Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Valve cover gaskets

[abranz]

I've read several times to get the "black" gaskets as opposed to the grey ones but I can't seem to find them. Anyone know where to find them. Thanks Anthony

 

[Bob4x4]

Try Felpro



Bob

 

[BigPapa]

I've never been told that one's better than another except for a few comments from some fellas about some they got from a parts house not lasting very long. Mine are gray and came from Cummins. I've had them for about 120K miles and they've been off and back on 3 times for valve adjustments and they still don't leak.



Scott

 

[PKirby]

When I built my engine I used the black ones, they started leaking after only a few thousand miles. I bought the Gray ones from Cummins and they don't leak.

 

[CumminsPower98]

My experience is that the gray ones made by either Victor or Cummins don't seem to last quite as well as the black Fel-Pro ones. My cousin's truck has the Fel-Pro ones and last I checked they seem to maybe hold a little tighter as they are harder rubber. I have run only the gray Victor and Cummins ones on mine, both of which feel and look the same and it seems like I get a tiny bit more seepage out of them over time. Don't get me wrong, the gray ones work quite well but I think the Fel-Pro's might be a tad bit better.

 

[WDixon27]

my new gray cummins gaskets were a pain to reinstall during the retorquings after i did my head gasket last year, they swelled up and became almost impossible to get under the valve cover without them slipping out, i did 3 retorques over a month and every time they had gotten bigger, when i did another torque and valve adjustment a couple months ago (about a year later) they were seeping a little so i tossed them and installed the felpros i bought a few months before i did the head job, haven't touched them yet and shouldn't need to for a while

Mine are gray and came from Cummins. I've had them for about 120K miles and they've been off and back on 3 times for valve adjustments and they still don't leak.



Scott

 

[Joe G.]

Torquing does not do anything. The bolts have shoulders on them to set the valve covers the proper distance from the head to avoid cutting the gaskets. More torque only presses harder on the bolt shoulder. They only need to be tight enough to keep from vibrating loose.



I have the gray gaskets. They are not leaking now, but it was a bear to get them on just right so they would not leak. I may switch to the Fel-Pro gaskets the next time I need a set.

 

[Bobcat698]

Fel-Pro all the way!

 

[woodsrat]

Seems everyone in the air on this one. I had three people call last week and want the victor ones because the fel-pro ones they had are leaking. But from the sounds of it they may both have there problems.

chuck

 

[Highfinance97]

I've installed plenty of the cummins gaskets and had many problems with them swelling what a PITA!!!



You could always try heating them up and maybe they will shrink a bit



Michael

 

[WDixon27]

i was talking about torquing the head not the valve covers

Torquing does not do anything. The bolts have shoulders on them to set the valve covers the proper distance from the head to avoid cutting the gaskets. More torque only presses harder on the bolt shoulder. They only need to be tight enough to keep from vibrating loose.

 

[dpuckett]

I have yet to see how anyone can have a problem with the grey gaskets. I just put them on the valve cover, then install the entire "assebly" onto the engine. No slippage, no leaks, and they have been on and off plenty of times for one reason or another. I had some black ones a long time ago, and dont seem to remember any problem with them. I never trusted myself to line up the black ones correctly either- I put them on the VC first, then put it on the engine.



Daniel

 

[Joe G.]

I have yet to see how anyone can have a problem with the grey gaskets. I just put them on the valve cover, then install the entire "assebly" onto the engine. No slippage, no leaks, and they have been on and off plenty of times for one reason or another. I had some black ones a long time ago, and dont seem to remember any problem with them. I never trusted myself to line up the black ones correctly either- I put them on the VC first, then put it on the engine.



Daniel

The problem on a 2nd gen is that #5 and #6 are under the cowling. It can be a struggle to get them on correctly because there is barely room enough to get them back there without knocking the gasket off the valve cover.

 

[CumminsPower98]

I have 110k on my current Cummins gray ones and they have been off several times and are working quite well and are not 100% dry but close. I also install them on the cover first except for the rear one or two. I do them by feel and then use a mirror to make sure all is well and they have not swelled much if any. I wonder if the swelling has anything to do with the type of oil used?

 

[Eric_B]

I just installed Fel-Pro black valve cover gaskets on my truck 2 weeks ago and no problem so far. I used a little very little yellow 3-M gasket adhesive to hold the gasket in place for the rear 2 cylinders only. On the other 4 i didn't use anything to hold the gasket.

 

[WDixon27]

my grays saw nothing but fresh delo 400 15w40 and started swelling after the 2nd head retorque a week or so later, they were a royal pain when they were 3 weeks to a month old when i did the last couple torquings, theres no way in hell they would of stayed on the valve covers after the 1st week, i didn't even look at them when i torqued the head and set the valves a year or so later i just tossed them over my shoulder and busted out the felpros

I wonder if the swelling has anything to do with the type of oil used?

 

[Hammer]

Personally. .

I have yet to determine which is better as they both suck when you try and put them back on your motor after you do a valve adjustment. Its ALOT less of a hassle if when you do you adjustments and reinstall the gasket to just replace them for the minor cost of them. I am not a big fan of laying over the motor twice to do the rear cover under the cowl so when I do mine,its new gaskets and save the frustrations of possible leaks.



Fel-Pro makes the Mopar gaskets and the Grey Cummins gaskets can be had also at NAPA for the same price. Neither is more superior than the other,its a preference to brand or color. My preference is no leaks and creating more work,by changing them each time it makes the job go easier... ... . Andy



On Edit. .

One has to keep in mind that these are our prides and joy and ask yourself this question...

Is about $35 +/- expenditure for gaskets worth your piece of mind on your $15-20k truck?.

 

[AWray]

I bought Fel-Pro black gaskets at Auto Zone. Check your local parts houses or a Cummins parts retailer.