Search this forum on the Ragusa topic. “Richard RV” recently posted about this supposed porosity issue false diagnosis

Since I baked a couple of coats of enamel inside my Ragusa pan and still
have leakage, I don't think porosity is the problem. I still haven't been
able to cure flange leaks though. Maybe RTV only?

Ken H.

My GMC is currently laid up in my garage with the front-end suspension and steering completely apart. I am waiting for new parts to be be delivered and rebuildable parts (control arms) to be rebuilt by Dave Lenzi. I am fortunate that Dave lives less than an hour away from me.

I figure this is a good time to address some chronic oil leaks. These leaks seem to be coming from both valve covers and my Ragusa transmission oil pan.

The current leaking valve cover gaskets are cork, that were glued only to the covers. When I installed them the last time, I tried to make sure the sealing areas were flat. I tried not to over torque the bolts since the service manual says to torque them to 7 Ft Lbs. But they still leak.

Any suggestions on how to avoid valve cover leaks?

Also, my Ragusa transmission oil pan keeps leaking (seeping). Maybe I should have kept the old pan that didn't leak.

Richard,

More as a matter of interest than anything else: Yesterday I was going
through the stack of gaskets & empty boxes on one of my storage shelves
when I came across the information sheet in one of the rocker cover
gasket boxes. It said, essentially verbatim, "In 1975 Oldsmobile quit
using rocker cover gaskets and used a liquid sealant. They also went from
using 10 hold-down bolts to 5. The enclosed gaskets can be used with
either number of bolts since the pattern for the remaining five is
unchanged...". The ... went on to warn of the narrowed sealing surface
where the bolts were removed, etc.

While their 1975 date doesn't agree with our GMC experience, maybe it's
worth investigating the possible use of only RTV to seal the rocker covers?

Ken H.

rjw wrote on Sun, 28 March 2021 10:12

My GMC is currently laid up in my garage with the front-end suspension and steering completely apart. I am waiting for new parts to be be delivered and rebuildable parts (control arms) to be rebuilt by Dave Lenzi. I am fortunate that Dave lives less than an hour away from me.

I figure this is a good time to address some chronic oil leaks. These leaks seem to be coming from both valve covers and my Ragusa transmission oil pan.

The current leaking valve cover gaskets are cork, that were glued only to the covers. When I installed them the last time, I tried to make sure the sealing areas were flat. I tried not to over torque the bolts since the service manual says to torque them to 7 Ft Lbs. But they still leak.

Any suggestions on how to avoid valve cover leaks?

Also, my Ragusa transmission oil pan keeps leaking (seeping). Maybe I should have kept the old pan that didn't leak.

Richard,

About your valve gear covers leaking, did you try re-torquing them? The cork based materials all have a lot of creep. I have not seen leakage from those that I put in at the overhaul a year ago. I will try to remember to look and see what they were, I'm pretty sure that they were rubber bound cork, but the part number does not come up in a search.

That reminds me. I owe Dave a note..... Those that have not been in his "basement" may not have an appreciation for what he does.

Matt

I can't imagine a tool that would be more even-flowing than a manual
squeeze; not when you factor in the varying movement speed anyway. But
I've never tried such a tool.

If your positive of leaky trans pan, send it to Ragusa and they will
replace it.
However we have had few they did not replace and we found out the leak was
coming from areas that found its way to the pan.
Speedo drive by governor and Trans fill tube and the weep hole are always a
suspect.