you can see the oil build up.
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb21/ZroKool1/XsZenki/Copyofmy240headcam.jpg

I've been looking around to how I can fix this and found a few solutions, but i'm posting to hopefully get the correct way to fix this leak. I was told at an auto shop (not sure if ill get in trouble with the moderators so i wont give store names) that the valve cover gaskets might need replacing. I was also told elsewhere that I can use a bit of silicon gasket maker around the bolt's threads, but wont that give me problems in the future if i try to remove the bolt? Another auto shop suggested i buy a tool kit that re-threads the bolt's threads and the threads in the valve cover, and this should eliminate the oil leak. Are any of these the correct way to stop this leak? I don't want to do some half assed job that'll stop the leak but give me problems in the future.

Thanks for your time and thanks for your feedback.

[HAWAII]

I will remove the cover, clean the gaskets with razor blade and use a hi temp gasket maker. Put them back together and tighten. =)

[zenki.life]

i dont think the gasket would have much to do with it. if you take it apart you can clearly see the purpose of THAT gasket is to keep oil and gas from leaking out the sides. not the top. you could try some high temp RTV around the top bolts.... but it may be best to research some more.

[chato de shamrock]

i dont think the gasket would have much to do with it. if you take it apart you can clearly see the purpose of THAT gasket is to keep oil and gas from leaking out the sides. not the top. you could try some high temp RTV around the top bolts.... but it may be best to research some more.

I got the blue RTV tube but im hesitant to apply it on the threads of the bolt cause what if I need to remove the bolt in the future. It's going to be a pain cleaning off the silicon from the threads so I can reuse the bolt.

[zenki.life]

I got the blue RTV tube but im hesitant to apply it on the threads of the bolt cause what if I need to remove the bolt in the future. It's going to be a pain cleaning off the silicon from the threads so I can reuse the bolt.

1. never reuse bolts if you dont have to.
2. you might want the orange RTV (high temp) as it is used for exhaust gas.

i may be mixed up about that last one..... is blue temp rated better than the orange stuff?? cuz im using the orange high temp for my exhaust leak lol

[zenki.life]

oh and dont put it on the bolt thread. just put it on the underside of the bolt heads. its a gasket not loctight. lol

[jza240sx]

take them off.. clean off the oil and whatever else is on it..buy high temp RTV aka gasket maker i use the copper one for these kinds of application..apply it on the threads, put it back on and your good :D

good luck

[idlafie]

Replace BOTH your valve cover gasketS. Since you have to pull of the valve cover off anyway, you might as well replace them both.

Click here to get an idea as to what the part looks like & how much it costs:

GASKET-ROCKER COVER - 240SX (S14) 1995-1998 :: Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com (http://www.courtesyparts.com/13270n-gasket-rocker-cover-240sx-s14-1995-1998-p-138858.html)

GASKET-ROCKER COVER - 240SX (S14) 1995-1998 :: Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com (http://www.courtesyparts.com/13270-gasket-rocker-cover-240sx-s14-1995-1998-p-138857.html)

This is the easiest & hassle-free way to solve your leaking problems. Don't bother wasting your time trying to use the gasket sealer. The stock gaskets should seal up the leak.

Anyhow, hope this helps...

ID

[project-D180]

and use the rightstuff its waay better n dry faster than the color rtv..!!!

[chato de shamrock]

I was going to take it to a relative's mechanic that would do it for cheap but the dude moved away and we havent been able to get a hold of him so fuck it, I did some research online for the last two weeks and am going to do this myself. I got the gaskets off Kragen for $18 and the copper colored silicon gasket maker to seal up some areas. Got a few more questions though:

Will the bolts have to be replaced? Been to Kragen, Autozone, Pep Boys and they go according to what their computers say. If it says nothing about replacing the rocker cover bolts, they say no.

Also, when cleaning oil residue off the rocker cover with a blade and engine degreaser, will any engine degreaser do the trick or should I stick with a specific one? I've seen videos where they recommend you clean off the oil from inside and outside the rocker cover as well as the sides with degreaser and then hose down. Is this (cleaning the inside) safe? My worry is degreaser residue accidently be left inside the rocker cover and then possibly mix in with the motor oil for some bad results. Is there a specific degreaser used for this type of job or will any store name brand do the trick? Any you guys recommend?

Lastly, removing the rocket cover. Do I need a special tool for this? Instructions on the manuals ive downloaded and a book I bought show them use a tool to sort of pry open the rocker cover cause they say screwdrivers are a no no. Is this tool a must cause I dont own any such thing?

Thanks in advance guys.

[Sileighty_85]

Step 1 Remove Valve cover bolts (KEEP THEM/REUSE) they are special
Step 2 remove old rubber VC seal
Step 3 clean old RTV off of half moons (what ever it called)
Step 4 clean contact area of seal with a rag and carb cleaner to remove oil residue
Step 5 install Seal on VC
Step 6 apply a bead of RTV to the 4 half moon areas on head
Step 7 install VC and verifiy seal is correctly positioned
Step 8 install and tighten VC bolts

Its not rocket science

For more info go here download it and read it
Manuals > USDM Cars > 1991-1994 240SX (KA24DE) - Nissan 240SX Performance Tuning (http://www.240edge.com/manuals/s13-ka24de.html)

The parts that Idlafie posted are what needs to be replaced

[chato de shamrock]

Done and done.

I had the manuals downloaded already and used them for reference, but thanks for the link. I'm learning as I go along so I might ask some retarded questions, but thanks for your patience fellas. Took me about 5 hours to take off, clean the rocker cover real good and fix everything back together but no more leaks since Saturday which included a few freeway drives.

[yukon]

why are you replacing the gasket if the only the bolt is leaking? those bolts only need around 5 lbs of torque so dont overtighten them because they are screwing into aluminum.

[yukon]

1. never reuse bolts if you dont have to.
2. you might want the orange RTV (high temp) as it is used for exhaust gas.

i may be mixed up about that last one..... is blue temp rated better than the orange stuff?? cuz im using the orange high temp for my exhaust leak lol


What part of the exhaust system are you using the orange rtv on? i guess it is cool as you get closer to the muffler end. the beginning of the exhaust system would burn it.

[chato de shamrock]

why are you replacing the gasket if the only the bolt is leaking? those bolts only need around 5 lbs of torque so dont overtighten them because they are screwing into aluminum.

If its not the center gasket thats bad or not placed correctly, then what other reasons can cause leaks on the center bolts? $18 at autozone so i replaced them. So far it hasnt leaked or even gather around the bolt. I think i mentioned that the first thing I did was check to see if they were properly tightened and they were. I loosened them just a tad and the oil seeped out a bit more. The engine mechanical section on the manual (P.23) indicated they be tightened 9 to 11 ft. -lb. so I went by that. Did about 10 ft.-lb.

[yukon]

If its not the center gasket thats bad or not placed correctly, then what other reasons can cause leaks on the center bolts? $18 at autozone so i replaced them. So far it hasnt leaked or even gather around the bolt. I think i mentioned that the first thing I did was check to see if they were properly tightened and they were. I loosened them just a tad and the oil seeped out a bit more. The engine mechanical section on the manual (P.23) indicated they be tightened 9 to 11 ft. -lb. so I went by that. Did about 10 ft.-lb.

ok, my mistake. didnt realize the center gasket sealed those two bolts.

http://www.nicoclub.com/articles/images/timing-14.jpg