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Seal the valve cover?

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sparkydave

sparkydave

Jedi Knight
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The cork gasket on my valve cover seems to be letting copious amounts of oil out onto the right side of the engine, and ending up on the exhaust pipe. Nice smokescreen when you first start it up. I'm not sure the oil pan isn't leaking a little either, but is it OK to add some RTV to the gasket? Just enough of a bead to seal it and not spread it everywhere.
 
Sure, why not, but try one side first, the cover side so that you can be sure it does not slide when tighting.

Really, no lube should be required if it is on straight.
 
I almost always add a small bead of RTV to valve cover and pan gaskets. It can only help. Just use a small amount so you don't have chunks squeezing out of the flange and building up. It can stop up small passages and cause problems. Some might vote against it but I feel it is good insurance.
JC
 
Down here in Johannesburg

I have just replaced my rocker cover and put a new cork gasket on. I go with Jack's advice, it shouldn't need any sealant if placed straight and tightened correctly. However having said that I put a sliver of grease on either side of the gasket basically to keep it in place so when I put the rocker cover on it the gasket stayed in place when tightening.
 
And my preferrence is to put a sealer on the cover side of the gasket only (holds it in place and maintains the shape) and a light schmear of grease on the head side. This makes removal and replacement much less of a problem!
 
Thanks all, some good ideas to work with. Guess I'll try a grease smear first, but hopefully something like Mike suggested would work too.
 
Yeah, guess I should have specified. I don't put the rtv on the block just between the gasket and the cover/pan. A really thin coat goes a long ways. When I was younger and well you know... I have used RTV in place of the gasket to get me back on the road. I'm older and have more time now. If using rubber gaskets I don't put anything on them. Hylomar makes a good sealant that won't harden and is pretty easy to cleanup as well.
JC
 
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