Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Idea to keep valve cover gaskets in place?

[Got Smoke?]

I have a leaky #6 valve cover gasket because I can't hold it on around the valve cover because its expanded since being installed about a month ago.



I have a spare new gasket to install which will go on very easily, however I need to retorque my head bolts Friday so it will have expanded by then and put me in the same position as I am now with this gasket.



I was thinking of running some super glue around the indention in the gasket itself to hold it in place since it will be a PITA after it expands. Does this sound like a good idea or a horrible one?

 

[McCRam]

I just put a spot of rtv on a couple of corners. Just enough to hold it on. I had a big oil leak a couple of times, This way I avoid the extra hassle.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

RTV makes it slippery. I don't use it. Clean the head surface with lacquer thinner and a bunch of q-tips. Clean the lip area of the valve cover and inside with lacquer thinner so no oil runs down onto the gasket. It will stick fine. Once the gasket gets oily, it swells and will pop out if the surfaces of the head and cover are oily. The old gaskets didn't do this, but all the ones I have gotten in the past few years swell up.

 

[Bandit1]

i have used rtv, or even some grease, something slightly sticky to keep them on until they meet the head surface, specially around the 14mm studs.

 

[EBansberg]

I also used some rtv. just a dab on the corners then lay it gasket down on a paper towel on the bench and something heavy enough to hold it down on top until it dries. my number 6 leaked real bad and I had to pull it and swap it with another because it had already swelled and getting it to the back didn't work if it bumped anything on the way.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Thanks guys, I just rode it out till tomorrow when I re-torque my head bolts.



I've still got the brand new one that should go on like a piece of cake, then I can easily get the expanded gasket to work on #1 that still has a VERY old black gasket :-laf

 

[BTighe]

ive got a leaking 6th cover also. the covers are the grey one and there only a year old. would placing a washer over the bolt help get it to seal or is the little rubber ring supposed to be enough.

 

[Josparkz]

I put a thin film of grease on the sealing surface of the ones I had leaking badly. This was after trying three other gaskets on them. This seemed to do the trick, although the problem may have been from the gasket sitting on the stud washer and not sealing well.