Almost every gen III engine that I have ever seen, that had some mileage on it, seeps oil from the valve cover gaskets, including mine. It is not enough to do anything but make a mess. Is everyone else having this same problem? Are there any aftermarket gaskets that are better?

 

I have 260,000 miles on my truck and I don't have the problem you have mentioned. I did a valve spring replacement a couple of weaks ago and the only leak (not much of a leak) I had on my truck is from the PCV but it never ran down to exhaust manifold. My truck is a 99 2500 with the 6.0L and you can see a lite rust surface on the heads right below the valve cover.

 

If your truck is still under warranty i believe there is a tsb for that. All you have to do is ask your dealership if the tsb is still active

 

Warantee I've got a 99 with 72K. It's not much of a leak, just enough that it forms a film on the covers, then dirt gets on it, and it looks like I have seen several others around here like that. I'll check the bolts, and make sure that none of them have loosened up any. They have never been off though.

 

Know that you have cleared up your question, my truck did have what you mention but the parts washer took care of cleaning it all off. I did notice on my truck the valve cover bolts run through a rubber gromet with steel sleeve, probably the source of your oil film leak. The steel sleeve keeps the cover from collapsing, I put some RTV sealant around the bolts and rubber gromment, since I did not replace them. If it last another 250,000 miles without leaking I will be very pleased.

 

Thanks alot. I'll try that.

 

Most of what I've seen has just been just the slightest bit of "sweat" on the head by the valve covers. Nothing that re-torquing the valve covers and a little brakleen won't fix though. As long as the valve cover gaskets are soft and squishy and not hard and brittle, they should be fine.