I am going to replace my valve cover gasket on my 240, I know it's a pretty simple procedure but I don't want to mess anything up. The gasket is a victor reinz. So take valve cover off, remove old one, clean cover and place new one on. Anybody done it before that can give me step by step so I don't screw anything even more. I want to do it right and good will I need any type of sealant?First time Volvo owner thanks guys!

 

you should use a little dab of permatex at the corners and where the gasket has to make sharp bends up and over the cam seals.

 

Sharp bends over cam seals? I sound dumb but can you please explain or give me a picture what you mean

 

you'll see when you take the valve cover off.

its not flat. it 'tunnels' up and over the cam shaft seals at each end of the head, and the paper valve cover gasket has to match the contour, with sharp bends on either side of the cover for the camshaft seal.

here's a picture of the end of the head with the valve cover removed. the cam seal is loosened, there won't be any gap between it and the top deck of the head normally.



and the other (back) end of the head

 

Thank you very much,now I get what you are saying by sharp bends. So I will have to loosen the camshaft bolts to get the valve cover on, Should I just replace the cam seals also? I have water pump sealant will that work?

 

no, no, no, you don't have to touch the camshaft bolts. that was a rebuilt head going on my son's 940 turbo wagon, and it arrived with the camshaft just held in place but not torqued.

just picture that with those camshaft seal 'bridge' pieces tightened down, the valve cover gasket has to go up and over, so its got a sharp bend at the bottom of each side of each end.. you want a dab of permatex on those spots, and another one on each of the 4 corners, just a thin smear. all surfaces should be shiny clean before installing the valve cover gasket. SOME people install these gaskets with permatex *everywhere*, if the previous guy did that, it will be hell to clean off.

 

Alright. So you're saying where the camshaft bridge edges touch the head on each side, I'm not clear if you mean putting the sealant on top or bottom of the new gasket? I'm probably over thinking this but I'm a little confused and I've never done it and I wanna clarify before I put sealant in the wrong spot.

 

a thin smear of the slow cure black stuff, like with a wooden spreader stick, on the inside of that corner where its going to bend, thats all you should need. make sure the surfaces are both really clean and shiny smooth, no scrapes and gouges.

 

This is the gasket. _____
This is the head. _____
Which surface does the sealant go on haha

 

the head

 

My 240 is spitting oil near the camshaft on the firewall side. I stick my finger back there and it feels like there is a little hole on the block (firewall side) Should this be? I have seen this cam plug but how big are these things? I am super new to volvos although starting to fall in love. Im going to replace the valve cover gasket but it seems like it might be the plug? Could you shed some light on this plug? When I stick my finger on the back end valve cover (next to firewall/camshaft) should there be a hole that air is blowing out?

 

there should be a sealing cap in that opening. i don't have our 240 here to double check, but its about 1" in diameter, its the hole where a 740/940's camshaft distributor is mounted.

if it blew out, its quite possible your 'flame trap' and/or oil recovery box is plugged up.