Valve cover sealant... blue? copper? black?

[Brandon K.]

There are so many RTV sealants out there now, I am totally confused by them. Should I use sealer with my aluminum valve covers, and if so what type? Also, these are brand new covers, and I noticed that the underside is a little rough. Should I smooth out all the burrs around the edge so the gasket seats better?

Finally, what is the correct/ best sealer to use on the fuel pump? Thanks!!

Brandon

[Eric Fairclo]

Re: Valve cover sealant... blue? copper? black?

Hello, you want to use a high temperature sealant. I think it might be blue but i might be wrong about the color. Just make sure it says high temp on it. This will be good for the fuel pump also. I would not grind the valve covers. What you do is run a bead of sealant on the valve covers then put the gasket on top of it press it down a little and let it sit for about 10 minutes then put in on the car and bolt it down. ( don't crank it though ) you don't want all the sealant to squish out. I usually let the car sit about a half hour before i start it then. Hope this helps. Eric

[Eric Fairclo]

Re: Valve cover sealant... blue? copper? black?

Hello, you want to use a high temperature sealant. I think it might be blue but i might be wrong about the color. Just make sure it says high temp on it. This will be good for the fuel pump also. I would not grind the valve covers. What you do is run a bead of sealant on the valve covers then put the gasket on top of it press it down a little and let it sit for about 10 minutes then put in on the car and bolt it down. ( don't crank it though ) you don't want all the sealant to squish out. I usually let the car sit about a half hour before i start it then. Hope this helps. Eric

[Joe L.]

Re: Valve cover sealant... blue? copper? black?

Brandon-----

If you use the right gaskets on the valve covers, then you don't need any sealer, at all. I use Fel-Pro Corkprene with steel core. You might want to use just a few dabs of 3M weatherstrip cement to make the gaskets adhere to the valve covers for ease of installation. If you feel that you must use sealer, I'd use a VERY small amount of Permatex Ultra Copper. This sealer has the best resistance and sealing properties with respect to oil.

Fel-Pro also has a new line of valve cover gaskets which are similar in material and construction to their one-piece oil pan gaskets. I DEFINITELY plan to try these; I believe that they'll be the "ultimate answer" to valve cover leaks. These gaskets aren't available for many engines yet, but I think that perimeter bolt small block Chevy is one that they are available for.

For the fuel pump plate-to-block gasket, I'd use a SMALL amount of the Ultra-Copper. For the fuel pump-to-plate gasket, you usually don't need any sealer, but a SMALL amount of the Ultra Copper should be ok.

[Joe L.]

Re: Valve cover sealant... blue? copper? black?

Brandon-----

If you use the right gaskets on the valve covers, then you don't need any sealer, at all. I use Fel-Pro Corkprene with steel core. You might want to use just a few dabs of 3M weatherstrip cement to make the gaskets adhere to the valve covers for ease of installation. If you feel that you must use sealer, I'd use a VERY small amount of Permatex Ultra Copper. This sealer has the best resistance and sealing properties with respect to oil.

Fel-Pro also has a new line of valve cover gaskets which are similar in material and construction to their one-piece oil pan gaskets. I DEFINITELY plan to try these; I believe that they'll be the "ultimate answer" to valve cover leaks. These gaskets aren't available for many engines yet, but I think that perimeter bolt small block Chevy is one that they are available for.

For the fuel pump plate-to-block gasket, I'd use a SMALL amount of the Ultra-Copper. For the fuel pump-to-plate gasket, you usually don't need any sealer, but a SMALL amount of the Ultra Copper should be ok.

[David L. Miller]

Re: Valve cover sealant... blue? copper? black?

Any evidence of sealant will result in a point deduction should you choose to have your car Judged.

[David L. Miller]

Re: Valve cover sealant... blue? copper? black?

Any evidence of sealant will result in a point deduction should you choose to have your car Judged.

[TLSmith]

Re: Valve cover sealant... blue? copper? black?

Racers and anybody else requiring frequent removal of valve covers have userd permatex to adhere the gasket to the valve cover and let it dry. then install the covers with nothing between the gasket and head. Felpro and other neoprene gaskets last a lot longer than cork, but all gaskets installed in this manner seal well and make valve cover R&R are easy for adjusting valves etc. Should the occasion arrive that you need to replace the gaskets again it is easy enough to clean them form the covers. On covers with extremely rough or sharp edges or protrusions I normally use a small file and carefully smooth them out.

[TLSmith]

Re: Valve cover sealant... blue? copper? black?

Racers and anybody else requiring frequent removal of valve covers have userd permatex to adhere the gasket to the valve cover and let it dry. then install the covers with nothing between the gasket and head. Felpro and other neoprene gaskets last a lot longer than cork, but all gaskets installed in this manner seal well and make valve cover R&R are easy for adjusting valves etc. Should the occasion arrive that you need to replace the gaskets again it is easy enough to clean them form the covers. On covers with extremely rough or sharp edges or protrusions I normally use a small file and carefully smooth them out.