Valve covers
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
No "might" about it; you definitely should replace the gaskets, if you remove the covers and the gaskets are not fairly new.
I'd suggest that you replace them with Fel-Pro composition gasket material: cork and synthetic rubber mixture. Also, clean off the cover 'rails' and the sealing lips cast on the heads with a good, volatile cleaner (lacquer thinner, paint thinner, mineral spirits) to get ALL oil/grease/dirt of them before you install the new gaskets. Torque the hold down bolts in staged increments; and DO NOT overtorque them.
I'd suggest that you replace them with Fel-Pro composition gasket material: cork and synthetic rubber mixture. Also, clean off the cover 'rails' and the sealing lips cast on the heads with a good, volatile cleaner (lacquer thinner, paint thinner, mineral spirits) to get ALL oil/grease/dirt of them before you install the new gaskets. Torque the hold down bolts in staged increments; and DO NOT overtorque them.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
My pleasure. Definitely replace the gaskets. If they're original, they can be a bear to get entirely off which you must do. If necessary, use a wire wheel on a drill but be sure to clean the covers afterwards being careful to remove any wire wheel fragments as well as any other debris. Some say oven cleaner works well but I've never tried it. Jud
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
My pleasure. Definitely replace the gaskets. If they're original, they can be a bear to get entirely off which you must do. If necessary, use a wire wheel on a drill but be sure to clean the covers afterwards being careful to remove any wire wheel fragments as well as any other debris. Some say oven cleaner works well but I've never tried it. Jud
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