minor oil leak, or seep

I check my oil level every 3 to 4 days.
Last night I noticed a leak, or maybe a seep
would be a better term, under the front right
of my valve cover. I changed the gasket when
I adjusted my valves back in mid Sept.
I used a torque wrench to set the 4 cover
nuts. I have driven about 4K since then.
The aftermarket kit said to not use any sealant.
I am not so worried by the minor ammount of oil
as I am about it leaking on to the t-belt.
I will pull the valve cover, and the T-belt
cover Tuesday or Wednesday to check.
I would do it today but we are still too cold.
12F. I will clean everything with either brake
cleaner, or some freon-TF I have saved for a rainy
day. [the EPA told me there was no place to send
it for "recovery" and to use it as needed...I have
saved it for 14 years].
When I reeinstall the gasket should I use sealant?
And am justified in thinking that after 3 months
and 4K this gasket is still good?
Terry

 

Since it was up to a blistering 22F when I got home,
I decided to check some simple things. I was shocked
to find the front, right, as viewed from in front of the
engine, nut was rather loose. Since the oil leak
only started with the onset of cold (<-15F) weather,
could the sudden change in temps cause the nut to loosen?
Or shoud such nuts be checked after a couple of thosand miles?
I have never had a properly torqued nut come loose.
And I am very positive that I torqued them correctly, beause
I was showing someone to use a torque wrench.
Terry

 

I'm surprised you can even use a torque wrench on this. The assembly
compresses so easily that almost no torque is required. I just crank
them down evenly around the valve cover until it feels like it is
somewhat compressed and the nuts aren't going to loosen. Never had
much problem even reusing the old gasket.

It appears that a combination of cold, vibration and insufficient
tightening is the source of the problem. I would loosen all the nuts,
then retighten them evenly. You might want to use a small wrench to
really get a feel of how much torque you are applying. you can
probably reuse the gasket but don't use sealant.

 

shouldnt have to, aside from the corners where the rubber cam bump are
(if applicable). ive taken the valve cover off my 98 civic a couple
times, and reused it. still good, still no leaks.

 

floridly penned in

Um, did you say it was an *aftermarket* gasket?

The OEM gasket can't be more than $15. Try replacing the aftermarket with
OEM and see if it comes loose then.

If you torqued the nuts properly, then there is no way it should vibrate
loose, unless the aftermarket rubber is not as supple as OEM.

You CAN use sensor-safe Permatex RTV if you want, but that's only really
necessary, as SoCalMike says, at the corners of the cam bearing caps.

 

I wanted to go with OEM but the local Honda dealer
was "out of stock", and I wanted to get the valves
adjusted "right now".
Leason learned.
I am trying to remember how the gasket looks, I am
assuming the "corners of the cam bearing caps"
are the two upward curved parts of the gasket.
I knew I should have taken a digital photogrpah!
Terry