Valve cover bolt torque - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

topper · 22nd July 2008, 20:58

I'm hoping to get the valve covers on tonight. I can't find any torque setting in the TIS, or a web search. Anyone got a clue?

m5 deamon · 22nd July 2008, 21:56

yes just snug them up good and you will be fine

topper · 23rd July 2008, 02:38

Thanks, they're back on. I don't think I overtightened anything, although one of the bolts at the vanos end was a close thing - I felt it /just/ start to give, so left well alone.

What amazes me is how people say they know they have / had a leak from the half-moons. It's almost impossible to get round there, especially on the right hand side.

I tried to feel to make sure the new gaskets were well-placed at the half-moons, but I'd be lying if I said I was 100% sure. I'm definitely partly relying on the fact that they were carefully fitted. I'll just cross my fingers.

m5 deamon · 23rd July 2008, 17:04

the tric to that is to use some high temp rtv silcone on the half moons and use a mirror to ck if they seated correctly. but if you stick your hand back there and they are dry you should be fine

H8Rain · 23rd July 2008, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by m5 deamon

yes just snug them up good and you will be fine

Dude.... thats a lame response

. The should be tighted to 10lb - 12lbs.

Just busting on you a little bit ya know

M540i · 24th July 2008, 19:41

Really and truly it is actually quite difficult to overtighten them. I spoke to a Master Technician about this and his response was that since there is a shoulder at the tops of the bolts it is impossible to overtighten if you are being gentle in the first place. Make sure to use a high temperature gasket sealer as well over the area that where it seats againts the cylinder head.

If you are torquing on things like a Wal*Mart tire gorilla ("mechanic") then it would make sense that you would break a bolt off. "Snugging" it up is acceptable. I am no tech, but I do know that a little common sense should help the situation.

verhagke · 25th July 2008, 20:27

I thought it was 15ft/lbs, but it may be 10-12ft/lbs as stated. I'd take care to use the correct torque on anything that goes into an aluminum part. Think especially about the amount of effort involved in fixing a stripped thread in a head.

JeffYoung · 26th July 2008, 19:51

Snug up is right. You would be very surprised at how "little" torque 15 ft lbs is. You can hit it before your torque wrench even clicks.

mottati · 27th July 2008, 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by M540i

Really and truly it is actually quite difficult to overtighten them..

are you kidding? THese bolts are incredibly easy to strip. "snug" is a good answer. My torque wrench starts at 30ft lbs, and my other one is in inch lbs, for which i'm not sure of the conversion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by M540i

I spoke to a Master Technician about this and his response was that since there is a shoulder at the tops of the bolts it is impossible to overtighten

Must be why we hear of dealership techs always stripping these!