5fse + valve cover ?

[dcninja757]

How do you remove the valve cover so you can replace the valve cover gasket. Mine has a leak in the rear of it so I'm trying to replace that, and I wanna paint it while it's off. I don't see any bolts on it though like on my previous cars, maybe I'm just slow. Any idea where they're hiding, and is it complicated to remove on our cars?

[Creeps228]

not really, pull the spark plugs and there are four bolts that hold the valve cover down...you might nned an adjustable wrench to get the bolts loose

[dcninja757]

yea but i cant find the bolts! lol I know it sounds silly but I dont see them!

[DxElite]

They're nuts, not bolts, they screw onto the spark plug tubes.
I bought a large socket to take them off and properly torque them afterward.

[ghettosled]

they are huge nuts - something like 30 mm in size. they are covered by the top of the park plug wires.

[JohnGD]

Yes, those huge nuts under the plug boot covers.

You need to retorque them after 30 minutes on there. Use small dabs of RTV on the semicircular plug cutouts on the cylinder head. Don't let the old RTV fall into the head.

Originally Posted by dcninja757

yea but i cant find the bolts! lol I know it sounds silly but I dont see them!

[Mike Gerber]

30MM is correct for those nuts. Get a 30MM socket and a torque wrench. The correct torque is 17 ft lbs. I would torque them down in 3 even passes of 6, then 12 and then 17 ft lbs, sitching from nut to nut to insure even tightening.

Mike

[dcninja757]

so they're inside the spark plug holes?

[Creeps228]

bolts nuts whatever they are called...its just four of them

[DxElite]

No, there right on the top under the square spark plug boots. The tube is threaded on the top and you'll see large and flat nuts.

[dcninja757]

oh ok thanks. changed my spark plugs a few weeks ago, must not have noticed.

[Hajoca]

Re-check the torque in a week.

[Venom_5]

besides the 4 nuts on top (That are 30mm, so either get a 30mm socket like i did or just use channel locks), there are 2 10mm bolts if i recall ... most of us use RedPhoenix's DIY Guide for painting the valve cover:

How-To Guide: Removing and Painting a Valve Cover - 5SFE -- 56K warned Lots of Pics

[JohnGD]

+1.

Should also do the first retorque after 30 minutes.

Originally Posted by Hajoca

Re-check the torque in a week.

[Jimnist]

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3sfe spark plug tube oil leaks