valve cover leak question

[Alex 67]

What would be considered the best gasket to prevent oil leaking from my valve covers?

[craign]

These are about as good as they get, they are about 1/2 way down the page on the left.

http://www.356enterprises.com/EngineRebuild.html

Craig

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

Jused up my old Fel Pro and Porsche stocks.

New material delivered from Porsche is only usable
if you underfill with Dirko or Blacktite.

Wounder if Fel Pro also changed there gaskets.

Grüsse

[Morrie]

I just use the old corkies with valve cover gasket sealant. Cheap (a buck or so each) and no leaks. Maybe I am one in a million or am oversimplifying the problem.....

Morrie

[WFBowen]

Alex:
I know that this can be one of the most frustrating points of Porsches. I had a 67 that was a "born bleeder." I even bought 2 brand new covers & it still leaked. Double check your cyl.head mating surface area for any tiny nicks, etc. PO's often put them there by slipping a wrench during valve adjustment; scraping old sealants & prying stuck valve covers off. It's hard to accurately check the cover for distortion, but, as you know, even the slightest amount can result in a leak at the bottom. If one side is leaking, you can switch them around & see if the leak follows.
Also, some of the newer motor oil formulations include "seal rejuvinator" chemicals (read: gasket soakers). Much as I like the stuff, synthetics seem to penetrate gaskets/seals more than conventional oils. Castrol GTX 20-50 or HD 30 is a good starting point. Quaker State used to market a neat little red dye just for this purpose. You'd place a few drops under the rockers, put the covers on & watch for red oil.

Good luck,
Bill.

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

1.) Checking valve cover truiness:

Clean sealsurfaces on cylinderhead and on cover.

First press coer onto head and try to wiggle it. If you can feel a high spot then they are mostly reshapeable once or twice.

2.) Apply a thin layerd rope Hylomar sealer and press the cover onto the head. Look for spots wher the rope isn´t as flat as on the normal areas.

3.) Done that insert the cork seal ( prepared with some preoiling or watering ) and put the cover on.

When you move up the clamp make sure it has enough clampforce. You can rebend a bit but if the gasket is to thin you have to underfill that previous or use a thicker one ( Fel Pro are 2mm´s thicker and a touch softer )

On 356/912 also check the head vent holes.
On 356 early 912 inside the cover on later 912 inside the head.

If your haed and valve cover are in good match don´t use any sealer just use the cork seal.

Grüsse

[Duke]

Like Morrie, I have used the cork seals with very little difficulty. It helps to use a small amount of sealant (Permatex#2) and to form the gasket to the right shape by placing them on the outside of the valve cover for a few minutes before installing them. As the arm is raised to secure the cover, make sure the cover is not sliding up. This will cause a leak. The sealant is always placed on the valve cover lip not on the head.

[Morrie]

Duke just described my process almost exactly. slipping the cover around will get you every time. Allow the Permatex to set for a minute before mounting the cover too.

Morrie

[Jones Low]

Ditto on what Morrie and Duke have already mentioned.

Let me add the following:

I found using a little gasket sealer (Permatex) between the cork gasket and valve cover helps to keep the gasket from slipping out of position when putting the valve cover back on the head. Not a lot but just enough to keep the cork in position as you re-position the cover. Then once you have seated the cover on the head do not let the cover shift or move, keep it in constant contact with the head as you move the valve cover spring into position. I found that small and slow movements in re-positioning the spring over the valve cover worked better than a quick and single snap in place. If you can image once you've positioned the cover & gasket assembly on the head and it is sealed evenly all around the head, you don't want to move that position as you pry the spring holder back on.

Jones Low
69-912
00-Box

[Alex 67]

Just ordered the valve covers from felpro that are made for 356
enterprises. Ill let you know how they work out. Thanks for the feedback.