Valve cover gaskets?

[bklyn]

Getting ready to change the oil and putting new valve gaskets to stop a small leak. Question is, go with the standard gaskets, the gaskets with the silicone bead or the all silicone gasket set?

[Danny_Ocean]

I used the ones with the silicone bead. Not a drip. I think the all-silicone gaskets are for those who anticipate regularly/repeatedly removing the valve covers (e.g. racers)? But, they can't hurt if you don't mind spending the extra skanool.

[bklyn]

The bead ones look like the answer, I already have turbo covers but still get that little annoying drip!

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by bklyn

The bead ones look like the answer, I already have turbo covers but still get that little annoying drip!

Next time you remove them, put a straight-edge across at different angles. Any deflection at all can cause a drip. Also, synthetic oil might be able to "squeak by" a gap that would contain regular dino.

[tonythetarga]

The biggest problem is overtightening the valve cover bolts. Torque is 7 ft lbs and most ft/lb wrenches don't go that low so you need an inch pd wrench. (84 in/lbs). Tighten in a criss cross pattern.

[bklyn]

Good info! Thanks all.

[john walker's workshop]

the nuts cannot be tightened with the red rubber ones, so they're out in my book. the all gray ones have some compressability to conform to irregularities in the covers, so i use those ones. the green ones have zero compressability, so they work ok when everything is perfect.