I have noticed a leaking valve cover on the driver side cylinder head. The leak is coming from the back and bottom edges of where the rocker arms are located on the 8th cylinder. It is a slow drip, that ends up burning on the headers.

Is there a way I can cure this problem? Bend part of the valve cover?? I honestly don't know how it is leaking in the first place. If anyone can enlighten me with some information or with some past experience, I would greatly appreciate it.

So-Cal Jack

Hey Jack - what kind of valve covers and which gaskets are you using? What kind of heads too, stock GM or aftermarket? This could be as simple as the bolts need tightening, the gasket rolled off the edge surface on the head and needs to be replaced, all the way to a bent or warped valve cover or bad head casting...

Sometimes if you go with the thicker valve cover gaskets they will take care of any little leaks . Use plenty of Permatex Ultra Blue to seat the gaskets to the cover and let it dry before re-installing them.Don't overtorque them .Go all around the cover evenly.

A Corvair valve cover spring plate may spread the load out more than the stock Chevy V-8 valve cover winged washer. I've seen them at car shows so the Chinese are producing know off of them.

Big Dave

I found out that the corner would pop up when the spreader clamps were cinched down. The solution I used was to punch the lip a little, to prevent it from curling up. So far...it worked. The gaskets I am using are rubber, so my last resort would be to use RTV. (fortunately I didn't)

Thanks guys!! All of the information was very helpful.

So-Cal Jack

i'm partial to the neoprene valve cover gaskets. speedway motors has them for like $8 so i'm gonna stock up on them. never had one leak, the crush sleeves in them keep you from smashing it down too far.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/1872,,_Superseal-Valve-Cover-Gaskets.html

best part is that they are reusable. so if you gotta adjust your rockers, you can reuse the gaskets. i've reused the same one piece oil pan gasket on 2 motors so far.

I would use a little sealant not alot when you tighten the valve cover the sealant will be compressed and fall into the head which may get in the oil passage. Becareful when doing this, also allways torque and make sure the valve cover is straight.