Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Another Valve Cover Gasket question...

[STripp]

Hey Gurus,

How about this one... I finally decided to change my valve cover gaskets after 202,000 miles or so because they had been weeping since about ... oh... 90,000 miles. I Climbed up into the engine compartment and spent the better part of an afternoon cleaning the heads then replacing each of them individually. (325/80r16's are just too tall to lean over the fender wells. :-laf ) Well, after 2 days of driving they are still weeping and I am right back where I started. What are the chances that my crankcase is being overpressurized by boost pressure coming from the valve guides? I tried re-seating the valve covers and actually sealed the gaskets to the covers with black high temp RTV. (I don't remember hearing about anyone having to seal them to the head as well, that seems to be a little excessive. I really only sealed them to prevent them from coming off while installing them. ) I could finish sealing them to the head, but I am afraid I would be covering up a much worse problem. Any ideas?

 

[y-knot]

Did you replace the old gaskets with new ones? If so which brand? RTV sealent is not required to get a good seal, that is stuff people use who are to tight to buy new gaskets.

 

[STripp]

follow up

They were new gaskets, from felpro. As I stated earlier, I used the RTV to hold the gaskets in place while installing, but did not seal between the gasket and the head.

 

[ndurbin]

I reused my old gaskets once and had to use the RTV sealant to get them to seal completely. When I put the new gaskets on I used a light bead of the RTV.



Nathan