Pulled the valve cover and I think I have issues

[BergerNJ]

If I pull my valve cover off....and notice a rocker was replaced, as in looks much newer then the rest...what can I or should I assume the po did or let the car fall victim too?


I'm about 2 or 3 weeks from getting my head checked for possible gasket leaks, never over heated...so I'm remaining optimistic and assuming my head isnt damaged yet..

assuming I get my head pulled and gasket job done...what do i have them check for?

[Eecen]

Poorly scheduled, or carried out valve adjustments. Or they decided to sit on the r3vlimiter longer than they should have. Or old components decided to finally die. Or a combination of the three.

I don't think a broken rocker should = damaged head. When the rocker breaks that valve just won't open when the cam spins around...right? Although pieces of a rocker rolling around could cause problems.

Check for worn rocker pads/cam lobes, normal stuff.

[AnimalE30]

I broke a rocker on a rebuilt head sitting at a stop light lol. Granted the rockers were used, they were inspected beforehand. So its not always really bad reasons.

The only case that I know of when a rocker breaks for reasons other than it being brittle - is if a valve kisses a piston, the valve will bend and can break a rocker. Thats a huge problem and your car would most likely run like crap.

If you're paying someone to do this for you just have them inspect everything on the head. I don't think a reputable shop would put a damaged head back on the car...

Other than that just hope the OP flushed the oil well after the initial breakage. Cast parts can break into little pcs.

Edit: But while the head is off you should do all the maintenance items:
Valve cover gasket
Spark Plugs
Timing belt
Water pump
Cap and rotor
Acc belts
Coolant hoses
Intake/Exhaust gaskets
etc.

[Kommando]

Where are you in Jersey, do you have a shop in mind already?

[BergerNJ]

Poorly scheduled, or carried out valve adjustments. Or they decided to sit on the r3vlimiter..............Check for worn rocker pads/cam lobes, normal stuff.

When I get the head pulled they would check for that right? or should I mention it and see what they want to do?

Where are you in Jersey, do you have a shop in mind already?

I was thinking Guten since they took care of me plenty of times as far as parts go and I have heard a lot of good things about them.....why?

Edit: But while the head is off you should do all the maintenance items:
Valve cover gasket
Spark Plugs
Timing belt
Water pump
Cap and rotor
Acc belts
Coolant hoses
Intake/Exhaust gaskets
etc.

Valve gasket was just done with my last adjustment.

Cap and rotor was done by the PO right before sale. Same with Plugs,

I did the water pump and acc belts same time, and timing belt was done by the po but will need to replaced since it will be pulled off for this head work.

Intake mani gasket was just done as well does it need to be replaced if the manifold comes off? even if its fresh?


the coolant system is gonna be refreshed over the winter in a little bit the hoses are fresh with the water pump but the rad and tank can use a nice refresh

[Kommando]

I was just curious, there are some really sketchy machine shops a bit further south, was going to steer you away from there, but you are about an hour or so north.

[Ceeker]

no, you can reuse your intake manifold gaskets if they are fairly new as long as they come off without tearing. use some rtv sealant -thin coat- putting them back on. the therm housing gasket might need replacing though.

that head was probably off at some point because the timing belt broke bent a valve and broke a rocker. PO probably got the valve replaced and changed the rocker. Sometimes you can get away with this if the wear is minimal on the cam. Have the shop inspect the head for rocker, cam lobe wear to make sure they are within spec. then resurface the head before installing the new head gasket. "preventative measure" especially if there is a leak. could have a potentially warped head.