downshifted by mistake
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by march2000,Jun 26 2006, 05:37 PM
Thanks guys, I just got done pulling the cover and putting everything back together. The retainers look good with no visible stretch or crack. I put the valve cover back on and I made sure it went in okay, but didn't know the exact torque spec for that so I just tighten it down with wrench (not too tight), I just found out that it doesn't take much (like 8-9 ft.lb) so I hope everythihg is okay; most likely overtighten them by a bit!
Now are there any ways to inpect any leak from the valve cover gasket? I just wasn't sure if the overtighten the bolts will cause any leak or not. It does look like it is zipping through a couple of places (like on the front left side [corner] of the engine [left from the front of the car, and right side if you are heading toward the front of the car) but it might just be when I put the cover back on as it didn't go back in perfectly at first so with me moving the cover around it might pick up oil on some places.
Now are there any ways to inpect any leak from the valve cover gasket? I just wasn't sure if the overtighten the bolts will cause any leak or not. It does look like it is zipping through a couple of places (like on the front left side [corner] of the engine [left from the front of the car, and right side if you are heading toward the front of the car) but it might just be when I put the cover back on as it didn't go back in perfectly at first so with me moving the cover around it might pick up oil on some places.
Oh and I forgot to add, when I put the valve cover back, I didn't use gasket sealer [oil soaked finger](I think that what they called) when I put it back. I don't know if they use that from the factory since when I pulled it out the valve cover seem to be sticky so I thought they might have use some kind of gasket sealer.
I did tighten them in the right order with the wrench but I didn't have a small torque wrench so I just hand tight and then tighten it up with the wrench. I was probably over tighten those valve cover bolts by quite a bit (hopefully it will be fine). And should I go and buy a small torque wrench and then just lossen those bolts and re-torque them to spec or it should be fine as is?
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 22,384
Likes: 1,834
From: Long Island, New York
No need to put anything on the old gasket. Re-using it will be fine. The valve cover bolts will eventually bottom out, then get tight. Just feel them out.
My pic was added above, but for some reason it was edited to "stretched" instead of "cracked". Retainer don't stretch, they crack open on the underside and it cannot be seen. The sunk-in effect from the crack however is quite easy to spot.
Pulling the valve cover is the only step needed. As long as you can read the pic, inspecting the retainers is a piece of cake.
My pic was added above, but for some reason it was edited to "stretched" instead of "cracked". Retainer don't stretch, they crack open on the underside and it cannot be seen. The sunk-in effect from the crack however is quite easy to spot.
Pulling the valve cover is the only step needed. As long as you can read the pic, inspecting the retainers is a piece of cake.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Orlando area
Billman,
Thanks for the photos. It really helps. Having just bought and 02 with 50K miles, the possibility of over stressed retainers is a worry. Now I understand what to look for.
Greatly appreciated!
Thanks for the photos. It really helps. Having just bought and 02 with 50K miles, the possibility of over stressed retainers is a worry. Now I understand what to look for.
Greatly appreciated!
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: indianapolis
Originally Posted by RED MX5,Jun 25 2006, 05:20 PM
Yea, you *should* know. 
What is the ultimate cost of a stretched retainer in an F20C or F22C?
What tools and skills are needed to check the retainers?
(Hint: It's only slightly harder than checking the oil level.)
What's it going to cost for the guy to pull the cover and take a look?
What's it going to cost if he takes your advice and has a stretched retainer?
What is the ultimate cost of a stretched retainer in an F20C or F22C?
What tools and skills are needed to check the retainers?
(Hint: It's only slightly harder than checking the oil level.)
What's it going to cost for the guy to pull the cover and take a look?
What's it going to cost if he takes your advice and has a stretched retainer?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Billman250,Jun 27 2006, 03:13 AM
No need to put anything on the old gasket. Re-using it will be fine. The valve cover bolts will eventually bottom out, then get tight. Just feel them out.
My pic was added above, but for some reason it was edited to "stretched" instead of "cracked". Retainer don't stretch, they crack open on the underside and it cannot be seen. The sunk-in effect from the crack however is quite easy to spot.
Pulling the valve cover is the only step needed. As long as you can read the pic, inspecting the retainers is a piece of cake.
My pic was added above, but for some reason it was edited to "stretched" instead of "cracked". Retainer don't stretch, they crack open on the underside and it cannot be seen. The sunk-in effect from the crack however is quite easy to spot.
Pulling the valve cover is the only step needed. As long as you can read the pic, inspecting the retainers is a piece of cake.
Anyway, thanks for vertify with me that I don't need any gasket sealer when putting them back together. I will not bother to take off my valve cover bolts and re-tighten (re-torque) them as you mentioned that the valve cover bolts will eventually bottom out, then get tight so it was no need to lossen those bolts and re-torque them to spec.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 22,888
Likes: 3
From: Covington WA, USA
Hmm. On Sunday I accidentally shifted into 3rd instead of 5th. Fortunately I was shortshifting to avoid feathering the throttle through a high speed apex. Max RPMs shown on my datalogger were 9759.
I drove 300 miles home from the track with no sign of trouble. Still, I had been planning for months to check the valves anyway. I guess this mistake gives me extra incentive.
Don't try to get that last session in at the track after 2-1/2 long days of tracking, at least not if you are tired enough to screw up your shifting!
I drove 300 miles home from the track with no sign of trouble. Still, I had been planning for months to check the valves anyway. I guess this mistake gives me extra incentive.
Don't try to get that last session in at the track after 2-1/2 long days of tracking, at least not if you are tired enough to screw up your shifting!
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,087
Likes: 2
From: Dry Branch
Originally Posted by Billman250,Jun 27 2006, 06:13 AM
My pic was added above, but for some reason it was edited to "stretched" instead of "cracked". Retainer don't stretch, they crack open on the underside and it cannot be seen. The sunk-in effect from the crack however is quite easy to spot.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
stezie
S2000 Under The Hood
4
Mar 27, 2012 05:55 AM
Blackie
Australia & New Zealand S2000 Owners
10
Jun 14, 2004 12:49 PM