| Author | Message | ||
     Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 602 Registered: 6-2009 |
Hello All, Shortly after I bought SRH33576 in 2006 I had a lot of work done on her by a shop that specializes in Rolls-Royce and Bentley maintenance. I have since learned, and not just from my experience, that while the shop owner is indeed a very skilled mechanic for cars from Crewe, many of his hired staff are not. My own experience indicates there's not nearly enough oversight as well. At that time I had the valve cover gaskets replaced with the new silicone ones. The right side gasket worked perfectly and remains dry, but the left never has. The thing that drives me crazy is that the leakage from the left gasket is focused very near to the firewall and the majority of the leak manages to drop on to the exhaust pipe and create repeated puffs of smoke. I have often thought of trying to loosen up (or, perhaps, remove entirely) the left valve cover, clean things up, and put it all back together again to see if I could create a better seal. However, I have no idea if this idea has any merit at all unless I were to buy a new gasket. I know that cork gaskets "set" over time. I also know how silicone items, particularly baking sheets/pans/etc., seem to be virtually impossible to damage or reshape in any way (except if cut). What is the experience of the cohort with trying to "tweak" one of these that failed to seal well in the first place? If it is possible, does length of time since install matter? Brian | ||
| Bill Coburn Moderator Username: bill_coburn Post Number: 1519 Registered: 4-2003 |
Well Brian, this cohort member has used these gaskets three times and they in my experience are just perfect. The old cork ones were tightened down by feel until an 'I'll fix the bloody thing' owner really lays into the nuts sometimes cracking the actual cover. The new ones have distance pieces and short of flagrant butchery cannot be overtightened. The washers under the nuts also have a bonded seal on one side. If nipping them down doesn't doesn't stop the leak, take the cover off and have a good look at all mating surfaces. Make sure that the triangular closure plate on the back of the head is not leaking. These have a special gasket. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1102 Registered: 6-2006 |
Brian, as Bill says, take a look. Sounds like it couldn't get any worse than it is. The triangle plates can get loose and leak, so check them to. They are a machined face to face seal so if you don't have a gasket RTV will seal it, no need to put much on there. | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 603 Registered: 6-2009 |
Bill & Paul, Thanks to you both. This will either get hit on my "to do" list or that of the next custodian. Brian |
