Hi everyone,
On Sunday i will be replacing the valve cover Gasket on my Wife's 2004 Toyota Rav 4, i already have the Gasket but i were wondering if when i install the Gasket if i should dab on a little RTV silicone like we used to do in the old days just for security or should i just install the gasket as is .
Thanks, Tundraz.
Valve cover gasket replacement?
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I added some on the corners, just in case
I recently installed a new rubber valve cover gasket on my Nissan Frontier.
I didn't use any silicone. The OE gasket didn't have any and it held for more than 10 years. The gasket was a single piece, but if it had been spliced, I might have put a little where the two ends meet.
Make sure to take some pics under the valve cover and post them here.
Here are the pics I took of my Nissan.
http://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthre...484#Post2234484
Wash it with water and dish detergent and let it dry before installing. This ensures there is no residual "mold release compound" from when it was manufactured. I used to work as a rubber molder and we'd use two different kinds of mold release to help prevent small pieces of the part tearing off being left stuck to the mold.
This compound can prevent a good seal. RTV in the corners wouldn't hurt but probably not necessary. What could help is if you use loctite on the screw threads when you torque it down. Leave it for 24 hours if you can so it cures. They won't back out from vibration
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For the rubber gaskets, you won't need any RTV. My Maxima has an inverted corner where the valve cover meets the head that does require a small (pea sized) dot of RTV to maintain the seal.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
If there's a seam in the metal of your cyl head like where a timing cover attaches you'll want a dollop of RTV there.
At the corners, even the factorys often uses silicone RTV with rubber gaskets.
Audi calls for a dab of RTV at every 'corner' even with the rubber gaskets.
I have always done Honda's this way as well.
I just went through this on my 2000 Tundra yesterday. I plan to just put RTV where the factory had applied it. But right now I'm stymied by how to fit the spark plug tubes through the new gaskets I installed. Anyone have a trick for this? They keep getting hung up on the lips of the new seals.
I did take some pictures, but will have to find a host website to post. It looks a lot better now than it did before I did a couple of ARX treatments.
Are the new seals in the cover all the way and straight? OEM they are recessed slightly and are a PITA. I always use a little indian head around them, it seems to help with installing them in the cover.
If they are in all the way use a wooden dowel, IIRC 3/4" works well just to wiggle the tube slightly in the seal,its probably only one that's hanging up.
Well, the seals are in as far as I can pound them in. I will never attempt to do this job again. What a PITA. I'm going to try and massage the seals around the tubes to see if that helps to push them through. It's cold this morning, and I'm afraid they may be less cooperative as a result of contracting. First I have to take off and reapply the sealant RTV...seems like I'm going backwards!
Maybe bring the cover inside for a couple of hours and put some oil on the seal lips.
You can see from the top with a flash light to check if the seals are flush with the cover inside.
Careful about using "silicone RTV" it could contaminate the oil and potentially damage emissions items like the cat and O2 sensors.
I would suggest something without silicone.
Well, I ended up spraying the seals with silicone lubricant and was then able to massage the seals over the tubes with my finger tips and finger nails. It was a relatively easy assembly after that. Hopefully, I'll never have to change the tube seals again.
Originally Posted By: 91344George
Careful about using "silicone RTV" it could contaminate the oil and potentially damage emissions items like the cat and O2 sensors.
I would suggest something without silicone.
Most RTV now is O2 sensor safe but spray silicone isn't unless otherwise stated on the can.
Silicone is the mortal enemy O2 sensors, it doesn't take much to wipe them out. I wouldn't worry much about it in this case though.
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