Installing valve cover gaskets

[Danb]

Recently got a leak which seemed huge, after washing down engine it apparently was a valve cover gasket which I tightened but it didn’t help. Any pointers on replacing the gaskets engine TSIO 550 G

Thanks Dan

[Fly Boomer]

43 minutes ago, Danb said:

valve cover gasket which I tightened but it didn’t help

http://www.tcmlink.com/pdf2/SIL21-04B.pdf

 

[Danb]

Thank you

D

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, Danb said:

Recently got a leak which seemed huge, after washing down engine it apparently was a valve cover gasket which I tightened but it didn’t help. Any pointers on replacing the gaskets engine TSIO 550 G

Thanks Dan

Buy the Real Gasket brand - they are better and a lot less expensive.

https://realgaskets.com/product-category/aviation/aviation-opposed/continental/page/2/

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/eppages/siliconecalvecover_08-01319.php

[mike_elliott]

Don't over tighten the rocker cover screws, and make sure you use new star lock washers to keep them doing their job. I wouldn't suggest going against The guidance of not using loctite. Did I mention I never had a screw come loose that had loctite on it?

[PT20J]

@Gee Bee Aeroproducts Guy makes silicone gaskets with a reinforcing  layer sandwiched in between that stabilizes the silicone so that it doesn’t squish around so much when tightened. They have worked great on my IO-360. 

[M20F]

On 5/22/2024 at 8:23 PM, mike_elliott said:

Don't over tighten the rocker cover screws

What setting on the air hammer do you recommend?  

[MB65E]

4 hours ago, M20F said:

What setting on the air hammer do you recommend?  

Sure seems that way.
Many are over torqued.

26in lbs on silicone.

50in lbs on cork. 

-Matt

[Gee Bee Aeroproducts]

Install dry

silicone with fiberglass 

25/27 Inch pounds 

 

the reinforced material cost five times more than non .

ams3320.093

[Ali]

On 5/23/2024 at 4:20 AM, Danb said:

Recently got a leak which seemed huge, after washing down engine it apparently was a valve cover gasket which I tightened but it didn’t help. Any pointers on replacing the gaskets engine TSIO 550 G

Thanks Dan

Hello,

Here's a brief guide to replacing the valve cover gasket on a TSIO-550-G engine:

1. Safety First:

   • Disconnect the battery.
   • Ensure the engine is cool before starting.

2. Remove Components:

   • Remove any components obstructing access to the valve cover (air filter, hoses, etc.).

3. Remove Valve Cover:

   • Unscrew the bolts holding the valve cover in place.
   • Carefully remove the valve cover to avoid damaging the gasket surface.

4. Clean Surfaces:

   • Clean the valve cover and the engine surface where the gasket sits, removing old gasket material and oil residue.

5. Install New Gasket:

   • Place the new gasket onto the valve cover or the engine, ensuring it is properly aligned.

6. Reinstall Valve Cover:

   • Position the valve cover back onto the engine.
   • Tighten the bolts in a crisscross pattern to the manufacturer’s torque specifications

I hope this will help you,

Thank you

[Pinecone]

Any ideas of why it would still leak?

Tried 5 gaskets, both standard and silicone.  Sanded the rocker cover to make sure the mating surface is flat.  Swapped covers.  Chased threads to make sure the bolt was going in fully.

Still leaks.

[Danb]

2 hours ago, Ali said:

Hello,

Here's a brief guide to replacing the valve cover gasket on a TSIO-550-G engine:

1. Safety First:

   • Disconnect the battery.
   • Ensure the engine is cool before starting.

2. Remove Components:

   • Remove any components obstructing access to the valve cover (air filter, hoses, etc.).

3. Remove Valve Cover:

   • Unscrew the bolts holding the valve cover in place.
   • Carefully remove the valve cover to avoid damaging the gasket surface.

4. Clean Surfaces:

   • Clean the valve cover and the engine surface where the gasket sits, removing old gasket material and oil residue.

5. Install New Gasket:

   • Place the new gasket onto the valve cover or the engine, ensuring it is properly aligned.

6. Reinstall Valve Cover:

   • Position the valve cover back onto the engine.
   • Tighten the bolts in a crisscross pattern to the manufacturer’s torque specifications

I hope this will help you,

Thank you

Thanks Ali I basically did as you suggested, after installing I ran it up retorqued per instructions ran it up no leak, let it cool overnight checked torque ran it etc.  No leak yet, waiting for Biden to leave then fly and recheck.

D

[Danb]

1 hour ago, Pinecone said:

Any ideas of why it would still leak?

Tried 5 gaskets, both standard and silicone.  Sanded the rocker cover to make sure the mating surface is flat.  Swapped covers.  Chased threads to make sure the bolt was going in fully.

Still leaks.

T, I’m sure you did but make sure covers are flat and not bent even a tiny bit, now my leak covered an immense amount of area. I used realgasket if it didn’t work Id try Guys or cork, good luck, I guess your ready to play with the new rocking panel

D

 

[Pinecone]

A&P sanded the cover flat.  Then swapped the cover with another one on the engine and the leak stayed on the same cylinder.

Current gasket is a Guy's

[MikeOH]

Long shot, but any chance there's a hairline crack on the mating surface of the casting?  Clean and examine with an eye lupe?

[Pinecone]

6 hours ago, MikeOH said:

Long shot, but any chance there's a hairline crack on the mating surface of the casting?  Clean and examine with an eye lupe?

That is what I am afraid of. 

 

[Mark89114]

I think they are just super duper fussy for some reason....hardly a real answer.  

Mine leak sometimes, using the real gasket brand, following the instructions, etc.  Sometimes they leak and sometimes they don't.  The ones that leak, I just tighten up the screws a bit and revisit, if that doesn't work, remove and clean them.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  I haven't found any rhyme or reason.  Mine have been trouble free the last year or so but this posting will probably cause them to start leaking again. 

   

[Gee Bee Aeroproducts]

On 6/7/2024 at 9:09 AM, Mark89114 said:

I think they are just super duper fussy for some reason....hardly a real answer.  

Mine leak sometimes, using the real gasket brand, following the instructions, etc.  Sometimes they leak and sometimes they don't.  The ones that leak, I just tighten up the screws a bit and revisit, if that doesn't work, remove and clean them.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  I haven't found any rhyme or reason.  Mine have been trouble free the last year or so but this posting will probably cause them to start leaking again. 

   

No fiberglass, prone to sponge

faa/ pma allows leaks 

[PT20J]

1 hour ago, Gee Bee Aeroproducts said:

No fiberglass, prone to sponge

faa/ pma allows leaks 

I had to replace a Lycoming valve cover that had a pinhole leak so I went ahead and replaced all the gaskets with yours and they work great. 

[Gee Bee Aeroproducts]

AMS3320

we stock several colors and three different thickness 

 

For fuel / oil

AMS3325 Flurosilicone 

We base our products on quality, not cost

Edited July 18, 2024 by Gee Bee Aeroproducts

[JimK]

Someone said that the silicone gaskets sometimes leak and other times they don’t.  I have found that the key is cleanliness.  I have even reused them and they work fine.  Make sure the mating surfaces on the valve cover and head plus both surfaces of the gasket are completely free of oil film and then install dry and torque to 20 in-lbs (retorque during every annual).  if you get a leak or one develops later, don’t just retorque because that very slippery gasket sitting on an oil film just promotes gasket migration and leaks.  Disassemble, clean all surfaces and reassemble.  You’ll be happy with the results.

[MikeOH]

@JimK is correct.  My covers had leaks until I cleaned both surfaces of ALL oil.  I used @Gee Bee Aeroproducts gaskets.  Use a torque wrench as 20 in-lbs is way less than you think!  Finally, there is a torque sequence; I followed that pattern, as well.

No leaks since.

[Fly Boomer]

10 hours ago, JimK said:

Someone said that the silicone gaskets sometimes leak and other times they don’t.

If you have tried everything else, I have had some good results with this Permatex spray.  Spray both sides of the gasket and, as it begins to dry, stick it to the valve cover.  Sticks like glue.  Don't over-torque.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/high-tack/permatex-high-tack-rtv-silicone-sealant/pern/80065

[larryb]

For silicon my shop recommended medium loctite on the screws. I tighten around twice. First to 10 in-lb and then 15 in-lb on the second pass. If you keep going around and around with a setting of 25 in-lb you don't really get there because the gasket keeps compressing more and more until it is crushed. The light torque required for silicon is not tight enough to keep it from vibrating out without the loctite.

[DCarlton]

1 hour ago, larryb said:

For silicon my shop recommended medium loctite on the screws. I tighten around twice. First to 10 in-lb and then 15 in-lb on the second pass. If you keep going around and around with a setting of 25 in-lb you don't really get there because the gasket keeps compressing more and more until it is crushed. The light torque required for silicon is not tight enough to keep it from vibrating out without the loctite.

A bit of a tangent.  What type of torque wrench do the pros prefer for these smaller torque values?  I bought a little beam style torque wrench years ago to do some work on my car but it's not the greatest.  My other better torque wrenches start at 120 in-lbs.