Valve Cover Gasket

[bcossa2001]

97 Toyota Avalon 186K
Replacing valve cover gasket with Felpro gasket. Felpro says do NOT use any chemical adhesives. Haynes manual says to use RTV at selected places. There were traces of sealant on the locations shown in the Haynes manual when I removed the valve cover.

So, to use ATV or no? I'm inclined to go with the Felpro instructions......

 

[Kruse]

While I don't have the instructions to read, to me that's two different subjects.
Chemical adhesive would be like a glue to bond the gasket to the valve cover. RTV would be used where you have two mating surfaces and it would fill in the tiny (or maybe not so tiny) crack that could be a potential oil leak.
Use the RTV where needed.

 

[Quest]

Originally Posted By: Kruse
While I don't have the instructions to read, to me that's two different subjects.
Chemical adhesive would be like a glue to bond the gasket to the valve cover. RTV would be used where you have two mating surfaces and it would fill in the tiny (or maybe not so tiny) crack that could be a potential oil leak.
Use the RTV where needed.


+1

 

[mechtech2]

A bit of RTV is common at the corners, or cam seal areas, from the factory. Most do this, and they must do it for a reason.
So a light amount there is a good idea now.
But it has to be clean and dry - no oil. And give it plenty of cure time.
Is is necessary? Maybe, maybe not. I'd do it carefully and neatly now, and you'll be good for years.
There are no bragging rights either way.

 

[EricF]

I would go with what Felpro says. they made the gasket, they know how it's going to seal. haynes is more of a general instruction guide, they have no idea what you're using parts wise.

If felpro wants you to add rtv to a gasket, they usually include some with it. Usually you put the permadry gaskets on DRY.
once in a while for a joint area or 90deg angle they'll want a little dabble of rtv, but that's about it.