Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) What's wrong with the gray valve cover seals?

[KOwens]

Hello TDR Gurus,



I just did my first valve adjust on my '95. I had it done at the dealer a couple of times, but finally decided to try the adjustment myself... and it was pretty painless for the most part. Finding TDC and being able to insert the camshaft pin was a chore for about 20 minutes... but once I found the sweet spot and marked the bottom of the crank damper, I was in business. Should be a snap in the future.



I was reading an article from DodgeRam.org while doing the adjustment... and it comes with a warning not to use the "gray" valve cover seals. Unfortunately, I had already purchased the gray ones from my local Dodge dealer so guess what... that's what I installed. They seem to work fine... and definitely they are more supple than the black ones I removed, which had 190,000 miles on them.



Can anyone out there in TDR-land tell me what the warning is all about... and why the gray seals are not preferred by DodgeRam.org?



Thanks... Kevin

 

[y-knot]

I have looked at stock Cummins gaskets and some no-name cheap-o's from china, nothing compares to the Fel-Pro valave cover gaskets.

 

[JGK]

Not sure what the issue is with gray gaskets, but I bought mine from Cummins (gray) and haven't had a problem.



-Jay

 

[1dslram]

I purchase all my gaskets from Cummins and have never had a problem with the gray cover gaskets. Just be sure not to soak them in any cleaner as they will swell as with all silicone in solvent.

Bruce

 

[Missouri Mule]

Nothing I have read where they are supposed to be better than the black ones.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Only problem I had was with the rear most cover leaking due to the seal being out of place. Once I realized I was loosing oil, I removed the seal, inspected it, reinstalled it more carefully and that was that.

 

[bmoeller]

Not sure what the issue is with gray gaskets, but I bought mine from Cummins (gray) and haven't had a problem.



-Jay

Same here.