Possible Engine Assembly Mistake

[logray]

Hello,

I recently finished re-assembling my '99 M96-01 engine after having the heads out and it is installed and running really great.

After reading through my notes one of the things that I had cause for concern but dismissed was the use of loctite on the variocam actuators, cam bearing saddles, and lifter carriers. Looking back on it now, even though I spent several days doing this perhaps I might have assembled too hastily and perhaps should have posted this thread in advance.

When I pulled the bolts out of these locations they were shiny clean and in some cases even oily - without any loctite or micro-encapsulated residue that I could notice - the threads and heads of the bolts almost looked "brand new" for lack of a better term.

I followed every torque specification from the work shop manual. Also followed any call out when micro encapsulated and/or stretched single use was called for.

I researched as best as I could and the workshop manual, nor any forum, or parts list I could find called for micro encapsulated bolts or loctite for these pieces of hardware.

Was this just a given that an experienced engine builder would do this and I need to pull the covers off again to apply loctite to the variocam actuator, bearing saddle, and lifter carrier bolts?

Thanks in advance.

Edited July 12, 2011 by logray

[Dharn55]

I used small amounts of Blue Loctite when I reassembled by heads, but that was just my preference. I don't know that the factory uses any. My thoughts were that some loctite would prevent (or at least lessen the chance) any bolts from loosening. I wonder what Jake Raby's thought on this are.