Small leak on valve cover gasket...

I have a small leak on the valve cover gasket on the left side near plug #1. I went ahead and ordered the gasket. It's not real bad. I cleaned the area and rode for about 30 miles and it barely showed new coverage. Guess it's been there a while and I just didn't notice because of it's location, and the fact I don't keep her showroom clean all the time.

However... I have a Poker run tomorrow that should span about 150 miles or so. We have been really looking forward to it. Do ya think I run any risk going on the run while waiting on the new gasket, or should I listen to my nagging wife all weekend that we didn't go?

I could provide a pic if needed.

 

Carry a quart of oil with ya and check the level when you stop for your cards.

There is never a need to listen to a nagging wife. Just don't tell mine I said that!

 

Well, since discovering the leak, I always take a peek at my oil level window before I ride. Like I said, it's not leaking much at all, and from the looks of it, it's been there a while. It's just that lately I've read some cam nightmares over the past few days and I'm a bit leery...

 

Unless the leak is so bad you have containment booms around the Bike ... I'd go play cards and hope to win the dough to pay for the weeping gasket.

 

Cool, thanks guys.

 

Always a good idea to replace the seals around the bolts too. That way you can pretty much guarantee the end of leaks for a long time. If you only do the perimeter seal it may or may not fix the problem.

 

The seals around the bolts are more than just seals, they're little rubber wedges that actually do the work of pushing the cover down. The bolts have stop collars, so the "donuts" do the work.

Once your donuts are compressed, dead and baked hard they won't hold even a new gasket tight enough to prevent leaking.

The good news is that once you replace the gasket and donuts, you won't have to do it again for quite a while, despite removing the cover occasionally for valve adjustments.

 

ive had pretty good luck with a little sealer as long as everything is really clean make sure to let it tack up before putting in the gasket if your seals are a little flattend out this will give you a little xtra thickness to the gasket.

i wouldnt worry to much about the leak unless its real bad wipe it off when you stop for gas