Gasket Question... need advise please...

[CaliDude76]

Hey y'all... i need to know if I should put any type of silicone along with the new valve cover gaskets im having to replace today.... truck sprung a leak.. and 98.9% sure it's coming from this.. took off one side.. and the gasket that was on it.. was really dried up....and crusty.... i had used a bead of clear silicone the last time i had to crack those open and put a set of gaskets, on the valve cover side only.. (needed to adjust valves).... maybe not a good thing???
or should i just use the gaskets themselves and nothing else
thanks for the help!

-CaliDude

[3r!c84]

bump. i need this awnserd too

[nbpro]

http://www.jegs.com/i/Fel+Pro/375/1628/10002/-1

[dv8customs]

I generally use some on the valve cover side only. Helps to keep them in place during installation.

[Jonboy]

I usually use high tack for valve cover gaskets, on the valve cover gasket side only. The rubbr gaskets on the later style (86-newer) usually don't need any sealant to keep them in place. You have to be careful of the amount you use with RTV, or it won't seal properly.

[irishman999]

I use a yellow glue in a squeeze tube to glue the gaskets inside the valve cover. Cork ones of coarse.

[nbpro]

A little silicone won't hurt, I wouldn't think. Back in the day, I saw people use sewing thread to hold them in place, run the thread through the holes, and tie a small knot. Cut when installed. I've seen people use a small amount of grease to hold them in place. In the link I posted, that's the kind of gasket you need if you're going to be removing them quite often.
it reads
Molded Silicone Rubber gaskets provide for ease of installation and are great for on again/off again situations like valve lash setting. These Fel-Pro gaskets feature high-tech silicone material for long life and sealability, a solid steel core for strength and durability, and stainless steel compression limiters to prevent overtightening. This is an excellent choice for high vacuum race engines.

[3r!c84]

ive got the rubber ones . they are re-usable right?

[mrnize]

Gaska cincj

THis stuff is DA BOMB lol

THIS! Like another user has said, apply to vlave cover side only. Its basically like a temporary glue that tacks it too any mating surface that is applied to.

I wouldn't touch it with silicone anywhere thats some nasty sh** to have to scrape when you have or need too.

[CaliDude76]

I just applied enough gasket sealer to hold the gasket on.... and put it all back together... AND GUESS WHAT!!??

Not the problem... GRRRRR... still drips under my truck.. sooo... with a little help from Pops.... we found out what it was.. after pulling what little hair I have on my head out... LOL (cause I hate tearing down stuff, and not finding the problem... keeps me up at night!! LOL)

Apparently it was this oil pressure switch.... right by my distributor...
There's also a sender, which I thought was for my oil.. right above the oil filter... interesting...can''t imagine needing two..(wonder what the one above the filter is for?)

.... never really noticed the one pictured below until today, because it was hidden behind vacuum lines and spark wires and such..
anywho.. here's a pic of the culprit that was causing just enough of a leak to drive a man insane..LOL (can't stand any fluid leaks under my truck,.... except A/C Condensation drips... hehe)

[CaliDude76]

maybe this will help someone else out there that's been tracking down a leak..

[foamypirate]

I had a leak from the sending unit on my 87' when I got it. Took me a while to find it, I also thought it was from the valve covers.

[3r!c84]

Originally Posted by CaliDude76

There's also a sender, which I thought was for my oil.. right above the oil filter... interesting...can''t imagine needing two..(wonder what the one above the filter is for?)

yea what is this for? ive been wondering too

[GMC Guy]

it's for oil pressure, i have the same one but it's to the right of the distributor. weird that you'd have two....

[CaliDude76]

But the even stranger thing about the one right above my oil filter is.... when I was under there fishing for the leak.. thinking that was a possibility... I had unplugged it...wiped it down... then started the truck to see if it was leaking under a load...

no leaks... but the 'choke' light on my cluster came on... weird huh? plugged it back in.. and the light went off..

my oil pressure gauge stopped working.. along with the other gauges.. a long time ago... so can't tell which one is the real sender...