Valve cover nut - how tight?

[w5yk]

I replaced one of the valve cover gaskets with a rubber one from Scott (cheapest thing I've purchased so far for the Pinz). That put an end to the spectacular pyrotechnics of oil burning off the exhaust.

The manual doesn't give spec for the torque on the nut. So how tight is it supposed to go? Two decimal places of Nm is fine. Or I'll settle for one of the following: Finger tight; tight-ish; nice and tight; tight as a badgers arsehole.

Which is it?

[Profpinz]

Or I'll settle for one of the following: Finger tight; tight-ish; nice and tight; tight as a badgers arsehole.

Well, as a mate of mine always says, "just make it ONE tight, not TOO tight"

I always tighten them up by feel, and I've never had any problems yet!

[Jim LaGuardia]

Around 10-12 ft lbs

[Thomas-E]

Richard

My favorite in defining an unknown torque setting was "Smokin' tight plus one more turn"
Probably not good for the gaskets.

I installed EI's gaskets and have had the covers off several times - NO LEAKS!':P'

Thomas E.
712M
Sonora, CA

[bernhard]

For really tight I always used

Tighten it till it becomes loose again then back it off a have turn.

[w5yk]

I must be the biggest klutz. You would think changing those gaskets would be a five-minute job, but I spent most of last night buggering it up.

I used some red spray-on sealant that advertised itself as being "high-tack". But it didn't really set up right, and allowed the gaskets to "ooze" out the side when I tightened down even lightly. I followed all the directions on the can to the letter. Light coat, let it get tacky etc etc.

So now that the red stuff is in the bin, can anyone suggest something really sticky, that I could get at Napa or Kragen or Autozone?

[bernhard]

This is what i used on the stock gaskets. PERMATEX INDIAN HEAD GASKET SHELLAC COMPOUND. I got it at Auto zone. Very sticky stuff.

[McCall Pinz]

I used the red spray-on stuff and one of the gaskets oozed out too. The stuff needs to be completely dry and you have to torque the covers down very carefully while feeling around the edge to make sure the gasket isn't getting squished unevenly.