Guest zfan Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 Just wondering if there is a secret to getting sbc valve covers to NOT leak oil around gaskets. I always seal gasket to valve cover and hand tighten to maybe 5 to 10 lbs max. but seem to have small leaks, this sucks as coated headers get nasty looking around collectors not to mention stink!! I put my original scarab valve covers back on the car with new cork gaskets and low and behold a freakin leak in drivers side bottom corner. Anyone got any hints or is this common only to me. Should I use tall or extra thick cork gaskets? zfan..Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 Mike, Although many say not to use any sealant on cork gaskets, I have always used hylamar with excellent results. It is more impervious to solvent breakdown than silicone sealants and doesn't completely 'set' like silicone, so when you want to take the gaskets off, you won't have to scrape them off. I recently reset the valve lash on my 2.4 inline 6 in my daily driver 240z and broke the valve cover gasket taking it off (no sealant was used initially), but I didn't have a new one, so a light coating of hylamar on both sides of the gasket and no leaks. I have used hylamar on all the gaskets on my V8, water pump, thermo housing, valve covers blah blah blah, and no leaks anywhere. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumo Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 Hi, One thing, dont ever use cork gaskets they always leak. Try buying rubber replacement gaskets or if youre really desperate do what i did. I got some blue RTV silicone sealer, put a nice bead around the valve cover wait for it to skin then just put it back on the heads without tightening the nuts. Wait 24 hrs then tighten to whatever specs you have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted March 12, 2002 Share Posted March 12, 2002 I used "tough stuff" sealant - toughest stronges RTV I've EVER seen! One side is perfect, the driver's side still leaks. I give up! I tried some of those rubbery urethane gskets - fully tightened down I could still push the gasket around between the bolt holes it was so loose.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted March 12, 2002 Share Posted March 12, 2002 The problem with small blocks is the valve cover gasket rail is raw casting. One advantage to aftermarket or aluminum heads is they have machined gasket rails. Having rigid cast aluminum valve covers helps a lot. Go with the rubber gasket and use sealer on the cover side. Having valve cover studs makes this job MUCH easier as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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