Final answer:
To prevent oil leaks when installing a rocker cover with dished areas, the tech can replace the rocker cover, hammer the dished areas flat, use two gaskets, or use RTV sealant instead of a gasket.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the areas around the mounting holes on a sheet metal rocker cover are dished from having fasteners overtightened, there are a few steps the tech can take to prevent oil leaks when installing the rocker cover. The first option is to replace the rocker cover with a new one. This ensures that the dished areas are no longer a problem. Another option is to hammer the dished areas flat again.
This requires carefully reshaping the metal back to its original form. Using two gaskets instead of one is also a solution. The additional gasket creates a tighter seal and compensates for the dished areas. Lastly, the tech can choose to use RTV sealant instead of a gasket. RTV sealant is a silicone-based adhesive that can create a reliable seal even on imperfect surfaces.