Valve cover gaskets

[Gerbow]

I need to replace my leaking valve cover gaskets. Was thinking of going with the silicone ones with the no crush thingys. Anyone know what parts store carries these or are these a special order item?

 

[bax]

Not a special order at the parts store I go to. Should not be too hard to find. I like cork. they make them with the collars too.

 

[70_Steve]

Depends on what kind of valve covers you have. With the carb I ran cheapie chrome stamped steel valve covers with the cheapie (is there a theme here?) cork valve covers. Put gasket sealer on the valve cover side of the gasket and could, and did, reuse them several times. I think one key to not having them leak is to straighten the edges of the valve cover, especially at the bolt holes. (see pic) I also used some valve cover washers I found at one of the box auto parts store. The were listed as being for a Chebby, but they worked great on my valve covers. The other thing is to not overtighten them. I torqued them to "one little finger on a 1/4" ratchet".

I now run the stock Ford 5.0 cast aluminum covers for my EFI. I use the FMS silicone valve cover gaskets, and... no leaks.

I never researched the torque requirements for the silicone gaskets, but my thought would be they require too much pressure to seal correctly with stamped steel valve covers.

 

[Gerbow]

Yes, those washers are what I need. I have the, I guess nice black Bronco, covers that the vendors sell. They look like they have been overtightened and started to dimple at some of the holes. Not sure if they are steel or alum.

 

[patterdale]

Depends on what kind of valve covers you have. With the carb I ran cheapie chrome stamped steel valve covers with the cheapie (is there a theme here?) cork valve covers. Put gasket sealer on the valve cover side of the gasket and could, and did, reuse them several times. I think one key to not having them leak is to straighten the edges of the valve cover, especially at the bolt holes. (see pic) I also used some valve cover washers I found at one of the box auto parts store. The were listed as being for a Chebby, but they worked great on my valve covers. The other thing is to not overtighten them. I torqued them to "one little finger on a 1/4" ratchet".

I now run the stock Ford 5.0 cast aluminum covers for my EFI. I use the FMS silicone valve cover gaskets, and... no leaks.

I never researched the torque requirements for the silicone gaskets, but my thought would be they require too much pressure to seal correctly with stamped steel valve covers.

X2

Nothing wrong with the cork gaskets as long as you do not overtighten them and you make sure the valve cover mating surfaces are flat. Virtually everyone's solution to these leaking is to tighten them more. That distorts the metal around the bolt holes to the point where the gasket crushes out at the bolts and can't seal anywhere else. Flat mating surfaces on the valve cover with a little gasket cement and a light coat of silicone on the head side of the gasket along with the right torque will get you a long way.