First smoke...now I'm scared

[jMedia]

Popped the hood right after running her today and a little bit of smoke coming up from the passenger side, it looked like it was coming from around the front of the valve cover but I'm not sure.

I really dont like that. I was thinking of taking off the carb and intake and putting in new gaskets and cleaning up a bit in there. How labor intensive would that be?

thanks

[beloth]

are the valve covers leaking? oil hitting a hot manifold smokes alot of times....

[jMedia]

are the valve covers leaking? oil hitting a hot manifold smokes alot of times....

thats kind of what it looked like, there is a lot of gunck around the valve covers

[jdaniel83]

Probably the valve cover gasket or possibly loose bolts. I had the same problem and tightened the bolts down a bit and it hasn't leaked since.

[Heckofadeal]

Popped the hood right after running her today and a little bit of smoke coming up from the passenger side, it looked like it was coming from around the front of the valve cover but I'm not sure.

I really dont like that. I was thinking of taking off the carb and intake and putting in new gaskets and cleaning up a bit in there. How labor intensive would that be?

thanks

Quite a bit of work to pull the intake and change that gasket. I'd just change the valve cover gaskets and see if that fixes it first. Those aren't much trouble at all.

[newtojeeps]

Try tightening the bolts first then clean the engine bay . That way you can tell if its leaking and not the old stuff heating up and moving around. If the covers leak after that pull them off check them to see if the PO didn't over tighten them and dimple the metal where the bolts are located (use a straightedge). If they are a little distorted fine a piece of hardwood to use to bang the straight (With a hammer) on the edge of your workbench or something . Recheck periodically with the straitedge. Reinstall with new cork gaskets.

[jMedia]

What do you guys recommend for cleaning the engine bay? I've been wanting to do this for a while but been nervous to get cleaner and water where its not supposed to be

[jMedia]

So i got my valve covers off to clean them and change the gaskets, anything else recommended while i got them off? Should i clean the inside of them? can the outsides be painted? Should I clean the rockers in any way?

I got that purple power (i think that's what its called) degreaser stuff...
DANG that stuff works well. I'll be postin pics of my cleaned up engine later

[Gambler68]

I'd leave the rockers alone. Spray the inside of the valve covers with with carb cleaner and steel wool the gunk off. Then make sure you spray again to get anything left (including steel wool fibers) off. Outside, same thing, feel free to paint with engine enamel if you want it to last. Stuff comes out great.

Make sure when you re-install the valve covers, the new gasket doesnt get pushed out of place. Easy to do and miss..till oil starts leaking out again..

[jMedia]

I'd leave the rockers alone. Spray the inside of the valve covers with with carb cleaner and steel wool the gunk off. Then make sure you spray again to get anything left (including steel wool fibers) off. Outside, same thing, feel free to paint with engine enamel if you want it to last. Stuff comes out great.

Make sure when you re-install the valve covers, the new gasket doesnt get pushed out of place. Easy to do and miss..till oil starts leaking out again..

Thank you very much. These things are a pain to get out with the engine still in, for me atleast

[jMedia]

putting the valve covers back on tomorrow. Got some gaskets from napa, dont think they are cork tho :(

do you recommend i put anything inbetween the gasket and the cover?
I've heard to wipe it down with rubbing alcohol or something but not sure

thanks

[FSJ Guy]

putting the valve covers back on tomorrow. Got some gaskets from napa, dont think they are cork tho :(


Personally, I like the rubber ones.

But that's like the auto/manual transmission debate, too. :rolleyes:

[Blue & Gray]

It's a good idea to wipe all mating surfaces down with brake cleaner/rubbing alcohol to remove any oil residue. This will help seal your new valve cover gaskets in place. It's been debated here several times about using sealant on the Valve Cover gaskets or not. I use a very thin smear on both sides of the gaskets and have always had good luck. I use the Black High Oil resistance stuff. I just did this job on my bro's cherokee earlier this week after I replaced his valve stem seals. I usually rattle can paint the covers and the filter housing as that I like the cheap facelift it gives an old motor.


Get that bolt in the back corner started first, then start the rest a few threads, then snug them all down. working from the center out. if you tighten one all the way it can compress and push the gasket and make it real hard to start the other bolts. You can wash your bolts in a little jar of gas/kerosene and it will make them easier to work with.