85' 500 sel smoking from engine
 

i believe it's the valve cover, well it's definitely the valve cover gasket leaking... do i have to replace the gaskets, and does it have to be tightened with a torque wrench? i know..silly questions, but hey I'm a girl, I'm lost under this hood.

Smnoking Engine
 

There are several products that stop oil leaks by causing the gaskets to swell-up. Check with your local auto parts store. As far as I know these won't hurt your engine...maybe someone knows more about these. I have used them before to stop oil leaks with good results. Granted, it is better to replace the valve cover gaskets...not a big job but it is critical that equal pressure be applied to each bolt to prevent damage to the gasket. Over driving them will cut the gasket...hence the need for a torque-wrench, which are relatively cheap and easy to use. Anyone with a service manual can give you the correct pressure setting to use if you decide to do it yourself. Good luck!
Jeff

Check the bolts holding the valve covers; tighten them if they are loose. If you still have the leak, then the gaskets probably need do be replaced.

if you see oil around the exhaust manifold then the v/c gaskets need replacing. new must be used. as far as i'm concerned any addative that swells seals is a no no. short term remidy with long term damage.
the bolts have a torque value but i just snug 'em up. criss cross the bolts
while slowly snugging 'em up. also the gasket doesn't like staying on
the v/c so your gonna need a lot of patience. also once you got them on see if the cover rocks. if it does then the gasket came off somewhere.
besides, what does being a girl have to do with anything??

george