sillicone valve cover gaskets

[svandamme]

Has anybody here used the new Sillicone Valve cover gaskets sold here at Pelican?

if so , they're supposed to be thicker and reusable...

does this affect the way the valve covers should be torqued up?

should they be tightened same values ? more ? less?

any other considerations to keep in mind?

thanks

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Stijn,

Use them the same way as you would the "paper" kind. exact same torque. If you overtorque them then they are not reuseable and you have wasted money. I like mine.

[Jay Auskin]

Absolutely DO NOT OVERTORQUE! I recently bought a set because I couldn't get my paper ones to seal. These did the trick, but it took a steady hand to get them down. Instead of using a torque wrench, I just viewed the compression of the gasket and made sure it was fairly even.

No leaks!!!

[aigel]

In my book these things are a crutch. Your valve covers (turbo) should not leak with regular gaskets.

George

[svandamme]

thanks guys,

i should have mine by monday , it's not specifically to solve leaks ,
but i had paper ones, and haven't got my engine running yet...

i did try , and oil was soaking out of em... cause they weren't cooked yet ....

i have to redo my valve cleanerances because i listened to wrong advice... so i figured i'll add gaskets to my order(bursch headers and some other tinware) just in case the paper ones break or get damaged..
that's when i noticed the sillicone version... and i figured.. can't hurt to try...but didn't know if they required different torquing

thanks again

[North Coast Cab]

I used them and torqued to spec. I am getting a little oil drip down a few of the center bolts. My p-mechanic told me to torque them more. He said he goes to around 15ft/lbs starting from the center out and never gets a leak.

John

[jluetjen]

My suggestion is that silicon valve cover gaskets shouldn't be much more then finger tight. I used the smallest socket handle that I had and moved it 1/8 - 1/4 of a turn after the cover has contacted the gasket. No leaks.

[Doug Steinel]

When in doubt as to torque on valve cover gaskets, I would say go low. If you overtorque, the damage is done. If you undertorque, then a few drops leak out and you can torque it down a little bit more.

[efhughes3]

While I think these gaskets are superior to paper, I've not heard anything about them being reuseable.

[350HP930]

The thick gaskets should be torqued less than paper. The paper is thin and deflects little so there is less chance of distortion under clamping loads. The rubber gaskets are about a couple millimeters thick and allow for a lot more cover distortion.

Over time valve covers, including the turbo ones, permantly distort from their loads and the heat/stress cycling. What usually occurs is the bolt areas distort towards the motor causing the gasket areas furthest away from the bolts to leak.

If you have a leak problem its best to send your covers to a machine shop where they can be fly cut or ground flat again.

I just got done doing my valve covers. After 130K miles and a lot of heat cycling mine had over .002 of distortion. Now they are as flat as a piece of glass.

My cam carriers will be getting the same treatment since its likely that they are also distorted.

For that reason my engine will be going back together with the paper gaskets.

[sammyg2]

I use them with no leaks.
Torque is low, around 3 to 4 ft. lbs.
If you overtighten them they could squeaze out.
Install them dry, no sealant or oil or anything.