Valve Cover bolt tip broke...

diyer97 · Post by **diyer97** » 21 Feb 2011, 18:11

when I overtightened it (just one of them). What do I do? Please give me some advices..
Thanks,
Ken

danr960 · Post by **danr960** » 22 Feb 2011, 14:19

Are you saying the end of the bolt broke? I find that hard to believe, because the bolts are tightening into soft aluminum, so the bolt hole would strip out first before the bolt would break, but I guess anything is possible.

The 50 something bolts that hold the head top on do not need much torque to be tight, and they do not tolerate any over torquing at all.

If it is just one bolt that the tip broke off, I would replace it with a shorter bolt, if the broken piece is farther up the hole and will not allow another shorter bolt to be used, then go with out it. There is a sealant/glue that holds the head top on, if fact, you could probably remove all of the bolts and the head top would stay in place, that glue is so strong.

DanR '94 964 356,000 miles (122,000 on the new engine)

diyer97 · Post by **diyer97** » 22 Feb 2011, 18:18

Thank you, Danr960!
In fact the car involved is not a volvo; the tip with the threadings is about 1/4inch and this part broke and I can pull
the bolt head out...Hoping it's OK like you said..