In Foot Pounds, the torque would be 7.25 foot pounds, but torque wrenches are inaccurate in the upper and lower extremes of the torque wrench range. So, 7 foot pounds would be on the ragged edge of being beyond the +/- 4% accuracy of the torque wrench.

To prevent overtorquing the bolts you may be better off just hand tightening them. 87 inch pounds ain't **** so it's almost like a firm hand shake tighten.

Torque sequence is starting at the middle bolt and circling around to the next bolt on the other side of the valve cover, continuing in a counter clockwise direction.

 

I still have no idea what "poor engineering" you keep referring to. The valve cover is affixed to the head with bolts.

If there's any poor engineering anywhere around here it's cork gaskets. Those things are dreadful, and what I suspect your friend has who claims to need to re-tighten. (Also probably didn't tighten enough in the first place)

 

The poor engineering is the use of a threaded post, which is what it amounts to, when the industry standard is a bolt. If a bolt is used, you don't need special tools, you don't need deep well this and everything else, that. it's a poor design. I'm not judging it on how it looks but it actually makes a very tough, reliable engine look like a much lower quality product with the use of these goofy things.

 

The issue with using a foot pound torque wrench to torque to a value of 7.25 pounds is that that would be outside the extreme of the ft/lb torque wrench tolerance (4% if you're lucky).

You are better off just wrenching the bolts down by hand. 87 inch pounds ain't ****. It's about like a firm hand shake. Even though the valve cover uses 'torque limiter sleeves' you still don't want to over tighten the bolts.

 

I coulda had a new valve cover gasket on in the time it took to read this thread.

Somebody spouted the wrong size right off the bat.

The valve cover bolt/studs are there to hold things on like fuel injector harness clips, at least on mine. Deep sockets are pretty much a given to have, even as an amateur wrench monkey.

 

Is this thread for real? I have never had an issue with my valve cover, and guess what? Engineers use studs as opposed to just bolts all the time, there's nothing wrong with it. In some cases, it's more desirable to have a stud instead of a bolt to help line things up in tight spaces. Do what the others have suggested, get the FelPro gasket, use an inch pounds torque wrench, and tighten in the pattern mentioned above. Then, go teach your friend how to do it. No more leaks, as long as your cover isn't already cracked or warped. Problem solved.

 

roninofako,

Where has your brother Bimmer been. I haven't seen him posting in a long time.

 

Easy there, we're not all that way.

 

Didn't your close friend Bimmer do a valve cover gasket tutorial? Seems to me it took him a week to do his gasket change.

 

OP, THIS is you awnser to why they're there. They go on the intake manifold side and on the injector harness there should be three clips (unless someone broke them or cut them off) that slide over those studs to keep the harness from flopping around.

 

Yup. Lesson learned today. **** it, buy a Chilton and just buy a complete tool set.

 

Awwww.

 

Jesus. This guy sound like he is related to Bimmer.

 

Second cousin, once removed.

 

I hope he stay removed