Fel-Pro quality?

[LeakySeals]

And your user name is LeakySeals? the FelPro you show looks like it would fit with a slight pull, not perfect but not horrible.

I fitted bolts in every corner to hold it in place and installed. Of course one of the bolts fell into the full pan of transmission fluid. So far, no leaks. I was going to have old rusty towed to the junkyard, but there are not very many cheap used cars for college kids right now. This pan buys another month of looking and then off to the junkyard she goes.

 

[Sedin26]

I replaced the valve cover gasket on my 93 Tercel last year and the new Fel-Pro fit poorly, to the point where I had to grab something else instead. Looking at it, it was simply malformed.

Their stuff used to always be top notch but I have had a couple of similar incidents over the last few years. I won’t use them again unless I have to.

 

[Exhaustgases]

What is funny we all have no idea if the OEM gaskets are made in the same factory and same materials and same machines used, as any off brand gaskets that you can think of that you don't like for some reason.
What comes to mind is the old highschool kid arguments about what brand of car is the best, those were the days.

 

[nthach]

Used all Fel-Pro to seal a Ford V6 intake. It worked fine. The Japanese applications seem hit or miss, for my car, the Fel-Pro gasket for the valve cover was a repackaged OE. For Japanese cars, the aftermarket gaskets are Ishino-Stone, a division of NOK or Freudenberg Japan. I’ve used a few Stone VC gaskets and seals on a Honda with luck.

Mahle and Victor Reinz are OE suppliers AFAIK, Fel-Pro’s PermaDryPlus and PermaTorqueMLS seem to be “problem-solver” parts for the aftermarket that work. Driv hasn’t ruined Fel-Pro… yet. Else, if the return rates are high, the aftermarket will be seeking a new supplier.

 

[cdoublejj]

I use a lot of Fel-Pro and only had one issue over many years - it happens. I think what we are seeing is the same drop in quality as with just about every other mass produced item. The entire auto parts industry is now suspect in terms of quality and Fel Pro probably is no different.

probably a bingo right here

Used all Fel-Pro to seal a Ford V6 intake. It worked fine. The Japanese applications seem hit or miss, for my car, the Fel-Pro gasket for the valve cover was a repackaged OE. For Japanese cars, the aftermarket gaskets are Ishino-Stone, a division of NOK or Freudenberg Japan. I’ve used a few Stone VC gaskets and seals on a Honda with luck.

Mahle and Victor Reinz are OE suppliers AFAIK, Fel-Pro’s PermaDryPlus and PermaTorqueMLS seem to be “problem-solver” parts for the aftermarket that work. Driv hasn’t ruined Fel-Pro… yet. Else, if the return rates are high, the aftermarket will be seeking a new supplier.

you know i've like fel-pro great fit BUT, it's all been GM applications so far that i've used them for.

 

[lazarus55]

I use Lube Locker whenever possible

 

[cdoublejj]

Whats lube locker?

 

[CleanSump]

Whats lube locker?

A gasket company that focuses on differential and transmission gaskets.
https://www.lubelocker.com/

 

[Bailey28]

I used to use Fel Pro many years ago when using anything else was second rate. I have had mixed luck with Fel Pro and now use Mahle or Victor Reinz on almost everything. Vortec intake manifold gaskets for example on a Chevy, Fel Pro will smash down, split and leak fairly quickly. The VR gaskets are much more stout.

I use AC Delco cork transmission pan gaskets when dealing with a GM transmission though. TH350 with a thick cork gasket on a steel pan is the way to go.

 

[D60]

Like so many things today, it seems to be case-by-case. FailPro offers a gasket for just about every application, and there's no way they're all great. Nissan, Kia, Toyota, Ford, GM -- I've never looked at euro apps, but I just randomly looked up an '18 Audi A6 3.0 and they do offer valve cover gaskets. I'm sure this is @Trav 's first choice (just kidding Trav!!!)

@The Critic has found some recent Fail-Pro stuff that's made in Japan. This seems promising. But again, no way their entire product line is Japan COO

Me, I don't trust 'em and try to avoid as much as possible. I think they're looking to cut costs all the time and still resting on their laurels, much like Joe Suburbia still thinks Craftsman tools are top notch.

But buckle up -- the First Brands impact on the entire market could make things WAY better or WAY worse. Probably both, of course.

 

[nobb]

I would have thought gasket technology, materials, and manufacturing is pretty mature technology by now. Any failure would likely be from QC reasons (eg. OP's case of them not sizing the part properly), or probably in the vast majority of cases... installation error.

 

[cdoublejj]

I used to use Fel Pro many years ago when using anything else was second rate. I have had mixed luck with Fel Pro and now use Mahle or Victor Reinz on almost everything. Vortec intake manifold gaskets for example on a Chevy, Fel Pro will smash down, split and leak fairly quickly. The VR gaskets are much more stout.

I use AC Delco cork transmission pan gaskets when dealing with a GM transmission though. TH350 with a thick cork gasket on a steel pan is the way to go.

That's nice i specifically got the fel pro for my 4.3 vortec it hardly has any run time as it sits a lot but so far knock on wood....

 

[cdoublejj]

I would have thought gasket technology, materials, and manufacturing is pretty mature technology by now. Any failure would likely be from QC reasons (eg. OP's case of them not sizing the part properly), or probably in the vast majority of cases... installation error.

Or like flst tappet lifters being run through the hardening hest treatment oven too fast to harden, maybe they are not letting the freshly molded gaskets cool before ram rodding and jet setting down the conveyor and causing them to stretch and move before cooling