MTFCA Forum

Does anyone sell or has anyone made silicone valve cover gaskets? You can get them for aircraft and they are nice when you want to be able to remove and reinstall the cover without a lot of hassle. Mine were taken off to get at the valves on a tour a couple of weeks back and I need to install new ones (oil leak.)

Tim I have found that using contact cement on the valve cover side holds/seals that paper perfectly. For a good aviation type seal with easy reusing, I use Ultra Black on the paper side pervious attached to the valve cover, then apply a thin film of motor oil on the engine block surfaces. Install and let cure. Before operating, remove the cover again to check for all around contact. I have been using the same gasket/seal for about 15 years now.

All the Best,

Hank

P.S. how are you healing up after that accident last year? Hope well ole man!

Hank and Steve have absolutely nailed it. The only thing I'd add is to only gently tighten the bolts on the covers at first, and then after 24 hours tweek it a little more...you now have an energised seal which will last for years and years and can be easily removed and replaced and will seal just as well again.

Simply make the effort to replace each cover in it's correct respective location, oriented the same as they came off. Believe it or not, they have exact mimics of all defects on the block, and you want all of those fingerprint-type inclusions to be covered by the gasket oriented correctly which will reseal those imperfections perfectly.

Tim,

I presume that you are thinking about the "Real Gaskets" ? I have been using the same set on my Continental C-85 valve covers for almost 20 years and they are truly magic.

I wonder if one could contact the company and just buy a sheet of the silicone material large enough to cut out your own T gaskets ? The only downside to using Real Gaskets on the T side covers would be holding them in position while installing. The instructions tell the user to absolutely install the gaskets dry with no sealant or cement. I have followed their directions religiously and never had any leaks on my C-85. As a matter of fact, I changed out the cylinders on my engine in 2011 and re-used the old gaskets on the new cylinders.

For those not familiar with the product: https://realgaskets.com/

Dick

I have used a lot of gaskets on diesel engines That come with a red silicone ring on both sides in the contact area. Why couldn't a person spread a small layer of red silicone on one side and let it dry overnight . Then do the other side and let it dry. When you mount it you can grease one side toward the block if you want. May not work but worth a try. I would use a heavy gasket paper instead of cork. You would only need the silicone in the contact areas.

Dick-I've had them on my C85 for over 20 years. Also used them on a big 0-470 and LYC 0-320. No leaks-reused over and over. I think you could get away with gluing one side to the valve cover of a T- I'd just leave the mating surface clean.

I'm going to have to think about this one before proceeding...lots of good suggestions.