Gaskets

Status
Not open for further replies.
steveyacht

steveyacht

Joined
Aug 11, 2009
Messages
294
Country flag
I am having a bit of a problem with my exhaust valve cover gaskets leaking. I am not sure if the cover itself may have a slight warpagag or if these are just poor gaskets. I would like to find a good set of gaskets to try. What have y'all used with sucess for valve cover gaskets? Do the new style rubber style work any better? How about cork gaskets, does anyone make those anymore?

Thanks,

Steve
 
I have both the red and black "reusable" gaskets waiting to be installed. I don't know how long either one will last or how well they seal. I have read both ways. I also have some nice cork to make some from and might give that a try also. Cork has worked well since the begining of mechanical contraptions, so why not run to the local supply house and pick up a roll. It's easy enough to do, and if one breaks just make another.
 
steveyacht said:
I am having a bit of a problem with my exhaust valve cover gaskets leaking. I am not sure if the cover itself may have a slight warpagag or if these are just poor gaskets. I would like to find a good set of gaskets to try. What have y'all used with sucess for valve cover gaskets? Do the new style rubber style work any better? How about cork gaskets, does anyone make those anymore?

Thanks,

Steve
Click to expand...

Check that the gasket doesn't overlap the inside of the cover, creating a dam for oil to pool. Trim where necessary and most valve cover leaks will disappear, especially if you have a proper pcv valve.
 
You might want to make sure the valve cover is flat also. I believe this can be accomplished with a piece of glass and some fine grit wet/dry sand paper. Put the paper on a piece of glass and lightly rub the valve cover on the paper. It should show any high or low spots. Continued sanding should produce a flat cover, just don't get carried away.
 
There about the simpleist thing in the world to cut from a sheet of gasket paper with a scalple and punch ( a bit of old tube
sharpened at the end ) .About 30 thou paper .

Carb manifold gaskets and the like are as easy . IF YOU TAKE CARE .

Probably need to visit a Engineers Supply' Store . Any backwater garage worth its salt wouldve had a few rolls of it laying about
before the asian invasion .

Lay the cover on the paper on a soft surface. The back of your leather jacket . :P . Place the palm of your hand on the top .
Have a bit off a lean and a roll . If the eyes are playing up , go around the outline with a 2H or 2B pencil.The gasket has a bit of swell / compressability. So the ' pressing ' wont necessarilly stay as clear as initial ' print ' .

On a Carb one , youd go round a few times , and make the bore a milimetre LARGER than the orriface. So as , Compressed , its not forced into blocking partly slightly impedeing optimum airflow . ( one of those 1/4 Horses were looking to Gain ) .

You end up with your favourite nail scissors or the like , AND CUT THE INSIDE FIRST . Nice olde steel scissors for the outside .
Or a Craft / Hobby scalple and a cutting board ..

YES , lap the covers flat on a flat surface / sheet of glass . AFTER removeing any Burrs or Bludgeonings adjacent fixings .

Dont lean on One Side . Hold in ALL the finger & thumpb tips .Move primarilly in a Circularish Motion .
Should get a pretty even texture almost straight off .
After first frequently checking Face , to observe if its Regular or Irregular / Lumps and Crowns .


Train the Digits and Tighten with FINGERTIPS . Teeth set gently , Gaze Focused & ' Zen ' engaged . OOOMMMM . :lol: :roll: :wink:
 
I use nothing on the OEM paper gasket! But I put some RTV on the nut due to the stud entering the valve oil chamber and wicking up the threads! No leaks since!
 
bmwbob said:
I use nothing on the OEM paper gasket! But I put some RTV on the nut due to the stud entering the valve oil chamber and wicking up the threads! No leaks since!
Click to expand...
Hmmm.

I tried just the paper gaskets like Hemmings suggests, no joy, Hylomar solved it, but rather expensive, RGM silicone gaskets solved it, but seem to wear out (I seem to like to adjust my tappets a lot). I may just go back to the paper ones with some gasket sealant or RTV on them, they're rather cheap. I tried cutting the gaskets to fit, but got real thin and wasn't impressed. I've also flattened the covers.

Dave
69S
 
DogT said:
bmwbob said:
I use nothing on the OEM paper gasket! But I put some RTV on the nut due to the stud entering the valve oil chamber and wicking up the threads! No leaks since!
Click to expand...
Hmmm.

I tried just the paper gaskets like Hemmings suggests, no joy, Hylomar solved it, but rather expensive, RGM silicone gaskets solved it, but seem to wear out (I seem to like to adjust my tappets a lot). I may just go back to the paper ones with some gasket sealant or RTV on them, they're rather cheap. I tried cutting the gaskets to fit, but got real thin and wasn't impressed. I've also flattened the covers.

Dave
69S
Click to expand...

I don't think the RGM ones are silicone. They are listed as neoprene. Do not mistake the two materials.

NEOPRENE ROCKER BOX GASKET SET, RE-USEABLE, SEALS WHERE OTHERS FAIL, ALLOWS EASY REMOVAL OF COVERS
Click to expand...

Neoprene is apparently good for 250˚F (for short amounts of time) and silicone for 450˚F. Which do you think will last longer on an air-cooled cylinder head?
 
Gotcha. I was wondering why they weren't magical. Need to read the fine print.

Dave
69S
 
Wont usually get more than 3 fits out of a paper type gasket .
Was usual to dip / wipe in clean oil one side , or grease one side .
Wipeing carefully with a clean rag on removal & before fitting .

If they nick , cut , or split , youre in for a new one . Sooner rather than later .

Part of the fit is that they Do swell , therefore seal . Theyll also very slowly
absorb oil , so having beaten it to the mark , its already done in unused oil .

Useing sealant its obviously fitted to the side to be removed , this prevents
the cleaning for refit getting debri internally , mechanically .
 
This is just a personal preference, but I don't think you can use a paper gasket more than once. They do swell when you put them on dry and that does help them seal. Even if you get the caps on the exhaust side flat I think they are bound to bend when you tighten them down and the paper swelling can probably accommodate most of that, once. I don't think you can cut a cork gasket in the thin section needed at the bottom of the exhaust caps without having them break. After 10,000mi and 4 valve adjustments without a leak on the silicone gaskets, they work, they're reusable, and after 4 times in to adjust the valves, they've paid for themselves. what's not to like?
 
Napa Auto (and others) sells a DIY gasket set (Fel-Pro 3060) w/ various paper sheets and cork too for about $8, tried one when I needed gaskets and did not want to wait for mail order......I made some valve cover gaskets from it and they don't leak, used a rubber stamp pad and the valve cover to mark the gasket paper

Gaskets
 
DogT said:
bmwbob said:
I use nothing on the OEM paper gasket! But I put some RTV on the nut due to the stud entering the valve oil chamber and wicking up the threads! No leaks since!
Click to expand...
Hmmm.

I tried just the paper gaskets like Hemmings suggests, no joy, Hylomar solved it, but rather expensive, RGM silicone gaskets solved it, but seem to wear out (I seem to like to adjust my tappets a lot). I may just go back to the paper ones with some gasket sealant or RTV on them, they're rather cheap. I tried cutting the gaskets to fit, but got real thin and wasn't impressed. I've also flattened the covers.

Dave
69S
Click to expand...

I reuse my OEM gaskets till they tear with no RTV. Just dab a little RTV on nut before placing on stud and tightening to spec. No oil leaks!
 
swooshdave said:
It would be difficult for anyone to describe what I do during the day as work. :mrgreen:
Click to expand...

No wonder the US is going down the tubes :mrgreen:

Jean
 
I smeared some Ultra Gray RTV on a set of cover gaskets real thin and let it dry. I'm going to try them.

Dave
69S
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

robs ss
JS Rocker Cover Gaskets - big tick!
Replies
4
Views
356
robs ss
robs ss
Fast Eddie
Silk thread for gaskets
2
Replies
24
Views
1,727
jseng1
jseng1
The yaki
Petrol tank gauge , inlet outlet pipe module plate gaskets.
Replies
13
Views
505
The yaki
The yaki
The yaki
850 exaust gasket size.
Replies
5
Views
316
Lineslinger
Lineslinger
Britstuff
Composite head gasket supplier for Spigotted Norton barrels?
Replies
3
Views
234
annajeannette
annajeannette
Back
Top