another valve cover gasket question.

[colbystephens]

so my valve covers aren't perfectly flat and i used the gaskets from my felpro top end kit which happen to be cork. i'm still in the assembly stage of my engine (last steps) and so what i did was poured some oil over the cylinder heads before i put the valve covers on, then when i put the gasket/cover on, i tipped the engine to the side a bit to make doing the other side slightly more convenient - oil leaked out. so i'm wondering if this will be a problem when it's in the engine straight up and down. should i take it off and use one of the rtv sealers? what type should i use?

 

[imiceman44]

so my valve covers aren't perfectly flat and i used the gaskets from my felpro top end kit which happen to be cork. i'm still in the assembly stage of my engine (last steps) and so what i did was poured some oil over the cylinder heads before i put the valve covers on, then when i put the gasket/cover on, i tipped the engine to the side a bit to make doing the other side slightly more convenient - oil leaked out. so i'm wondering if this will be a problem when it's in the engine straight up and down. should i take it off and use one of the rtv sealers? what type should i use?

How tight did you go on the bolts?
With the cork gasket you don't want to go too tight it will tweak the cover and leak.

 

[colbystephens]

the cover was originally "tweaked", but i'm sure that i went overboard - i don't have a torque wrench which goes to a low enough torque.

 

[ryoken]

not sure how the 6.2 covers are setup for bolts, but i'll bet bottom dollar its because its tweaked... take it off, lay it on a flat surface and see how wobbley it is..

you should be able to get it back in shape with some muscle or a hammer and piece of thick flatstock...

 

[afroman006]

Just get a new cover they arent exactly rare.

 

[imiceman44]

the cover was originally "tweaked", but i'm sure that i went overboard - i don't have a torque wrench which goes to a low enough torque.

I straighten mine on a flat steel surface.
And I just use my 1/4" drive ratchet 4" long handle and just one handed snug tighten.
I do the same on my auto trans pan gasket when I use the cork gasket, never had a problem after that.
But make sure you start with a straight edge cover.

 

[azblazor]

I use RTV only (no other gasket) with good results. But I straighten the mating surfaces.

 

[colbystephens]

spoke with my machinist, and he recommended that I use 3m window sealer to hold the gasket in place, and wait for it to set. then use a small amount of rtv sealer on top of the cork gasket. i'm going to go with this method tonite.

 

[ryoken]

he prolly meant 3M weatherstrip adhesive.... very common to use that...

i prefer Hi-tack myself...

 

[colbystephens]

cool. thanks for the tip. that's what the parts store recommended too.

 

[tRustyK5]

I use the neoprene gaskets and have no leaks. I hate cork gaskets..

Rene