Valve cover bolts are inch-pound fasteners — usually 60 to 106 in·lbs. Values by engine family, the centre-out sequence, and why over-tightening causes the leak it was meant to fix.
Short answer: valve cover bolts are specified in inch-pounds, typically 60–106 in·lbs (5–12 N·m), which is only 5–9 ft·lbs. Setting a foot-pound wrench to those numbers will crush the gasket and crack a plastic cover. Work from the centre outward in two passes.
| Engine family | in·lbs | ft·lbs | N·m | Cover material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GM LS / LT V8 | 106 | 8.8 | 12 | Cast aluminium |
| GM small-block (Gen I/II) | 100 | 8.3 | 11 | Stamped steel or aluminium |
| Ford modular 4.6 / 5.4 | 89 | 7.4 | 10 | Composite |
| Ford Coyote 5.0 | 89 | 7.4 | 10 | Composite |
| Honda / Acura K-series | 86 | 7.2 | 9.8 | Cast aluminium |
| Toyota 4-cylinder | 53–97 | 4.4–8.1 | 6–11 | Cast aluminium |
| Subaru EJ / FB | 60 | 5.0 | 6.8 | Cast aluminium |
| Volkswagen / Audi TSI | 71 | 5.9 | 8 | Composite |
| Chrysler Hemi | 105 | 8.8 | 12 | Composite |
| Generic 6 mm bolt | 89 | 7.4 | 10 | Any |
| Generic 8 mm bolt | 159 | 13.3 | 18 | Cast aluminium only |
Start in the middle, work outward. Tighten the two centre bolts first, then alternate outward toward each end in a spiral. Working along the cover from one end squeezes the gasket sideways and leaves the far end unsealed.
Two passes, always. Run every bolt to roughly half spec, then to full torque in the same order. Cover gaskets are thick and compress unevenly on a single pass.
Let a rubber gasket relax. Moulded rubber gaskets take a few minutes to settle after the first pass. On a cover that has leaked before, a second check after the engine has run and cooled is worth the five minutes.
Do not chase a leak with more torque. A valve cover that seeps after correct torque has a distorted flange, a hardened gasket, or oil on the sealing face — not a torque problem. Over-tightening bends the flange between bolts and makes the leak permanent.
Convert an inch-pound spec safely
By thread size and seat type
The fasteners under the cover
Reference for a standard 6 mm fastener
Most valve cover bolts take 60–106 in·lbs (5–12 N·m), which is 5–9 ft·lbs. Common figures are GM LS 106 in·lbs, Ford modular 89 in·lbs, Honda K-series 86 in·lbs, Subaru 60 in·lbs and VW/Audi 71 in·lbs.
Inch-pounds, almost always. A spec of 89 means 89 in·lbs, which is only 7.4 ft·lbs. Setting 89 ft·lbs on a valve cover bolt would shear it or crack the cover — the figure is twelve times too large.
From the centre outward. Tighten the middle bolts first, then alternate toward each end in a spiral, and make two passes — half torque first, then full.
Usually a hardened or damaged gasket, a warped cover flange, or oil left on the sealing surface. It is rarely a torque problem, and adding torque bends the flange between bolts, which makes the leak worse.
Only if it is a moulded rubber gasket still soft and undistorted, and it was not disturbed. Any gasket that has hardened, cracked or taken a permanent set should be replaced — it is an inexpensive part next to the labour of doing the job twice.