Gasket(s) installation

[Kriek]

I installed a Felpro rubber gasket on my valve cover with some RTV silicone (I know, it says not recommended for rubber gaskets) and she leaked from every single bolt hole. I have heard about soaking cork gaskets in water overnight and installing them without any sealant; does this work for valve covers? I also need to change my carb-to-spacer gasket and possibly my spacer-to-instake gasket, how do you recommend I do this?

 

[iskwezm]

put a thin layer of white grease on your carb gaskets gasketmso you can re use it if you need to

Check your v/c's to see if their flat or maybe double up the gaskets???????

 

[10secgoal]

What kind of valve cover do you have ? The thin tinny ones just stop sealing eventually. The rubber ones really need no sealant at all.

 

[2nd Mustang]

RTV silicone allows the gasket to slip during installation when tightening screws/bolts. Use a product specifically meant for gasket installation, like a gasket dressing that allows easy removal of item later if needed.

 

[rbohm]

when io use rubber gaskets on oil pans or valve covers, i first check the bolt holes to make sure they are flat(with steel covers or pans). i then glue the gasket to the part with weatherstrip glue, usually the 3M brand, and let it dry. then i install the part with no added sealant. as for cork gaskets, the only reason to soak them in water over night is to get them to expand so that they fit the part in question easily. also dont overtighten the bolts as that will cause leaks even with rubber gaskets.

 

[Kriek]

Thank you to some of you who took the extra time to answer some of my questions via private message and email. I pulled the PCV value and as I was looking I noticed the elbow was cracked. I replaced it and it no longer has symptoms of a vacuum leak.

However, the valve cover is still leaking from one bolt hole, where it is obvious the previous owner over-torqued the bolt. It had pushed the bolt hole downward, creating a thin crack. I attempted to straighten the bolt hole out, but it didn’t stop the leak. I am afraid the oil is leaking into the sparkplug hole. Btw here is what my valve cover looks like.

The other thing that I have noticed is that neither the rubber or the cork gasket seems to fit the valve cover or head correctly. I have been told that all "small" inlines (144, 170, 200, 250) have the same gaskets. So I get Felpro gaskets for a '65 200, despite the fact that I have a '78 250 and '80 Head.

 

[steel1212]

I have the moroso rubber gaskets and you don't need any rtv. Just drop it on and tighten.