TheSamba.com :: View topic - should i use a sealant for valve cover gaskets or no??

Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:38 pm

Im about to do my first valve adj and I was wondering what the official way to seal them was.

Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:43 pm

Permatex Aviation only on the valve cover... NOT on the head.

Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:04 pm

x2. My gaskets were always moving all over the place until I permatexed them to the valve cover.

Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:14 pm

thanx I almost did it with out. :)

Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:25 pm

I don't put anything on my cork gaskets, and haven't had a leak yet.

Sun Feb 12, 2012 8:30 pm

you guys that use permatex, do you use on cork? or using those other black gaskets?? Ive seen guys use black permatex I have the red permatex. Is there a diff? If I plan on using some should I get the black?

Sun Feb 12, 2012 8:33 pm

Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:14 pm

I use cork gaskets dry.

Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:42 pm

I use cork gaskets. Black on the valve cover side. Works like a charm. And the tube will go a long ways for other things if you buy one. Its good shit!

Mon Feb 13, 2012 3:29 am

marchanel wrote: I use cork gaskets dry.

10-4

I was an old school glue the thing down kinda guy. But if you're pulling these covers off to do periodic valve adj's, it just isn't necessary, IMHO.

BTW, if you are going to use some kind of adhesive, use the yellow 3M weatherstrip adhesive. If you're concerned about leaks , if you don't use this, you'll still have leaks (if you currently have leaks). It's a bitch to clean off, but it'll be dry, that's for sure.

Silicone is for metal, rubber or plastic to metal. It will not properly seal paper or cork. BTDT. :wink:

Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:41 am

There is a big difference between Permatex Aviation Form A Gasket
and the old black Permatex.
Aviation is a liquid and comes in a brush top can. It never hardens, just firms up some.
I use it on vehicles, my boat, around the shop. EVERYTHING except potable water

Terry

Mon Feb 13, 2012 7:24 am

Yeah, forgot about *that* Permatex. Sticky & gooey for sure. Used to use it a lot before other sealers and newer gasket materials began showing up in the early 80's. I got used to using 3M because it was the only thing that would make a guaranteed bond to prevent coolant leaks on anything that wasn't silicone rubber or the like. Then just kinda started using it on anything that wasn't silicone rubber or the like. :wink:

Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:42 am

A little of yellow grease it work majic.

Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:21 am

Lucatero wrote: I don't put anything on my cork gaskets, and haven't had a leak yet.

^^^ dito.

Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:22 am

zero RTV,

but as posted here many times.
the gasket maker dictates if sealants are to be used.
not the long dead German engineers.

may modern gaskets have sealant inside the cork, see it.?
ive seen a real cork tree so know pure cork when i see it.

and adding sealants to that is bad says most gasket makers (Felpro)
and all honda's ever made (a world leader in pre sealed gaskets)
The honda gaskets self seal with heat, ,,,, so do many others...
but....
most here say, dab on the cover keeps it from falling off, as you place it.
pick a sealant that is engine safe, does not ball up. and clog bearings.

i run fancy covers with Silicone rubber that dont drop off. or need glue.

imo

Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:34 am

I use cork gaskets with a little smear of wheel bearing grease to hold them in place. No leaks.

Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:46 am

One of the reason to put some Permatex on the cover side is to keep the gasket in place when the cover is installed and removed. This may be more important than any actual sealing effect the Permatex does. Clean the cover very good, put sealer & gasket on, then let it set for awhile. I turn the cover down on a flat work bench and put some weight on it to seat the gasket while the sealer sets. Set a spare gasket under the new, glued one, so the bench top puts some pressure on the new gasket & sealer. Might be able to leave/reuse the glued gasket for a couple of valve checks.

Some people use black high temp silicone instead of Permatex, but you have to be very careful to not use too much, and it's hard to remove if the cover was really clean when applied. I've had to clean up some covers that had black high temp silicone, and can't imagine it coming loose. Stuff really sticks to an acetone clean surface.

Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:27 am

donmurray wrote: One of the reason to put some Permatex on the cover side is to keep the gasket in place when the cover is installed and removed. This may be more important than any actual sealing effect the Permatex does.

This is what I think: a little sealant on the top middle of the cork gasket helps keep it in place IF IT TENDS TO FALL upon first installation, so the middle top doesn't fall down. 39 years without leakin', two VWs, over 50 years with the two.

Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:28 am

Madtat wrote: Lucatero wrote: I don't put anything on my cork gaskets, and haven't had a leak yet.

^^^ dito.
Another dry-guy here.

Max

Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:29 am

+1 for permatex here.