Important! : Question on sealing the cam ladder

24th March 2016, 00:34

I want to get this right, sick of it leaking.

Got the cam ladder off, there was sealant all over the place. Cleaned it all up but unsure exactly where to put the instant gasket stuff.

The red line follows the cutout on the head so I'm fine with following that. The green and blue circles highlight other cut outs...do these need filling with sealant or are they oil pathways?

Edit - been told on facebook the green highlighted bits need sealant. What about the blue bits?

24th March 2016, 14:14

I found if you follow the grooved line on the cylinder head all the way around and use a decent sealant then you should have no problems.

I didn't put anywhere else on the head or ladders.

Last time I used Dirko and it didn't leak after re fitting back on.

24th March 2016, 15:37

arghh, confused. i've had 2 people now tell me to seal the grooves highlighted in green but you say it's not needed.

so far i've done 1 cam ladder in which i just sealed the area in red (groove on the head) the other cam ladder i've also sealed the grooves that i highlighted in green and blue.

which one has been done right? lol

24th March 2016, 23:23

To be honest when putting the sealant on the grooved line when the ladders are tightened down it squashes out so likely to cover that area anyway as so close to the groove.

The camshaft seal is at the end of that area as well so seals anything by that groove.

I have done it that way a couple of times on different builds and never had any issues with leaks.

If extra meant to be put on that area as well would be handy to know but not had to do it yet.

25th March 2016, 00:35

Well I'll leave them both as they are and see if either leak! I've got my patented quick release system set up so i don't have to take the cambelt off or remove the cams to get the ladders off so at least it shouldn't take long to sort.

25th March 2016, 08:23

You need to follow the groove on the head.

You are running the risk of getting silicone on the cam if you put it on the other highlighted areas, plus, you're not sealing anything on the other areas.

When bolting down the ladders and cam covers I've always followed the routine of let it set for half an hour on the head, then put the bolts in and just nip them and leave it overnight to actually set and form a gasket seal.

Then in the morning torque them down to 8NM.

Never had any leaks that way.