Cylinder head bolts

[philthyphil]

We are leaking a little oil around the driver side head cover gasket. I figured before I replace the head cover gasket I would just tighten the bolts. Can these be too tight? I only got them hand tight with two fingers on a 1/4" socket with the room allotted but I'm worried since they were all a little loose they may be too tight now to allow for expansion when the motor heats up. I also figured the head cover is probably cast so would crack easily if I over tightened s I took it easy. Thoughts?

 

[jeetS]

.....are you meaning the valve cover gasket? and valve cover bolts?

I highly doubt that all your head bolts were a little loose....

 

[philthyphil]

I'm talking about the bolts that hold the head cover on and the gasket underneath it... Those were the bolts that were loose.

 

[scottryana]

Valve cover gasket not head cover and yes they should be tight or the valve cover won't seal and will leak oil like you are seeing.

 

[philthyphil]

Thanks man. FSM says it's the LH cylinder head cover.

 

[scottryana]

Normal nomenclature is that the valve cover bolts to the head and the head bolts to the block. But yeah you should be fine, you're right you don't want them too tight, but not because there needs to be any room for expansion but because they are threading into the aluminum heads and they can be easy to strip.

 

[2000UZJ]

7 ft.lb torque. Don't over tighten them. Snug them up and clean up the area. You shouldn't have any further leaks.