ejj

iTrader: (5)

So when I replaced my alternator I noticed that there was oil all over the front of the block (left side of the engine) and down to the alternator and AC compressor.

I quickly traced the leak to the corner of the valve cover (the very front left of the engine if you're looking at it). No biggie I thought. I'll just take the valve cover off and replace the gasket/rtv.

Last night before heading out I decided to make sure that it wasn't just a loose valve cover bolt, so I tightened. To my suprise it turned quite easily...that would explain the problem, or so I thought. Well, it wasn't getting any thighter. Pully my socket off the bolt to see what's going on, and sure enough half of the valve cover bolt came up with the socket.

So now I have to take the valve cover off this weekend and EZ-out the rest of that bolt. That should be fun!

What would cause the bolt to break? They were correctly tightened (sequence and torque), so I dunno.

What a PITA.

1MAX2NV

iTrader: (5)

That corner is prone to leak. You just need to use some grey color gasket material to seal it. You might want to run a bead all along the cam area on that side of the valve cover. The bolt is just fatigue due to use.

ejj

iTrader: (5)

It was sealed with grey RTV...I don't think that's why its leaking, its the snapped bolt that's causing it.

Fatigue due to use? What do you mean? This bolt had been removed and re-installed once.

1MAX2NV

iTrader: (5)

what kind of grey RTV? I usually use Prematax grey gasket sealant. I don't know how you snapped one because those bolts are pretty beefy. You can torque it 3X the spec and they will still hold.

ejj

iTrader: (5)

Same here, Prematex (sp?).

It didn't snap when I was installing it or anything...its like it snapped under load, but I can't imagine what load the valve cover bolts would see.

95CustomMaxima

iTrader: (5)

How do you go about getting out the snapped bolt? I have the same problem and need to get it out.
-Nick

ejj

iTrader: (5)

Buy an EZ-out or some other bolt extractor.

SamMan23

Do you have to use a drill to ezout? Would that put shavings into your oil? That could be bad.

ejj

iTrader: (5)

Yes you have to drill. I can leave the valve cover and gasket on when I do this though. That should keep _most_ of the shavings out of the head. I'll clean it out well after I get the valve cover off too.

matty

iTrader: (54)

yea...go to Sears and get the right size Easy Out and the Right Size BIT, Very Important.
Drill the EXACT center of the broken bolt into the bolt very little...take the easy out by hand and slowly thread that into the hole...carefull not to break the easy out cause then your fu**ed...(the threads on the easy out are backwards so there would be no way to fix it) should pop out

I freaked when I did my VI insallation...I broke one and thaught I was soo dead

-matt

95CustomMaxima

iTrader: (5)

How much is the easy out?

Thanks,
-Nick

matty

iTrader: (54)

Under $5....get the easy out first, then read on the back what size bit you need. Buy the bit for metal only

Stephen Max

iTrader: (59)

Sears also sells extractor bits that are considerably better than Easy-Outs (in my opinion). They work like Easy-Outs, but they don't break as easily.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00952817000


Every home mechanic should have a set of these.

matty

iTrader: (54)

Very good tools, but they are expensive...easy outs work very well, AS LONG AS YOU USE YOUR HANDS WITH THE EASY OUT AND NOT A DRILL...Put it in slow, turn it and it will come out very easy, less then 5$

-matt

ejj

iTrader: (5)

I bought a set of like 5 EZouts with matching drill bits a while back for like $20...haven't failed me yet!