Heavy duty valve cover gaskets better for leaks?

Burma-Shave · Post by **Burma-Shave** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:04 pm

Hi folks

Just making a shopping list for a service for my new baby, and see that PRS and others sell heavy duty/performance gaskets as well as the basic 3 quid ones. Theyre 12 quid plus vat each, but re-useable.

My valve cover is leaking a fair bit on the nearside, is there any advantage to getting the special gaskets?
I am trying to persuade myself that I need one of PRS's lovely looking Hazet spark plug wrenches too, but with the other stuff and a pulley spanner too its starting to add up a bit..!

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:32 pm

Although on my VWs but basically the same clip on covers, I always used a smear of blue hylomar on both sides of the gasket to glue them on, never had any leak. Its dead easy to clean off, I've even used it on old cork gaskets and still kept the engine oil tight.

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 12:41 pm

are 356's spring clips like VW's?

If so the spring clips loose their 'springyness' after a while and don't hold the valve cover as tight against the head as they should. maybe consider new spring clips?

58A - 71E · Post by **58A - 71E** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:49 pm

For the 356 I've always used the cork ones with blue hylomar as well - and without leaks, have just ordered some reusable ones for the 911 but not used them before so not sure how oil tight they are yet
James

Nic B-C · Post by **Nic B-C** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:16 pm

hot66 wrote:are 356's spring clips like VW's?

If so the spring clips loose their 'springyness' after a while and don't hold the valve cover as tight against the head as they should. maybe consider new spring clips?

This would be my starting point before using any sealant at all.

When putting on seals always run a smear of oil over both sides and clean up mating faces and everything should be fine and dandy

Julian Hunt · Post by **Julian Hunt** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:31 pm

The 'slightly' more expensive rocker cover gaskets are well worth the extra, we sell loads of them and everyone who has used them says they will never go back to the £3 ones.

I'm sure everyone has their own little trick to seal these, mine is a thin smear of grease.

louis356 · Post by **louis356** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:39 am

I've just bought some of the 'spensive ones, so will let you know how i get on

Burma-Shave · Post by **Burma-Shave** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 9:17 pm

Cool, thanks for the inputs. Good point about stronger springs..hmm.