I saw a little oil leaking from my lower center bolt on my passenger side valve cover. When I went to tighten it up a little, I found all the blots could be loosened by hand. Are they supposed to be this loose or should I snug them down?

I know there are no stupid questions....just stupid people.
That's me!! Thanks for any help.

72 inch pounds is the spec I've seen. I usually go about 50-60 inch pounds. I also recheck every couple days with new gaskets cause they do compress.

I know there is a torque spec for them, can't remember it off the top of my head.
I tend to get them all snug, then give them about an eighth to a quarter turn, depending on the material.

You can always give them a bit more, but once they are overtightened, they gotta be replaced!

How old are the gaskets? They may shrink some as the get heated up. I never bothered to torque them, I use a 3/8" ratchet and watch the gasket.....guess Ive done a few...

I always use right stuff gasket maker (SPARINGLY) on all my gaskets, and let it set up before using it. usually never have a leak.....

You can always tighten it till it strips and back it off a 1/4 turn.

I just put Moroso valve covers and Moroso rubber gaskets on my 383. I snug 'em down, rotating around a little bit at a time. I hold the ratchet kindda like a screw driver, not by the handle per se so as not to get too much leverage. Snug 'em till I like it. Have never had a problem with leaks. It's all in the feel.

I've done it this way since I was a kid (15 years old in '62) on all kinds of engines and gasket material.

Just sayin'

Snug them until they are tight enough not to leak. With valve cover, oil pan, timing cover (B/RB) and transmission pan gaskets I've bought myself more grief tightening to a specification than just snugging them down and then re-tightening them if required.

A little too loose is better than too tight. Several rounds (at least) of crisscross tightening. "The right stuff" gasket cement on the gasket will not leak

40 inch lbs as per the 65 fsm. I've never measured, just used ratchet like screwdriver as stated earlier, or use a nut driver.

Not very.

R.

Thanks guys, snugged them just a bit but not too much....I hope