Need yer help to identify gasket!!

[erikvr]

I have some leaky gaskets on my ea82. The oil pan gasket and the valve cover gasket was easy. I have a leak from another gasket that I hope is not the head gasket, but you tell me.

 

Under the car on the passenger side looking up at the engine I see the valve cover gasket leak. Then the next gasket over (left of the valve cover gasket looking up) is leaking too.

[MorganM]

Your cams are housed in their own case. SOme call it the cam tower or cam case. Then this case bolts to your heads. So if you are looking up at your engine like you say; it goes: valve cover gasket, cam case gasket, head gasket.

 

More involved than your valve cover gaskets as you will have to take off the timing belts. It can be done inside the vehicle however and removing the engine is not required.

 

Good luck

[hooziewhatsit]

the cam tower 'gasket' is one you make using ultra grey/black silicon stuff, it isn't a preformed gasket you can buy from the dealer.

 

also, if you do take it off, make sure you have some thick/heavy grease to hold the rockers on the lifters when you put it back together.

[erikvr]

the cam tower 'gasket' is one you make using ultra grey/black silicon stuff, it isn't a preformed gasket you can buy from the dealer.

 

also, if you do take it off, make sure you have some thick/heavy grease to hold the rockers on the lifters when you put it back together.

 

Hmmmmmmmm, don't the rocker arms keep the rockers in place? I think I am missing something..............So, where would I put the grease?

 

And last but not least, any tips on making that goopy gasket tight the first time? Thanks for the help!

[hooziewhatsit]

Hmmmmmmmm, don't the rocker arms keep the rockers in place? I think I am missing something..............So, where would I put the grease?

 

And last but not least, any tips on making that goopy gasket tight the first time? Thanks for the help!

 

you'll see what I mean when you get in there. I may very well have my terminology wrong :-/ The lifters have a round head that you'll want to put the grease on, then the rocker arm (?) will rest on it and the valve, and the cam lobe will then push on the rocker arm.

 

For the gasket, I just put a single continuous bead all the way around it, after cleaning out all the old stuff (PITA). Then just put it on carefully, trying not to knock off the rocker arm thingies, and trying not to smear the gasket stuff too much.

 

You'll also want to replace the O-ring for the oil passage from the head to the cam tower.

[Flowmastered87GL]

Yes the O-ring is very important! Make sure to get a genuine subaru cam tower o-ring as they work better.

[NorthWet]

The EA82 Rockers (also called cam followers in other Makes) are a free-floating piece that rests on the valve-stem tip on one end and the ball-shaped end of the HLA (pivot point) on the other end, and the cam lobe rides against a pad on the top surface inbetween. Without the cam-carrier in place, there is nothing to hold the rocker in place, except for a little friction. (Or gravity, if the engine is out and on an engine stand with the cylinder facing upwards.)

 

A good glob of grease or Vasoline on the ball-end (uppermost contact point of the rocker) will help to stick in in place... but still, be prepared for them to fall.

 

Also, due to wear patterns the rockers (and HLAs) should be kept in sets with the cylinders that they are currently with. This may be hard to do when you remove the cam-carrier as there, again, is nothing to hold the rockers in place except a little stiction from the oil. The Earth will not split open and swallow you if you fail to do this, but it is still a good practice.