A Good Tip About Replacing Valve Cover Gaskets
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
A Good Tip About Replacing Valve Cover Gaskets
A long time ago I learned a valuable tip about replacing valve cover gaskets. Rather than using a weatherstripping cement like 3M-8001 or 3M-8008 use an oil resistant RTV to glue the gasket to the valve cover then let the RTV completely cure before installation. When valve cover gaskets leak they leak between the gasket and the valve cover; not between the gasket and the head as most people think.
Take a good look at a gasket that is stuck to a valve cover. With the valve cover tilted to a 45 degree angle (like on a Chevrolet V8) you'll notice the gasket forms a "ledge" on the bottom that oil will collect on then leak out between the gasket and the valve cover. When the valve cover gets installed the gasket will squash OVER the head rail and that "over" allows oil to drip off rather than leaking out between the gasket and the head.
Take a good look at a gasket that is stuck to a valve cover. With the valve cover tilted to a 45 degree angle (like on a Chevrolet V8) you'll notice the gasket forms a "ledge" on the bottom that oil will collect on then leak out between the gasket and the valve cover. When the valve cover gets installed the gasket will squash OVER the head rail and that "over" allows oil to drip off rather than leaking out between the gasket and the head.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 484
Likes: 43
From: NJ
A long time ago I learned a valuable tip about replacing valve cover gaskets. Rather than using a weatherstripping cement like 3M-8001 or 3M-8008 use an oil resistant RTV to glue the gasket to the valve cover then let the RTV completely cure before installation. When valve cover gaskets leak they leak between the gasket and the valve cover; not between the gasket and the head as most people think.
Take a good look at a gasket that is stuck to a valve cover. With the valve cover tilted to a 45 degree angle (like on a Chevrolet V8) you'll notice the gasket forms a "ledge" on the bottom that oil will collect on then leak out between the gasket and the valve cover. When the valve cover gets installed the gasket will squash OVER the head rail and that "over" allows oil to drip off rather than leaking out between the gasket and the head.
Take a good look at a gasket that is stuck to a valve cover. With the valve cover tilted to a 45 degree angle (like on a Chevrolet V8) you'll notice the gasket forms a "ledge" on the bottom that oil will collect on then leak out between the gasket and the valve cover. When the valve cover gets installed the gasket will squash OVER the head rail and that "over" allows oil to drip off rather than leaking out between the gasket and the head.
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Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
3 m
One of the best ways to replace valve cover gaskets is to use 3-M.....the silicone is actually a gasket by itself....Want double gaskets?..Only bench racers would use both a gasket and silicone...making a bad problem only worse....I don't care what brand of gasket used but the 3-m products hold solid into the valve covers and you not be plagued by hitting rockers and dislodging the gasket from the cover......which really causes the leaks.....Put some bearing grease on the head side and you can use the gaskets over and over.....
My engines are opened up after nearly every pass and replacing valve cover gaskets is not one that's ever replaced......
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My engines are opened up after nearly every pass and replacing valve cover gaskets is not one that's ever replaced......
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Last edited by Ironcross; Nov 11, 2015 at 10:44 AM. Reason: [URL=http://s238.photobucket.com/user/waltspuffer/media/My%20Drag%20cars/O
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,409
Likes: 1,595
From: Western NY
Whenever I've had to open up a valve cover, and consequently replace the gasket, I've used a LIGHT coat of RTV to secure the RUBBER replacement gasket to the valve cover, and then as "Ironcross" mentioned, skin the gasket with a little grease, and DON'T OVERTIGHTEN. That will last you pretty much a lifetime....
