What valve cover gaskets do you use?

It's time for me to delve a bit deeper into 911 maintanance. I will no longer pay someone $200+ to adjust my valves (hopefully).
I've got questions about which valve cover gaskets to purchase. After searching the archives I came up with a lot of non-conclusive posts. So here we go again.
My car is an '87 Carrera, it appears to have the finned turbo covers. There are no current oil leaks.
What gaskets should I get? OEM, Re-usable silicon??? What are you guys using, and what are your experiences and/or opinions?
I'd prefer to get them from Pelican parts. So... Wayne feel free to speak up with what you've got :-)
Thanks,

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Dan Tolley
1987 911 Coupe
http://www.cheaterswayside.com/911/gallery.asp?sort=0&userid=294

I use the green ones for the exhaust, and the gray ones for the intake, and I have the finned turbo style valve covers. With no leaks. I get them from Pelican for about $20 I think, with hardware. The silicone ones sound like a great idea, but I have heard they can tear just like the others.

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Matt Chamblin
78 911 SC

The silicone ones seem fine, but to some extent seem like the answer to a question no one has asked, at least on the '78 and up 911s.

Those later cars, esp. the Carreras with the Carrera valve covers, just don't really seem to have a problem with leaking valve covers, and the OEM gaskets seem to work quite well. Some people that I have known have even reused the OE gaskets with no problem.

I stick with the OE gaskets because they are cheap and are proven to work. "If it ain't broke . . . "

I use the OEM on my 78SC. No leaks. I also believe that the use of new hardware is essential to ending up with no leaks. The reusable silicone seems like too much $$$ for having to be extra carefull during the change. If you rip them, you have to purchase new one. Moreover, you would probably have to perform 3-4 adjustments before you begin to even out in costs. And you still have to purchase new hardware. Just my .02.
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Paul
78SC Targa

The $20 kit Pelican sells is fine.

Comes with all the gaskets and new nylock nuts.

Kind of a steal at $20 if you ask me considering how much $$$ you save.

Don't forget the jinky valve adjustment feeler guage either... Jinky, but you got to have one.

Good luck

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Adrian Pillow
1979 911 SC
1966 VW Microbus
PCA - Peachstate Region

Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll go with the OEM gaskets; and get 2 sets for when I have to go back in to re-adjust my adjustments (hopefully not the next day).
Any tips/advice? I've read the tech articles, own the Bently manual, and am quite familiar with removing the "parts" to access the valves.

Thanks again

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Dan Tolley
1987 911 Coupe
http://www.cheaterswayside.com/911/gallery.asp?sort=0&userid=294

2 sets may not be a bad idea, but if you are going to take a look after a couple of days, I'd just reuse the "old" set and see how it goes.

I know, the washers are crush washers, etc. but if its only been a couple days, I think you will find it is almost certain that you can reuse the "old" set. And, worse case scenario, it drips a bit and you have to use the new set (unlikely). I've done this many times and have never had a leak.

The only advice that I'd have is to use the proper feeler gauge, with the right bend in it, like I think PP sells. If you try to use a regular feeler gauge, it won't go in straight and even, and you'll likely have misadjusted valves.

Unfortuately, valve adjusts require some amount of "feel" that only comes with experience. But, as long as you have the right feeler guage and are reasonably handy, you should be ok.

JUST BUY YOUR GASKETS FROM PELICAN. THEY WILL STEER YOU STRAIGHT ON THE BEST ONES TO USE. PS. DOES EVERY ONE USE A TORQUE WRENCH TO TIGHTEN THOSE 13MM BUGGERS...ER.NYLOCK NUTS.

i've used the gray ones top and bottom forever. they have some crushability that the green ones don't, which helps take up irregularities in the surfaces. if your covers have not been surfaced, they will likely leak with the green ones.