My uncle, a retired diesel mechanic, insisted I use a torque wrench on those aluminum valve covers, and I'm glad I listened after seeing the cracked one on the 5.9 Cummins that came in this morning.

What's the best piece of 'old timer' advice you've gotten that actually held up?

3 comments

3 Comments

Wait, ALUMINUM valve covers? On a diesel? That just sounds like a problem waiting to happen. My dad's buddy, a farmer, always said to put a dab of anti-seize on ANY bolt going into aluminum or you'll be drilling it out later. Saved my bacon more than once.

casey_ramirez351mo ago

Yeah @abbyg60, anti-seize is a lifesaver on aluminum threads.

bennett.vera28d ago

My grandpa, a machinist for 40 years, said to always chase the threads with a tap before putting a bolt back in aluminum. It's saved me so much grief.