Valve cover gasket (leak) By Jon C (Read 2,036 times)

[Jon C]

I've got a leak from my valve cover. I replaced the gasket once with a new one, but the leak came back.

I'm looking for other ideas to seal this leak up. The o-ring gasket seems to drop in too far causing the leak.

I've got a roll of cork gasket material and wondering if that would work? Not sure if that is what it is made for, or if it would work mixing with oil and higher temps?

If I use the gasket material, do I need to put a bead of gasket seal on both sides?

Or do people just get a tube of gasket maker?

Thanks.

[Bashan]

I've seen many folks use Blue RTV gasket sealer, the kind you get at Wal-mart or auto stores. I even had a couple delaers tell me to use it in cases such as valve cover gaskets. It's non-hardening and can be removed fairly easy with, I believe, rubbing alcohol. Scootmonk used it on his valve cover gasket, you could PM him and ask him how it worked out. You just put a bead on one surface, not both although it wouldn't hurt anything. Rich

[ootscoot]

yea, I got some gaskets from a partsforscooters source that were thin and sunk into the groove...the ones I get from flyscooters are the thickest and no need for gasket maker w/ these. The blue RTV is fine.

[Alleyoop]

Cork gaskets work fine too, they used them in cars for decades on the valve covers.
Alleyoop

[Jon C]

Thanks for all the help. I got some red RTV today, and I'll try that. The cork might too hard to keep in place when putting it on?

Ootscoot, I didn't know there were different ones and that seems to be my trouble too. I'll order one up from flyscooters to have on hand.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[Alleyoop]

Jon_C,
Just about with any gasket, especially if its at an angle will not stay in place, so a little Red RTV on the Gasket will keep it in place. I made a Gasket for the Full Flange on the Header Pipe instead of using the round metal gaskets they use or sell you for the Header Pipe. I drew the Flange onto the material and cut it out including the holes for the two studs then put a bead of Red Rtv around the Exhaust hole on the Gasket stuck it onto the Head and then put on the Head Pipe.
Alleyoop

[Jon C]

Wow, you used that for the header? Still working ok with all that heat? That is good to know I could use it for a valve gasket.

Tonight I cut out the material and was planning on using both cork and the RTV, but ended up just using the RTV. Mine looks like Bashan's picture, but red oozing out.

I'll let it sit overnight and see how it works.

[Alleyoop]

Jon_C,
No, you CANNOT USE CORK for your Headers. Sorry I did not mean to confuse the issue. I Bought a Sheet of Header Gasket it has metal in between two pieces of Heat Material. All I was trying to say was to help any Gasket Stay where you want it is to use a little of RTV to hold the gasket in place so it doesn't move around on you.
Alleyoop

[Jon C]

Ahh, got it Allyoop! I know what you're talking about now.

Thanks.

[Jon C]

Dang, still leaking.

It must be coming from somewhere else. Hopefully another gasket and not a crack in the head or something.

[Bashan]

Uh oh, did you read Scootmonk's thread about this very situation?
SCOOTMONK"S OIL LEAK

[Jon C]

It seems that if it's not the valve cover gasket, not the starter motor O ring, the next place is the head - usually a small hairline crack near the cam chain area...

I just re-read it. I've got some checking to do. Off with the plastic again!

Thanks for the link.