Rather bad oil leak...the cause? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

FoMoCo4eva · 12-05-2004, 19:09

ok..well the other week I painted my rocker cover and changed the gasket aswell to a new rubber one from ford.

It had a slight leak from the "half moon" rubber thing at the front, but the rubber gasket has fixed that.

But when I was putting the cover back on I think I over tightened the first head bolt and I heard a snap noise.

Now I figure this isn't good. And now it is leaking oil from the top right and corner of the head.

What do I do? Is it a DIY job or one for the pro's? To say im pissed off is an understatment. And yes I know plan on buying a torque wrench...lol

Thing is I painted my cover on my old EA and never had an issue with it. Ah! Anyone know what I should do?

Dellboy999 · 12-05-2004, 19:22

well sounds like the thread snapped inside so cant do up tight anymore, take the cover off and inspect the damage, you may be able to recover and be very careful bolting it back up, or you will have to work out a way to tap and thread a hole for the stud.

Just my thoughts

psycho chicken · 12-05-2004, 22:58

hah, I did the same thing. By head bolt I assume you mean rocker cover bolt? I don't know what you'd be doing playing with the head bolts?

That snap was most likely the rocker pedestal breaking into pieces. The solution; a new one (you can seperate it from the rocker gear, just make sure it's identical). That or leave it, I drove around for months with mine broken and the bolt was holding just fine.

And get some EF/EL rocker cover bolts. You can't over tighten them, I guess they fit the ED rocker cover.

Brent-EA Ghia · 12-06-2004, 02:16

Ive had the "CracK" noise many times when tightening the rocker covers, each time it happens it scares the crap out of me as i think ive broken something, you'll probrably find its the rocker cover (or washers) grabbing on the thread on the studs. then again you could have broken something!!

Brent.

EASPRINT · 12-06-2004, 02:28

often the rocker covers will crack if they r over tightened. If u take it off u can see a crack underneath.

InitialD · 12-06-2004, 04:28

Yea thats happened to me with the rocker cover bolts soooo many times, Dont know why you would have touched the head bolts without a Torque Wrench

FoMoCo4eva · 12-06-2004, 20:22

ok im a bit puzzled..i thought the "head bolts" where those 4 big ones that hold the rocker cover down...lol

so for those people that have heard the crack...did yours leak oil as well?

Dellboy999 · 12-06-2004, 20:32

head bolts hold the head to the block and big, long, thick bolts, the 4 on top are rocker cover bolts :0)

FoMoCo4eva · 12-06-2004, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dellboy999

head bolts hold the head to the block and big, long, thick bolts, the 4 on top are rocker cover bolts :0)

lol...well i feel like a tool now.

So what should I do guys? Is it "normal" to have an oil leak after hearing that "crack"?

I hope my cover is ok..It looks so good right now and took me ages..ah!

Im not at home at the moment..but what should I be looking for. And also if something is dead..is there anything better I can replace it with

Thanks guys

John_xr6 · 12-06-2004, 20:55

it shouldnt make it leak from the side even though it made that crack sound, if anything the rocker cover may be warped causing it to not seal properly. to try and fix it pull it off again see if any of the rocker post are cracked, if not put it back on but run a bead of three bond underneath the gasket to try and take up any gaps. when i changed mine i got no leaks and only put some of that stuff around the half moons. also if the rockercover is cracked, and it is common on EA-ED then just replace it.