VTT Cast Valve Cover

[DASN54]

I purchased this VTT valve cover new from a fellow forum member and i really like the look it gives the bay and also all the crankcase options you get with running this thing. However, I am experiencing some seepage on the front of the cover, not really a big deal but it is a bit annoying knowing it’s there. Also i will say you hear a lot more Valve train noise too. I hit up VTT about the leak and they advised to say some sealant on the inside of the cover and i do recall reading that on their instructions but i forgot to do it so i guess i need to pull this thing off and try that. Anyone running one of these?

 

[Zeezul]

I purchased this VTT valve cover new from a fellow forum member and i really like the look it gives the bay and also all the crankcase options you get with running this thing. However, I am experiencing some seepage on the front of the cover, not really a big deal but it is a bit annoying knowing it’s there. Also i will say you hear a lot more Valve train noise too. I hit up VTT about the leak and they advised to say some sealant on the inside of the cover and i do recall reading that on their instructions but i forgot to do it so i guess i need to pull this thing off and try that. Anyone running one of these?

I have pretty much the same setup as yours. I have the same seeping/sweating coming from the front. No leaking so just a little annoying. I'm pretty sure the oil is coming from the screw holes. I haven't tried any gasket sealant but I have tried two different gaskets with the same results. I assume sealant would help. The cover flows really well though. In your pics, it looks like the gasket is almost pancaked and coming out of the sides which means you torqued your valve cover bolts too tight which could actually make oil seep out more. The VC bolts should just be hand tight, than go through a couple of drives and retighten as necessary.

 

[DASN54]

I have pretty much the same setup as yours. I have the same seeping/sweating coming from the front. No leaking so just a little annoying. I'm pretty sure the oil is coming from the screw holes. I haven't tried any gasket sealant but I have tried two different gaskets with the same results. I assume sealant would help. The cover flows really well though. In your pics, it looks like the gasket is almost pancaked and coming out of the sides which means you torqued your valve cover bolts too tight which could actually make oil seep out more. The VC bolts should just be hand tight, than go through a couple of drives and retighten as necessary.

Thanks for your feedback, and you're right its not a big deal but it is annoying. When I emailed VTT I told them I had them hand tight and they advised me to tighten them further to see if it helped, obviously it did not. I'm going to remove the cover and spray that sealant on there and maybe use some rtv in the bolt holes.

 

[The Convert]

So, does the VTT cover not have the same pads on the cylinder head side and use stock mounting bolts with the collars? If so, are they just not machining to the right thickness with tight enough tolerances?

 

[DASN54]

So, does the VTT cover not have the same pads on the cylinder head side and use stock mounting bolts with the collars? If so, are they just not machining to the right thickness with tight enough tolerances?

Correct, no pads and it does not use the stock bolts with collars, makes it real fun getting some of the bolts in without dropping them in to the abyss. Overall I am not too fond of the cover, may go back to stock.

 

[The Convert]

Correct, no pads and it does not use the stock bolts with collars, makes it real fun getting some of the bolts in without dropping them in to the abyss. Overall I am not too fond of the cover, may go back to stock.

That’s just crazy, assuming you’re supposed to use the oe vc gasket. Why they would remove those features is beyond me. They essentially guarantee that you won’t over torque the bolts and squish the gasket causing the leak you guys are all seeing.

I wonder if the M18 vc is also this way?

 

[twinturbos]

That’s just crazy, assuming you’re supposed to use the oe vc gasket. Why they would remove those features is beyond me. They essentially guarantee that you won’t over torque the bolts and squish the gasket causing the leak you guys are all seeing.

I wonder if the M18 vc is also this way?

Yes it is. My M18 vc has been fine tho. No leaks after tightening and re-tightening after a few drives.

 

[martymil]

The billet vc from vtt reuses the factory bolts for the grounding points for the harness and spaces out the valve cover nicely so the
gasket cant be squashed in the middle of the vc, then you go around and tighten the rest of the new bolts with a small dab of very mild loctite so stop the bolts backing out and allowing the gasket to leak or seep.

when I say tighten the rest of the bolts you have to do it in stages and only a little bit at a time till they get a little tight.

 

[The Convert]

Yes it is. My M18 vc has been fine tho. No leaks after tightening and re-tightening after a few drives.

The billet vc from vtt reuses the factory bolts for the grounding points for the harness and spaces out the valve cover nicely so the
gasket cant be squashed in the middle of the vc, then you go around and tighten the rest of the new bolts with a small dab of very mild loctite so stop the bolts backing out and allowing the gasket to leak or seep.

when I say tighten the rest of the bolts you have to do it in stages and only a little bit at a time till they get a little tight.

That’s a shame that both companies chose a bad design, especially when it’s so obvious why the OE VC is the way it is. Now you have to products that are prone to leaking because you don’t have a proper torque setting for fasteners that rely on that setting to keep from backing out...

 

[AWCR1MC]

I wish I would have never purchased the VTT Cast VC....I've driven a total of 5 miles and its leaking oil everywhere! At first I thought maybe the gasket blew out so I ordered a new one. When I pulled the VC and looked at the gasket everything was fine, so I kept trying to figure out what was wrong. Finally came across a crack and have been trying to get it replaced, but it looks like they're going blame me and not stand by their product. I hand tightened the VC just like the instructions and yet I'm still being told I tightened it too much lol....such a joke. Spoke with the bank and they've already credited me my money back, but now I still need a VC. I want to go with the billet one, but also not too keen on giving them anymore of my money.

 

[martymil]

That’s a shame that both companies chose a bad design, especially when it’s so obvious why the OE VC is the way it is. Now you have to products that are prone to leaking because you don’t have a proper torque setting for fasteners that rely on that setting to keep from backing out...

How is the vc a bad design, there are at least a 100 or so out there with no issues, been running one since release with no issues.

Not going to comment on how people install theirs but at least if you had a mechanic install it you would have warranty and if you had it break during install he would have had a report on the failure to you could get an exchange or refund.

Sometimes it does not pay to do things yourself

 

[fmorelli]

Not going to comment on how people install theirs but at least if you had a mechanic install it you would have warranty and if you had it break during install he would have had a report on the failure to you could get an exchange or refund.

Sometimes it does not pay to do things yourself

I don't understand this comment - maybe you can explain. Are you saying VTT only warranties items if a mechanic installed it?

Filippo

 

[martymil]

I dont know what vtt does and it goes for any install.

If you have a professional install something that has been licenced in that field then you have a clear legitimate claim

Just because I can apply a band aid does not make me a doctor does it

 

[AWCR1MC]

I dont know what vtt does and it goes for any install.

If you have a professional install something that has been licenced in that field then you have a clear legitimate claim

Just because I can apply a band aid does not make me a doctor does it

Because working on a car is directly comparable to being a dr......
A warranty shouldn't be contingent on having a mechanic install it. Do you not drive around your own car that has a warranty on it from the factory??? Or do you have a professional driver taking you around everywhere in your own car?

 

[The Convert]

I dont know what vtt does and it goes for any install.

If you have a professional install something that has been licenced in that field then you have a clear legitimate claim

Just because I can apply a band aid does not make me a doctor does it

Maybe that’s how things work in Australia, but not here in the USA. And yes, it’s a shitty design because it was poorly engineered. If it was well engineered these failure mechanisms would have been designed out like the the tabs on the stockVC that are there for a reason.

 

[martymil]

So one failure in hundreds of sales makes it a shirty design,

Not one failure here or leaking cover out of the dozen or so sold.

 

[martymil]

Because working on a car is directly comparable to being a dr......
A warranty shouldn't be contingent on having a mechanic install it. Do you not drive around your own car that has a warranty on it from the factory??? Or do you have a professional driver taking you around everywhere in your own car?

You didn't build your car did you and as long as you dont modify it they will fix it.

If you do and they can prove it will they wont fix it and if you repair it yourself will they pay for it.

Good luck

 

[The Convert]

So one failure in hundreds of sales makes it a shirty design,

Not one failure here or leaking cover out of the dozen or so sold.

There’s not been just one leaking cover. Have you heard of 3 and 6 sigma? Do you understand what they mean with respect to product quality, or even what actual product quality is? These VCs probably wouldn’t even be 1 sigma. They’re literal trash in terms of design quality.

 

[martymil]

Have you heard the term.

Opinion are like arseholes and everyone has one

 

[AWCR1MC]

You didn't build your car did you and as long as you dont modify it they will fix it.

If you do and they can prove it will they wont fix it and if you repair it yourself will they pay for it.

Good luck

I took my car to McKenna BMW down in Socal when it FBO and got brand new turbos. I was having issues with my injectors and BMW of SF warrantied those even though it was modified. Also got a few other warrantied parts after all of that as well. Installed a clutch in the past that was faulty and had that warrantied....If a shop cares about its customers and has integrity, they will warranty their parts even if they aren't installed by a licensed mechanic.

No luck needed for me. I have a good bank, that doesn't put up with shady companies.