[VAC] Re: Smoke & Tears

[Robert Gill]

The torque applied to valve covers and oil pans are only 12-18 ft. lbs. There is also a sequence to torquing them down. That is there is a certain pattern that should be done when the replacement is done correctly. The torque pattern of course varies with each manufacture. You can find this info in a Chiltons auto manual, if you want to do it yourself. Bobby ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Kiger Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 4:57 PM To: Multiple recipients of VACList Subject: [VAC] Smoke & Tears I have not been reporting the nightmare that I faced with my puller (a 1979 Ford E-150 with 351 Windsor powerplant) since returning from winter in the Baja. To make a long story short, a qualified US mechanic/machinist replaced: Carburetor All vacuum lines and PCV valve EGR valve Smog pump and all hoses Catalytic convertor (mexico) Rear main seal Pan gaskets Valve gaskets (twice?) Oil & filter (twice) Power Steering Pump & hoses Oil pressure sender Virtually every orifice that looks at oil has been replaced.  Even tiny and  suspicious cracks in the block were epoxied by the machine shop during these processes.  I expect to buy a new engine within two years. The Good News is that I passed the California Smog Test yesterday and am now legal again. The Bad News is that there is oil emmanating from the engine which is burning on the exhaust manifold and causing white smoke. This only happens when I take it up hills or at high speeds (RPM). In less than an hour the mechanic machine shop that replaced all the gaskets and did most of the sealing work is (begrudgingly) putting my puller on the rack. I paid them over $500 for their services. My Quick Question is, "When valve or pan gaskets are installed with cork gaskets they are not supposed to be torqued down.  They are supposed to be tightened uniformly and snugly?  Then, in a follow up visit, they are supposed to be uniformly snugged tighter to further compress the gasket and seal." Am I right or wrong.  The shop does not say that I am wrong and are in fact putting it on the rack soon.  I just need to know if my premise is correct as a defense in case they get testier :) Thanks for a quick reply. Bob To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original text from your reply. Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com