Topic: Valve cover leak at corner

[jakec]

400F engine. So the engine is at about 100 miles after rebuild, I was totally leak free until yesterday at about 85 miles when the valve cover started seeping oil at the front left corner. It used to do this before rebuild as well.

I used an NE brand gasket from the complete gasket set. I also put it in "dry" with a light amount of assembly lube to keep it in the recess. Double checked and the bolt there is tight.

Should I try OEM Honda gasket with sealer? The manual says to use sealant. I didn't use it because I read on here that it's not necessary if everything is clean.

[bryanj]

That is an O ring yes? If so i would be looking for physical damage to surface

[jakec]

It is an O ring but there's no pressurized oil nearby. Maybe there is damage to the cover. the head was at the machine shop and they would have checked it. If there is a gouge/depression in the cover not sure what to do. Would adding sealant be a good attempted fix? Not sure what the manual wants when they say to use gasket sealer.

[BenelliSEI]

“Hondabond”. Very light.

[jakec]

Same bindabond used in the crankcase?

[Alan F.]

Same.

Did you assemble these parts yourself?
Why wouldn't you inspect your gasket surfaces personally?

[jakec]

I did I just don’t remember seeing anything out of the ordinary. All the other gasket surfaces I cleaned with piece of flat glass and sandpaper. The valve cover I just cleaned with alcohol to remove the old sealer.

[Alan F.]

Alcohol and a rag? Rag didn't snag on any burrs then.
Possibly a low spot if there was old sealer to clean off.

[bryanj]

I just done a 350 head and there were a few "bruises" on the flat surface that may have held the top cover too proud to seal