Need to replace the cam cover gasket on my 4.0l AJ6. I see the kits at the parts houses - the outside gasket, spark plug gaskets, and half moon. I've seen mention of hylosil. Can someone walk me through (or point me to) a step by step on putting all together.

Specifically, the outer gasket and spark plugs seem pretty self explanatory but what about the half moons. Is hylosil the dressing for all of them?

 

I don't have the step by step instruction but it's pretty straight forward. I have never done it on my Jag but I did that on my Mercedes. The steps seems the same.

You might need 6 circular gaskets to seal the gap between cam cover and spark plug channels. If you don't seal it, oil could leak to the spark plugs channels.

Remove the spark plug wires and ignition coils. You don't need to remove the spark plugs.

Put Hylosil on all gaskets.

Be careful not to overtighten the cam cover bolts. The aluminum head is very soft. It's easy to strip the threads.

 

I will be doing this on my 96 next weekend. Does anyone have the torque specs for the cam cover bolts?

 

"Camcover assembly - Flange Headed Setcrew"???

17-20lbs/ft or 23-27Nm

Thats the closest reference I could find.

 

Got the complete gasket set so I'm good there. On my '94 the bolts appear to be pozidriv. I don't have any bits (pozidriv or phillips) that will fit my torque wrench. Do I need to order some or is there a reference that would make it safe to 'wing it' or 'eye ball it'?

 

It mentions that you would need a 10mm wrench to remove the Flange Headed Setscrew...whatever that means.

 

Don't know what it means. Looks like a simple matter of getting the plug wires out of the way and then unscrewing the bolts. Don't know where the wrench would come into it unless I'm in for a nasty surprise.

 

That will do fine!

Cadfael, please let us know if there are any surprises. I'll be right behind you on this little project.

 

I came across this link previously re: cam cover gasket replacement, fwiw.

Cam Cover Gasket Replacement

 

Great info Geordie68. Unfortunately, my 4.0 6 is enough different that the v12's that a lot of the process is different.

Just to be on the safe side, I went to wiha an ordered some pozidriv bits and an adaptor so I can use my torque wrench to get the right snugness on the bolts.

 

Cadfael, it just dawned on me that while we both have 4.0 I6 engines, yours is an AJ6 while mine the AJ16. I wonder what differences, if any in this procedure.

 

Can't give you in depth differences but one thing I discovered in making sure I got the right gaskets is that the half moons are built into the cam cover gasket on yours. Think the other steps are very similar. I also believe the bolts have a slightly different with plastic 'isolator' washers.

 

My mistake; completely overlooked the fact you had the 6 cylinder. Good luck with the work though.

 

Decided to do it after debating whether it was necessary. It turned out to be pretty easy:

1. take out the spark plug wires.
2. Unscrew all the bolts.
3. loosen and unscrew the one hose (be sure to either catch the hose clamp or leave it on the hose - ask me how I know).
4. Lift off the cam cover - only obstruction is a slight overhang from the A/C hose at the fire wall at the back.
5. Remove the two half-moon gasket/rubber plugs at the back of the block.
6. remove the gasket from the cam cover and the plug rings (either on the cover or still on the block).
7. with black rtv gasket maker, run a bead around the inside of the half moons and install.
8. slide the ring gaskets around the spark plug wells on the cover - mine stayed on pretty well.
9. put the gasket on the cam cover - mine wanted to keep twisting and just didn't quite want to go on but finally got it on.
10. put the cam cover back on making sure the gasket stays in place - it is a bear to begin to screw it down just to discover one corner has come loose - ask me how I know.
11. reinstall bolts adding new washers if missing or deformed and tighten down in a criss cross pattern to get it down tight and even (like putting a wheel on a tire). When I checked the ROM it said 8.5-10 newton meters and I've been told in a few places to be sure not to over torque).
12. reinstall the hose to the cam cover and tighten down the clamp (after spending 20 minutes looking for when it had dropped off).
13. enjoy.

Took me about 45 minutes but would have been a lot quicker if I hadn't lost the hose clamp and not made sure the gasket stayed on when I set it down the first time. Probably 15-25 minutes for a novice like me and quicker for someone who know what they are doing.

 

Good job cadfael_tex. I plan to do it too. I see some oil inside the 2-3 of spark plug channels. I guess the ring gasket is failing.

When I take the cam cover out, I plan to repaint it too since some of the paint is falling off.

 

One difference that will make it a bit difference for you AJ16 folks is that you'll need to remove the coils for each piston I believe.