Vs rocket covers always leaking at the rear

[cyborg66]

i have taking my vs to 2 places to get my rocket covers fix from leaking and nothing seems to work they start leaking again after a week getting sick of the burning smell.any ideas will metal rocket covers be a better seal.

[TC Dylan]

Doubt metal ones would obtain a better seal, have you replaced the gaskets or the actual rocker covers? If only gaskets (which would be the logical thing) then replace the covers.

[Pickle']

Maybe its because there tightening your rocket covers rather then your rocker cover!

Otherwise do as Dylern said, my VR Rocker covers leaked i just changed the gasket and they were fine!

[cyborg66]

i have only had the gaskets changed.can u buy brand new rocket plastic covers or will i have to buy some from the wreckers

[TC Dylan]

Same as VY mate, if you can't get em from Holden I'd be surprised. Alternatively, I have heaps I can let go for a small price. Before you spend more time and money, find out for sure if it's your rocker covers, as it may be your intake manifold gasket which is pretty common also. If your down my way I can recommend a good mechanic, right around the corner from my work.

[hako]

There is a seal that each bolt goes through on the rocker cover - sometimes this goes missing and slack mechanics will just use the bolt and a washer which results in leaking. Check if the rocker cover is warped by placing on head without gasket and see if it wobbles - it should be firm against the bare head.....retaining bolts must not be overtightened as this distorts the cover and forces the gasket out. Head surface where gasket goes plus the rocker cover seal surface must be clean and dry. Never use any sealant as the gasket is silicone. I'd be very surprised if the covers are distorted.

EDIT....just had a thought - check the PCV valve - if it's partially blocked it will increase crankcase pressures and force oil past seals.

[accentstencil]

i have taking my vs to 2 places to get my rocket covers fix from leaking and nothing seems to work they start leaking again after a week getting sick of the burning smell.any ideas will metal rocket covers be a better seal.

Just for future reference they are rocker covers not rocket covers. People have been dropping hints but you didn't seem to notice.

[kiwicon]

retaining bolts must not be overtightened as this distorts the cover and forces the gasket out.

this is the issue 9 times out of 10

[Cheap6]

There is a seal that each bolt goes through on the rocker cover - sometimes this goes missing and slack mechanics will just use the bolt and a washer which results in leaking. Check if the rocker cover is warped by placing on head without gasket and see if it wobbles - it should be firm against the bare head.....retaining bolts must not be overtightened as this distorts the cover and forces the gasket out. Head surface where gasket goes plus the rocker cover seal surface must be clean and dry. Never use any sealant as the gasket is silicone. I'd be very surprised if the covers are distorted.

If someone has just used the bolt and washer it will leak but not because rubber washer is leaking. The rubber washers are outside the path of the rocker cover gasket and the bolt holes are blind so there's no leak path through there.

If you look at the bolts and washers you will see that there is a metal spacer/sleeve inside the rubber. This is what the bolt tightens against. At the installed height of the bolts the rubber washers should be compressed against the rocker covers and it is the rubber washers that transmit the clamping force to the rocker covers.

If the rubber washers are missing or perished the clamping force will be absent or less than is required to form the seal between the gasket, rocker cover and head.

If the rubber washers are marginal, a metal washer (with a bigger ID than the spacer/sleeve) between the head of the bolt and the rubber washer will increase the compression of the rubber washer and therefore the clamping force.

If the spacers are missing, the rubber washers will not exert enough tension on the bolt (=> thread friction) to prevent the bolts from working loose.

If the bolts are over tightened the spacer/sleeve will buckle, the head will probably be dented around the bolt hole and the rubber washer will be compressed further but still clamp the rocker cover. Not great but it will still work.

It is possible that the blind holes in the heads are filled with something eg. old sealant, even oil, which would stop the bolts from compressing the rubber washers.

I have seen gasket sealant used in the groove for the rocker covers and not removed when the gaskets are replaced. This can create an uneven surface for the new gasket to sit against and a leak path. Sometimes the rocker cover is scratched when removing the sealant and this also creates a leak path.

Very clean surfaces on the head and the rocker covers goes a long way to helping the seal. So yes, no additional sealant is necessary.

Before replacing the rocker covers - they could conceivably warp but I also think it unlikely - I'd be looking at those bolts, spacers and washers and the sealing surfaces.

[Morton]

i have taking my vs to 2 places to get my rocket covers fix from leaking and nothing seems to work they start leaking again after a week getting sick of the burning smell.any ideas will metal rocket covers be a better seal.

Stay away from metal rocket covers, they'll just scratch your paintwork. Try to stay with synthetics if you can.

Does your rocket cover need to be 100% waterproof, or is it just to keep leaves and bird droppings off your rocket? You'll pay in excess of $150 for a good one, if you have a ProKit or Sledger rocket cover it's no surprise it's leaking, they don't have machine welded seams, so they're just going to fall apart if left out in the elements.

It's a concern about the burning smell... do you allow your rocket to cool down before covering it?

[VYMAD]

I'd bet on the gaskets being stuffed.

[vsv6dude]

Is the rear main seal, or the rear backing plate, or the engine sump gasket or sumps bolts leaking or weeping as well ?

What grade of engine oil are you using ?

[Sabbath']

Sure it isnt the inlet manifold gasket?

Didnt read the thread...so if it's been posted before - MEH