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Old 12-17-2024, 11:46 AM
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Valve cover tips?

Preparing for another round of maintenance. I've been putting it off for a while. It's time to get it done. A full gasket kit is ready to go on. It has new coils and plugs with less than 20k miles. I see two items that can be added. Easier to replace the upper O2 sensor and vanos seals. O2 sensors are not a problem. Vanos? How long do seals last? It runs and idles great. No issues on it even being a daily driver. Other than an old fuel pump to worry about, I wouldn't hesitate to drive it out of state.

Good cleaning, RTV on block gaps, and checking for cover cracks. What else would be good to address?

What are valve cover torque specs?

Update: 01/13/25
The cover is on! Ready to daily drive after letting it sit and cure. More pics at the end. I like it. The fit looks good. I used a mirror to reach way around the back. It sealed good from all angles I could see. While tightening down the middle bolts, I felt the entire valve cover go down evenly. I saved the ground wire strap stud bolt. The valve cover kit didn't include a ground wire stud. I replaced the other three center bolts with included hardware. Three center bolts are identical to the outer cover bolts. Only the second in line bolt is for OEM ground. I transferred a new washer and gourmet to seal it. I have not driven it enough know how engine noise will sound. Engine noise (short valve clatter) may be louder. I stopped tightening when all the bolts felt the same. If you continue torqueing down, eventually the bolts bottom out. I used Permatex Aviation Form-A-Gasket to seal inner side gasket points. Black RTV was used at the VANOS cover seams. Plus, the half-moon areas. I used a rubber mallet to push in the outer gasket. The valve cover grove is deep.


Niayko Aluminum M54 Engine Valve Cover.The cover fits flip down cover lock coils.
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Last edited by X5chemist; 01-13-2025 at 08:35 AM.
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Old 12-17-2024, 12:25 PM
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Old 12-17-2024, 12:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by X5chemist View Post
...Other than an old fuel pump to worry about, I wouldn't hesitate to drive it out of state.
The driving distance from Austin, Texas to the Oklahoma state line is about 453 miles, and it takes approximately 7 hours and 15 minutes to drive.

The distance between Austin and Louisiana is 460 miles. The road distance is 511.1 miles.

In my case, living in the Dallas-Ft.Worth Metroplex, both borders are closer, but given my last two episodes of sudden major problems (MAF going bonkers, battery deciding to die without warning), I'd be hesitant to go out of state. Despite having beaucoup tools and spare parts onboard the X, I'd prefer not to make side-of-the road repairs, if I don't have to. I'll confine my travels to my general area for awhile, at least until my confidence in the X grows. Besides, why would I want to leave Texas anyway?
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Old 12-17-2024, 12:42 PM
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Got it. Bored at work, I go check fluid levels. I've had a really bad oil smell lately. Open the hood and see a large oil streak down the valve cover. Streaks from middle to rear. The cover is cracked! I can feel with my finger nail. Plus the rear O2 exhaust cover has sludge over it again.

If I didn't have to replace the valve cover, I could get it done in about an hour. Now, I'll have to wait for a cover. Who has a good source?
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Old 12-17-2024, 01:10 PM
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I got a metal from Amazon which was surprisingly good.
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Old 12-17-2024, 01:16 PM
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M54 VCG is one of the easiest maintenance tasks

Make sure to replace the gasket, including the one around the spark plug wells AND all the rubber donuts for the bolts.

RTV where the upper timing cover meets the head and at the corners of the half moons in the back. This means 6 locations total with RTV.

Leave the torque wrench in the toolbox. Tighten the bolts until they bottom out and stop. Can't count on one hand how many people snap those bolts then say "I was following the torque spec!"
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Old 12-17-2024, 01:25 PM
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Valve cover tips?

Here's the TIS

M54ValveCover.pdf
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Last edited by andrewwynn; 12-17-2024 at 01:30 PM.
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Old 12-17-2024, 01:42 PM
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Valve cover tips?

11 N·m is pretty aggressive into aluminum with a 6mm bolt! I agree that's too much. I usually try to find something more reasonable that i can still use the torque wrench.

I think my N55 spec is 8.5 N·m which is much more reasonable. I think most of the 6MM engine bolts are 7.5 N·m
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Old 12-17-2024, 01:54 PM
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No torque wrench needed, just tighten till the bolt gets to the shoulder and use a little common sense. Don't cheap out on the rubbers for the bolts.
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Old 12-17-2024, 01:59 PM
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Valve cover tips?

I can back that plan. My version of common sense is to use two fingers and 1/4" drive to feel when the bolt bottoms.

When I did n55, i was able to use torque adapter but with 26 bolts and a very specific pattern that was tedious.

Almost wish had this conversation before i did the n55.

"What he said" on any rubber seal don't reuse anything rubber.
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