Metal-bonded sealing washer on valve covers

[pampadori]

Has anyone used nitrile or silicone metal-bonded washers in place of the aluminum crush washers on the valve covers? I feel like they would be better at sealing and reusing than the one-time use aluminum crush washers.


I'm waiting on my rubber rocker cover gaskets to arrive but was looking for something to upgrade the washers with as well. I've also been scratching my head as to why oil would leak around the studs if the gasket was properly sealing all the way around it at the cam carriers. How does that work?

[proporsche]

Hi Shaun..the oil would come to trough the valve cover stud if you have leak at your rocker arm shafts.Once you take of the cover and see oil here ,that is the answer for the oil leak


make sure the shafts are tight.There is a open post on this suject

Ivan

[chris_seven]

Commonly known as Dowty Washers or Dowty Seals.

There are two basic types self-centering and non-self centering as well as a range of materials and rubber types.

Bonded Seals - Ashton Seals

We generally use self-sentering and also fit M8 Aluminium Acorn Nuts to replace the Nylocs.

There is also a rubber coated locking washer known as a Seloc which seals very well but is use once and a PITA to remove.

[pampadori]

Originally Posted by proporsche

Once you take of the cover and see oil here ,that is the answer for the oil leak

I don't have any rocker shaft leaks. I'm sure of that.

I do have oil drips on the studs for the valve covers (on the driver's lower) but I've reused the gaskets the last 3 times I've had the cover off so I assume that's why. Yes, I'm aware they should be replaced each time but I'm more stubborn than most.

So hypothetical, if the gaskets are sealing, why are sealing washers needed? the gasket goes all the way around the stud. No oil should leak from there.

@chris_seven do you tighten the acorn nuts tighter than the nylocks? I'm probably going to give the dowty washers a try but just ordered 50 m8 nylocks so I'll stick with them.

[proporsche]

chris_seven ,nice product those washers

Ivan

[Jeff Alton]

If you have leaks at the studs you have an issue with the cover to cam tower seal (gasket) or you have oil getting by the rocker shafts. The aluminum washer is a washer, not a seal.

Chris, curious why you feel the need to use a seal there and change the nut to a different style?

[Geneman]

thanks jeff! just heading out to garage to put my vc's and was wondering if i had to hunt up a carp load of alum crush washers!... btw i use the rubber gaskets just great... cheers frank