ok guys im at my parents house as we speak and im getting ready to put my valve cover back on. In the past i never used a gasket i just sealed it myself with silicone. I went a head and baught a gasket this time and i simply need to know if the gasket is fine by itself or do i need to do silicone as well. I need my car tomorow and its freezing outside so silicone almost isnt an option. Will it be fine with just the gasket like im guessing it should be.

 

Ya.. With the right amount of torque for the bolts... You put silicone on it in the past? huh...

 

Yup, when i got my engine replaced not to long ago they used the gasket. Now i had to take it off because it leaked oil on 2 spark plugs and out the back of the valve cover! But I poished the lip on the valve cover which i believe caused the leak. there was some crud build up on it. not real high but enough to probably make it leak. But if it leaks again im going back to my silicon because its never leaked with that.

 

Just go buy a new gasket, and its rubber you almost never use silicone on a rubber gasket. Clean the head surface, make sure its very clean, dry and no low spots. Am I understanding this right, you just filled the channel in the valve cover with silicone?

 

When I did my valve cover gasket I put the gasket on the used a lil silicone around the edges where it bends up and stuff just to hold the gasket on better while it was put on.

 

Thats fine because its no on the mating surface, I do the same thing.

 

Yeah use the gasket... I can see how RTV would work but I wouldn't trust it at all. Go with the regular gasket and torque the bolts don't to the specified amount.