I’ve replaced the valve cover gaskets on my 2002 and they still leak, and the 2004’s leak but haven’t yet been replaced. I finally went ahead and purchased a torque wrench that measures in in-pounds - I can’t believe it’s taken me so long - and torqued the outside valve cover bolts to the spec’d torque value and holy smokes, I way under-torqued them when I did it by feel. No wonder they were leaking so badly. I was so afraid to shear them, I was way too light on them.

My advice to others like me - if you’re going to work on cars, just get a small torque wrench. There are SO many fasteners on this car, or any car really, that have specs measured in in-lbs, it’s just worth it. The margin for small bolts is so narrow - too tight and they shear off, too loose and they back off and cause leaks. A great example, the best perhaps, is the throttle body heater and those tiny bolts. I’ve replaced SO many of these probably in part due to my former feather-handed tightening regime.

Hope that helps!

 

Doing the Best4x4 PCV mod will also help reduce the oil leaks from the valve covers.

 

Agreed. Done long ago.

 

I bought a ½" torque wrench in high school because the guy who wrote the "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive for the Complete Idiot" (or whatever the impossibly long title was) recommended one because it could be used for a variety of jobs with adapters. Later, when I owned an MG Midget and a Triumph Spitfire, I realized that a ⅜" torque wrench would make life easier, so I got one. My dad was a former gunsmith, and he had a ¼" torque wrench for work on firearms, but that went missing after he died and I never ended up with it. Reading this, I should just get one. It would make torquing a lot of fasteners into aluminum so much easier.

Scott

 

I have a 1/4" torque wrench for working on bicycles. Came in handy on the valve covers.

 

I was buying Britpart and All Makes gaskets and got leaks soon after. Bought local FelPro, no more leaks. Pay more but can see the diff straight out of the box.

 

I've had a inch lbs torque wrench in my tool box for past 30 years and never used it... that is until I recently started tearing into my Thor V8 engine. It's an extremely valuable tool.