Sealing No1 Cam Cap?

[wil892]

Hi

I've got a new head on my Golf, which is a chinese casting. The head (touch wood) has been brilliant and nothing wrong with it. Apart from an oil leak which started when I first put the head on. I've just put up with it and kept topping up the oil.
Anyway after a bit of investigation it seems there is a little pool of oil at the front of no1 cam cap. I originally thought it was the cam seal, but this was new when I put in the new head.

I did not seal no1 cap with sealer, but I have bought Loctite Aviation Sealer and I have some RTV sealer.

How do I apply the aviation sealer to the cap, do I just cover both sides with a thin layer.
Can I just remove no1 cap and replace it without taking any other ones off.
And do I apply a bit of the RTV sealer to the outside of the cap when it is back on?
Also by removing the cap does this destroy the cam seal?

Thanks!
Will

[rs899]

I should think you could just apply aviation Permatex to both sides of No1 and replace- that should be enough to stop it.  I would spin the crank so that the valves on No 1 cyl put minimal stress on that end of the cam.

[78sharpshooter]

How did you notice that the cam cap was leaking? Isn't that under the valve cover?

[rs899]

He's talking about the cam cap to cyl head joint- it's visible and not covered by the valve cover.

[78sharpshooter]

that the cap at the front of the camshaft, right? sorry the dumb question but in my YZ450 wrenching the cam caps are all under the valve cover.

[wil892]

Thanks for the help. Just finished putting it back together. Just to be sure this is what I did:

Remove cam cover
turn engine so first two valves are not open.
remove number 1 cap
clean area and cap completely
dab sealer at end of the caps where they are exposed to outside
dap sealer in same area of head
leave for a few minutes.
oil cap
replace cap and torque to 20NM
Oil cam lobes
clean rubber cam cover seal and cover,
replace cam cover.

enough sealer oozed out of the corners where the loop going over the cap meets the flat part of the valve cover gasket so I could just put the gasket over it.

Started engine for a few seconds to flush any sealer out of the bearing. Is this correct? I felt that some may have been compressed towards the bearing and I did not want it solidifying. The engine was run for about 10 seconds to build up pressure in the bearings.

I'm going to leave the car for about 24 hours now to let it seal.

So does this sound reasonable? im a bit worried some sealer has got to the bearing but i assume this has been flushed out. what would happen if some got in?

Thanks
Will