Loose Cam Cover Bolts

[Fourdoorcat]

I noticed some oil leaking from the Lotus and it appeared to be coming from the cam cover. I replaced the gasket in February when I did the timing belt, water pump and seals. I tightened it to 26 in lbs (per the manual) and went around the tightening pattern (again, from the manual) several times until everybody seemed seated.

So here we are at about 6K miles later and these bolts were quite loose. Some of them were backed off several threads. Socked them all down again and I'll check them in another 1k miles to see how they are doing.

Has anyone else noticed this? Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Ken

[HJ2]

Yup!

I had to re-torque them as well after the head gasket adventure.
No leaks though!

Are you sure the leak is not coming from the CAS assembly or CAM bung?

[theelanman]

On all the engines I've rebuilt I've retorqued after every 500 miles for the 1st 1500 miles....basically checked 3 to 4 times....
Probably a bit OTT but I was used to rather older engines.....

[Fourdoorcat]

Are you sure the leak is not coming from the CAS assembly or CAM bung?

Replaced the bung earlier in the year as well. Nothing was leaking until recently, then I noted the loose cam cover bolts. If the leaks stop, then all will be well; I'll give it a week.

We were talking "rattle around loose" on some of the bolts.

Thanks for the insights.

Ken

[Specky]

Remove all the bolts (camcover) clean and degrease both the bolts and threaded holes, then utilise something like loctite 221.

You may have an inadvert hydraulic lock (oil in the bottom of the holes???)

TTFN

[HJ2]

Remove all the bolts (camcover) clean and degrease both the bolts and threaded holes, then utilise something like loctite 221.

TTFN

That way you won't give the seal a chance to set, as that what's causing the bolts to come loose imho.
I would only use locktite after the seal has set (so retorque the bolts a couple of times over a couple of weeks )

Then again... after that, locktite won't be nessecary ...

[RayD]

If the gasket is exactly as it was intended, the torque setting is wrong.

There's no reason why they should come loose to that extent.

Ray

[HJ2]

It's a gasket in a V-groove and it's big. Not comparable with a seal with a flat mating surface.
You can overtorque, but i have read on this forum that it is likely that the cast rocker cover (or what's it called ) wil snap...

I don't think that the bolts come loose, but it's the gasket that settels after a couple of heat cycles and thus creates a little free play.
If you re-use the gasket (and that is possible) then the bolts wil stay where they are, is my (agreed, very limited!) experience...

[Specky]

Remove all the bolts (camcover) clean and degrease both the bolts and threaded holes, then utilise something like loctite 221.

TTFN

That way you won't give the seal a chance to set, as that what's causing the bolts to come loose imho.
I would only use locktite after the seal has set (so retorque the bolts a couple of times over a couple of weeks )

Then again... after that, locktite won't be nessecary ...

I'd have to disagree with you there fella, in my opion the seal is quite a good fit. I'd look elsewhere to see what other pottential faults are causing the symptom of loosing bolts.

Further investigation is required.....I guess it's horses for courses....I hope that translates

TTFN

[Fourdoorcat]

After two more cycles of "torque - wait - check - retorque", the leaking seems to have abated.

For now, I suppose. After all...it is a Lotus. Are leaks not part of it's functional specification?

Ken