Valve Cover Gasket for the XFlow

[DavidL]

Hi all,

I finally got around to adjusting the valves on my 1990 Caterham with the 1700 Super Sprint XFlow. I installed a new valve cover gasket, but it started leaking near the carbs because it didn't seat quite right. My mistake may have been using hylomar as a sealant, which might have made it more easily slip. What d other do here.... install dry, or use a sealant? Any advice would be welcome.

 

Thanks, David L., California

[Kitcat]

Dont know but my garage replaced my X-flow's cork valve gasket recently as it was leaking fumes. But the new cork one does the same thing. So maybe I need a better sealant also?

[locost7018]

Oh, you mean xflow valve covers aren't suppose to leak? I thought it was a design element to keep the block from rusting on the outside. Russ

[MHKflyer52]

The leaking valve cover gasket insures you keep your oil topped up and changed on a regular basis plus that is how your car marks it's territory as all British cars are required to....:jester:....

[Kitcat]

Kinda embarrassing to be sitting at a traffic light, lookin so cool in my awesome car and then tendrils of smoke start wafting out of the engine bay. I agree tho, it seems to be part of the whole X-Flow experience.

[DavidL]

How did I know it was leaking? More smoke than usual out the hood louvres, and a few drips in the driveway. This is my first British car that does not normally leak!

 

---David

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

http://usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6334

[jlumba81]

Just curious, do you have to use the paper gasket? Can't you just run a bead of silicon/rtv instead? Also most auto part stores sell gasket material and you cut it to fit your needs.

[Dave W]

My old MG had a cork valve cover gasket with the same problem. I found an after market rubber gasket for the cover and was able to use the same gasket over and over between valve adjustments. The other thing is to make sure the valve cover sealing surface to straight and is not bent from over tightening.

Dave W

[DavidL]

Thanks for the link to the previous thread Dingo, the King mod sounds useful. I did look around the web for a neoprene gasket, but didn't find one for this engine (but did for MG, chevy, and airplane engines!). My first attempt will be to retry cork without sealant.

 

Thanks, -David

[Ian7]

When we build Kent's for our Formula Fords, we use "finger blocks" under the four bolts that hold the rocker cover on, effectively giving 8 point loads instead of four, with smaller gaps between the pressure points.

Standard parts available from places like BAT, Pegasus, etc

[bball7754]

Ian - Think you're referring to these?

 

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=3544

 

They do carry a gasket for the cast covers.

 

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=3543

 

Steve

[Ian7]

Ian - Think you're referring to these?

 

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=3544

 

Steve

 

exactly ! :-)

[TheDingo8MyBaby]

Does your supersprint have the stamped metal or is it cast? I assumed it was cast as it is on my super sprint.

[DavidL]

Good point. My valve cover is cast, held down with 4 bolts. Its the same as in most pics I've seen of the 1700 SuperSprint.

[SKI HI]

On my 1992 Caterham Super Sprint engine with an alloy valve I found that the hold down bolts were too long and bottomed out before compression of the cover gasket.Shortening the bolts and silicone keep it leak free.

[Ian7]

Just to be clear, the pieces I refer to in my post above only apply to the thin, stamped steel rocker covers.

[DavidL]

Third time is a charm. I got it to seal on attempt #3 with the cork gasket, but no sealant and being very careful to not over tighten. I think the hylomar sealant was making the gasket slip out of place on attempts 1 and 2.

 

Thanks to everyone for the help, -David