[dhcarguy]

I am about to install the steel reinforced rubber valve cover gaskets.
Should these be installed dry, or should I use a sealer of some type?

Thanks

[Radman]

I used sealer at the heads, dry at the valve cover. If your valve cover has some wiggles at the edges, seal both sides. Just plan on buying a new set of gaskets anytime you take the cover off.

[chuckies76ta]

Well, we do the other was around. Seal the gaskets to the valve covers. Been using the same gaskets for years.

[MrWrestlingII]

I sealed mine to the valve covers and used a light film of wheel bearing grease on the head side of the gasket…. Never leaked.

[78w72]

X2 or 3 on sealing to the v/c with whatever sealant you prefer, i use permatex ultra-black but others use right stuff or even 3m weatherstrip adhesive. then a light coat of grease or vasoline and they will come right off & can be reused many times.

if you need to buy new gaskets every time you take the valve covers off, youre doing something wrong

[dhcarguy]

OK, Thanks Gents

[PunchT37]

I’ve always done dry.

[Old Goat Racer]

Originally Posted by PunchT37

I’ve always done dry.

DITTO

[Greg Reid]

I've had the same set of cork valve cover gaskets on my car for years. I just had them off earlier in the week and they're still in perfect condition and not leaking a drop. No sealant on either side for me unless I have a leakage problem. But IF I seal them, it's to the covers. The cover will have more imperfections than the head so if you're going to seal it that's the side to do it on in my opinion.

[Half-Inch Stud]

I use the Orange Silicone on the Valve Cover side because it looks nice, and keeps the seal impression repeatable.

Just don't seal both sides. Somebody might need to know that.

[Cliff R]

Glue them to the valve covers with a very small amount of RTV. Put some car paste wax on the bottom of the gaskets and install. You will now be able to remove valve covers scores of times without having to replace the gaskets. This works well with the cork gaskets too and I prefer the thick cork version to the rubber ones on engines we've built here.......

[NeighborsComplaint]

Originally Posted by dhcarguy

I am about to install the steel reinforced rubber valve cover gaskets.
Should these be installed dry, or should I use a sealer of some type?

Thanks

If they are the ones like mine with the rigid steel frame inside the rubber, I installed them dry and they have never leaked even though I have removed the valve covers multiple times.

If your valve covers are oil canned around the bolts from over tightening, or you have doubts, use a thin coat of sealant on the valve cover side only. As a general rule, you apply sealant to the part that is to be removed, not the part (cyl head) that remains on the engine. Same goes for water pumps and oil pans. The rationales is the suraces of the engine never have to scrape sealant off and rick getting it in the motor.

The only exception I ever take to the rule is sealant around water passages on intake manifolds.