Yesterday I replaced my valve cover gaskets on my 1984 Camaro. I was having trouble so I asked my dad for advice and he suggested permatex/silicone sealant to help keep the gaskets in place as I replaced the valve cover. However, now as I'm reading around I'm not sure if it was good to use sealant. The new gaskets are rubber and it seems sealant isn't usually recommended with rubber gaskets.

Could the silicone sealant cause harm in any way?

Thanks.

 

you can use a few little dabs to hold the gasket to the cover but make sure the cover is super clean or when it cures it will separate from the cover and leak.

 

What will separate from the cover? The sealant or the gasket?

 

The main thing is, make sure the valve covers themselves are straight; maybe even, bend the flange UP where the bolts go through, rather than the way the bolts bend that part DOWN.

Pretty tough to get em to seal when the bolt holes are touching the casting but the rest of the flange is still ¼" away from the head.

I also like to use the REAL LONG load spreaders like these http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G3434/ ; and DO NOT over-tighten the bolts!!! That just re-bends the VCs and guarantees that they will leak again.

I generally use gorilla snot to hold the gaskets to the VCs, and grease on the head side to keep em from sticking. (solid cam tactic)

 

Ahh I didn't even use valve cover hold down tabs... I'm pretty sure the gaskets were aligned but I hope I don't have to do the whole thing over again...

ALSO: I really need to drive my car today but I replaced the gaskets yesterday and the sealant says it needs 24 hours to fully cure... Do you think I should wait to avoid problems or should it be fine? I don't want silicone in my valves...

 

No need to use any sealant, put the new gaskets in the valve cover groove, should stay right there in place. Can also bent the groove lips in some spots, to hold the gasket, if really needed.

 

It depends on what he is using. I always buy the felpro blue loc wire gasets from oreillys and have never needed silicone, but if he is using the cheapo cork gaskets a little dab here and there to help hold them in place shouldn't hurt.

What i meant about separating was the silicone from the cover. On all my buddys 4x4's they always cheap out and try to make them work. Every time we pull a leaky one its where the silicone didnt stick.

 

I used rubber gaskets. I would think the silicone wouldn't separate from the cover as long as its bolted down, but maybe not?

 

I remember having a lot of oil leak troubles with perimeter valve covers (probably my fault somewhere I'm sure). But what really worked for me was gluing a cork gasket to the valve cover AND also having a rubber gasket sandwiched between the cork gasket and cylinder head with no glue. It was nice because If I had to take the valve cover off for some stupid reason I didn't have to replace the gaskets. I'm sure somebody here will go rah rah ur not supposed to use 2 gaskets togetherbut it worked great for me. I don't even think my valve covers were even and it still sealed.

somethin' to think about.

 

maybe you could help ME? I cannot get the valve cover off-driver side seems to be unable to clear heat shield from exh header...do i need to remove exh header or heat shield to get valve cover off?