Vr Bt1. . A few questions. .
Hi guys.
After just having a new sump gasket and gear box service i decided to put the car on ramps and give it a bit of a clean.
Whilst there i just checked the sump bolts with a spanner and found they were all only done up to hand tight.
This was the case with the gearbox pan also!
I tightened them all up as tight as i could but my question is how tight should they be?
Are they only supposed to be hand tight for a reason (could squash the gasket) or have i done the right thing in tightening them all up pretty tight?
Pretty stupid question but just seems strange they were both fairly loose.
Thanks heaps guys!
Most of these gaskets used on the engines sump and on the auto transmission pan are usually made from cork, and cork type gaskets will crush very easily and will then leak if overtightened,so they are not tensioned up very tight, they are usually nipped up just enough to get them to seal.You will probably find if they have been crushed,they will leak and will need replacing again.
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I'll add to what Brett has said - when they are tightened you should use a torque wrench and use the correct tightening sequence. Even if you do them correctly, you will notice that after some time that the screws will loosen by themselves....probably due to the cork gasket compressing. Re-tightening them will usually not stop them leaking because as Brett says, the gasket is now crushed and will need replacing if you want to keep things clean.
Overtightening will distort the pan and once this happens there is no cure except for replacement.
Last edited by hako; 08-09-2011 at 09:26 PM. Reason: overtightening
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Ah right. . What about the sump? I didnt "swing" off them and tighten them so they will never come off but it seemed like they were far to loose.
They were leaking abit before i tightened them and now there is no oil to be seen!
Before i asked this question i just thought i would be called a dick head but now glad i asked!
Now the next problem..
Its a 5ltr and obviously the exhaust was loose where it comes down from the extractors into the single piece near the bell housing.
Because now after stuffing around under there it sounds like it has a exhaust leak there.
Is there any tricks on how to get at the one bolt on the clamp next to the block.
Hope ive explained this properly.
Thanks guys
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