Valve Cover Gaskets - Standard vs Silicone?

[copper]

Looking for opinions on theses gasket sets.

A standard gasket set with uppers, lowers, sump and all nylocks and washers is $19

A set of Silicone gaskets alone, without the sump gasket or nylocks is $47

"Apparently" these silicone ones can be used over and over and over...

Any members with experience with them?

Jim

[copper]

Bump

[jbrinkley]

I jst took my green ones off the lowers and both of them ripped.
I imagine I could have been more careful but why bother?
these were on there less than a year, I took off the covers for a rocker problem.
I Bought the kit with regular (black) upper ones, and green (lower) ones, plus hardware, I dont remmeber 47$ though

[jluetjen]

I've got the silicons and they work great and are leak free as long as they are installed correctly. The correct technique is that the nylocks need to be slightly more then finger snug. You want to lightly pinch the gasket between the covers and the cam towers. The absolute wrong way to install them is to crush the gaskets like you would a paper gasket. The correct torque on the nylocks is in-lbs or maybe even inch-oz. Anything measureable on a normal torque wrench is way too much.

Do a search on this BBS on "Silicon gasket".

[sammyg2]

I have em and like em.
They have to be installed dry, no oil or sealant.
The torque is about half of the OEM gaskets. Overtorquing them will cause leaks.

[derek murray]

I have silicon gaskets on my lowers... they eliminated 90% of the oil leaking from my OE valve covers... and ditto what John said.

[djmcmath]

Hmmm ... I torqued the living snot out of mine, then -- prolly 10-15ft-lbs. No leaks, though.

Dan

[73911guy]

I tried the silicone gaskets and despite using a brand new Snap On torque wrench (in inch pounds) at the torque (specified on the package the silicone gaskets came in) found that they leaked just like the old plain black ones.

After installing gaskets with the silicone bead on them and torquing to the factory specs mine don't leak at all. Same with my co-worker on his 930.

Don't spend the money on the silicone ones - just make sure you get the gaskets with the silicone bead - not the black ones, not the green ones, just the ones with the silicone bead. They're not cheap and you have to ask questions wehn you order them to make sure you get what you want but they are worth the effort.

Jim

73 911

[sammyg2]

IIRC the instruction in the package recommended something like 3 ft. lbs of torque.

[scottb]

I use silicone gaskets on the helicopter. Paper gaskets leaked terribly...the silicone gaskets are dry as a bone. Don't overtighten them or they'll squeeze out and leak. Snug is good enough.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by 73911guy
I tried the silicone gaskets and despite using a brand new Snap On torque wrench (in inch pounds) at the torque (specified on the package the silicone gaskets came in) found that they leaked just like the old plain black ones.

After installing gaskets with the silicone bead on them and torquing to the factory specs mine don't leak at all. Same with my co-worker on his 930.

Don't spend the money on the silicone ones - just make sure you get the gaskets with the silicone bead - not the black ones, not the green ones, just the ones with the silicone bead. They're not cheap and you have to ask questions wehn you order them to make sure you get what you want but they are worth the effort.

Jim

73 911

I think if you place your valve covers on a piece of plate glass (not tempered) and run a .003 feeler gauge around the perimeter, you will find your covers are warped. You can sand them on the same piece of glass until the feeler gauge won't go under the edge. At that point, I bet you could use any kind of gasket.

I've been doing this to carbs for years because always some nimrod has over-torqued the screws to try to stop gas leaks. Guess what? It just gets worse. They never leak when the metal surfaces mate properly.

[Jdub]

Get the red "Real" brand of silicone gasket. They are quite good.

John

[73911guy]

1. The silicone gaskets I bought were from the "Real Gasket Co. " The drips they made really made my new SSI's look fabulous. Hah.

2. The valve covers were brand new Turbo lower covers from PCNA. Didn't check to see if they were warped or not.

3. Everything stopped leaking when I went to the gaskets with the silicone bead. Don't care if the covers are warped or not, I'm using cheaper parts and not having any leaks.

4. I returned the gaskets to the supplier and got a new set under their "lifetime warranty". Hope the guy I sold them to had as much good luck as you folks did.

My only advise is to save your money.

Jim

[cab83_750]

I had the silicone gaskets since day one/after my 1st oil change years and years ago. Bone dry......forever and ever.

I use SK and/or Craftsman torque wrench....40 inch.

Highly, highly, highly recommend them.


And those nylocks, I've reused mine forever with no problem. (sssssh, keep quiet....the 'reuse suggestion' came from the guy over the counter.

[khamul02]

any comments on Weltmeister Silicone Valve Cover Gaskets?

[larrym]

are all the red Si gskts offered to us the same quality & thickness - or not?

cross linking to this -

lower cam cover corner leak - at wit's end

.

[KNS]

I thought there was only one red silicone gasket kit. I purchased a set years ago and have used them over and over. Nuts are just snug tight by hand - never any leaks.

[john walker's workshop]

You can't tighten the nuts. What's wrong with this picture?

[al lkosmal]

I use the gaskets with the silicone bead.............you can tighten them and they don't leak.

regards,
al

[gtc]

I've never had andy leaks with either the silicone gaskets or the paper gaskets.

I must be doing something wrong.