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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: South of the Mason-Dixon Line
Posts: 3,722
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Valve Cover Gaskets....
I thought I would share my valve cover story in hopes of getting one of those Pelican Head concensus on what works the best.
I took on my first valve adjustment this past summer and a mechanic friend of mine was suggesting I bypass those "silcone beaded" valve cover gaskets for the OEM set and something he has had success with for years. I tried it and so far no leaks or problems. I purchased the standard valve cover gasket kit and smeared wheel bearing grease on each side working it into the material. Yep! Wheel bearing grease. The gaskets were partially absorbed with the grease before I put them back on the head. I was advised that this will keep them from drying and that they will come right off as well as act as a moisture barrier. No extra torqueing of the hardware. I have to say that after so many thousands of miles, I have yet to see a drop of oil leak out. What does everyone else use? Regards and Happy New Year Bob 73.5 T 
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12-31-2001, 10:35 AM
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I went with the snake oil: "Silicone". Have them now for 2 years and 3 valve adjustments and no leaks since.
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72 911 Although it is done at the moment, it will never be finished. |
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12-31-2001, 10:58 AM
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, USA
Posts: 4,499
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I can't imagine why smearing them with grease would get them oilier than what they'd absorb normally, but maybe that is a useful trick. I use the silicone gaskets after having had excellent service from them on a Lycoming aircraft engine.
Stephan
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Stephan Wilkinson '83 911SC Gold-Plated Porsche '04 replacement Boxster |
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12-31-2001, 11:10 AM
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Just did my first valve adjustment and used the stock material (no grease coat). No leaks after 100 miles. . .
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Mike - PBG, FL '14 958 Cayenne GTS '05 997 C2 - SOLD '79 911 SC Widebody PCA, NASA, PBOC - SOLD 2004 NASA-SE GTS4 Champ, 2005 + 2007 NASA-SE GTS3 |
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12-31-2001, 02:51 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lawrenceville GA 30045
Posts: 7,377
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Mike, Just curious, but how long did that first adjustment take. I'll be doing mine within the next month or so....
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Mark '83 SC Targa - since 5/5/2001 '06 911 S Aerokit - from 5/2/2016 to 11/14/2018 '11 911 S w/PDK - from 7/2/2021 to ??? |
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12-31-2001, 07:33 PM
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Knowing how detailed you are (same here) in cleaning up other parts while doing the job, plan on at least 2-3 hours. Gotta put the car on stands, clean up underneath, double check each valve, and a couple of beers afterwards. Drained the oil the night before so all was stone cold the next day. Changed the spark plugs afterwards - Bosch Platinums - then for a ride. No leaks and ran great.
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Mike - PBG, FL '14 958 Cayenne GTS '05 997 C2 - SOLD '79 911 SC Widebody PCA, NASA, PBOC - SOLD 2004 NASA-SE GTS4 Champ, 2005 + 2007 NASA-SE GTS3 |
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12-31-2001, 07:51 PM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 3,694
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Ok, YOU two are GOING to HAVE to DO something ABOUT your PP handles.
We've got Mike and Mark... You both live in Georgia... You both have friggin' RED Targas!... I'm going cross eyed here! 
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-- Chief Architect and Mastermind, SCWDP |
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01-01-2002, 06:42 AM
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Finland
Posts: 1,214
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Heres another red targa poster :P.
Well, the vaseline indeed keeps the gasket from drying out and therefore it won't loose its elasticity  . I have used vaseline in carburator gaskets, but now that they work, I switched to gasket lacquer to be sure //Zen, -72 Targa, red |
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01-01-2002, 07:03 AM
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Quote:
We both starting the Pcar search in early 2001 We both looked at (and almost bought) another '83 Targa - hadn't even met each other yet! We both made an offer on my '86. Mine was apparently higher as I ended up with the car. AND. . . We live about 3 miles from each other. Met each other on Pelican.
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Mike - PBG, FL '14 958 Cayenne GTS '05 997 C2 - SOLD '79 911 SC Widebody PCA, NASA, PBOC - SOLD 2004 NASA-SE GTS4 Champ, 2005 + 2007 NASA-SE GTS3 |
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01-01-2002, 08:32 AM
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2-3 hours for your first adjustment? God you must be good. I lost track of the hours spent on my first adjustment
I think I could do it now in 2-3 hours...
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Dan Tolley 1987 911 Coupe The Owner's Gallery 2006 Audi A4 3.0q Cabriolet 2003 Ford F-150 XL Lumber and Trash Hauler. |
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01-01-2002, 11:05 AM
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Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: TX USA
Posts: 9,804
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There seems to be some confusion about what gaskets are OEM and which aren't! The factory has gone through at least four different styles of gasket, and the latest style is what some call the 'green silicone bead' style. The 'silicone' gaskets that some have mentioned here are the Red, solid, 199% silicone gaskets from 'Real Gaskets' ... and they aren't OEM, but do seem to work well when installed at the very low specified 48 in-lb torque.
The factory spec books did not even have a torque specified for valve covers prior to 31 March 1981, when the '78-'81 SC spec book was published, and by that time the green-beaded gaskets were in use. The specified 6 lb-ft torque is less that what is used on the M6 studs for the sump drain plate nuts!!! I have never found it necessary to use a torque wrench on valve covers, but it would take a 1/4 inch drive model to be accurate at such a low torque level, and I do have one of those, a beam-style indicating torque wrench that works well for sump plates, chain covers, and rocker-arm shafts. Forget trying to use the same 3/8" drive torque wrench that you use on CV-joint bolts!
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Warren Hall, Jr. 1973 911S Targa ... 'Annie' 1968 340S Barracuda ... 'Rolling Thunder' |
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01-01-2002, 11:38 AM
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Tobluforu
911 Widebody NASA GTS3 / PCA E
Mostly Street
1987 Porsche 911 3.2 
