Oil Leak - 440 help

[Don Frelier]

I had an oil leak with some M/T cast covers on my Plymouth.
Found the covers had almost no sealing ridge in one corner.
I used these with some RTV in that spot:

 

[Ernie ingling]

Clean well add UV dye ( get at napa) check will light. I suspect headd gasket leaking.
Hang on you will get this

 

[CudaChick1968]

...

Just another thought. If you had your valve covers powder coated and they coated the gasket surface they will be prone to leaks. The powder coated surface is slick enough to allow wicking especially with synthetic oil.

I can't speak to what Mopar did when they produced the O.P.'s covers and am not sure it's even powder.

I've customized literally a few hundred valve covers over the last 22 years -- mostly cast aluminum -- and have never once heard of this, seen it for myself, or had a similar report from ANY customer that it happened.

The "gasket wrap" technique not only helps keep the elements from attacking any bare metal over time, it also helps protect hard edges from chipping, impacts from tools, and prevents "corrosion creep" (where uncoated metal corrodes in one spot and then that corrosion continues to creep over time on to the rest of the piece under the powder).

The big block cast aluminum Mopar Performance valve covers had a factory defect involving the dog ears though, especially on the far left mounting tab, which most everyone (including the factory) attributed to over-tightening, but some were brand new.

 

[66/440]

You, may right as I know how many you have done and respect your experience. However, I have had seepage on valve covers, oil pans and timing covers. I am a little ocdc with regard to prep and making sure surfaces are flat and not over tightened. I break my engines in on a test stand so it is easy to evaluate what is going on. Once I started scuffing, not removing the powder on the gasket surfaces my issues went away. So maybe a mystery as to what works and what doesn't. Just stating my experiences.