Valve cover gasket install

[TominMO]

Gonna be installing a new valve cover gasket. On the top, that fits into the valve cover, I intend to spray Copper-Coat, let it sit a few minutes to get tacky, then install it in the valve cover. For the bottom side that fits against the cylinder head, I am debating between installing it dry, or using some high-temp, non-hardening silicon. Any thoughts?

I did buy the Fel-Pro set that has the three grommets and the semicircular rubber piece.

[ARCHINSTL]

Dunno about the 3AC, but I had to do it with my Dodge/Mitsu 2.6 a few years ago for the same leaking problem. It has similar semi-circular inserts. I used Permatex Ultra Black on both sides of the gasket. Using only on the top was not enough, so had to use it on both sides - no further leaks.
Tom M.

[TominMO]

OK, I've got some red RTV I will use on the bottom of the gasket.

[keith]

I only used ultra black on the top of the gasket to get it to stick in the groove and on the bottom only at the corners of the cam shaft bearing cover. I also used it on the half moon filler at the back of the head on the bottom only. The rest of the gasket bottom, I left dry on a new gasket and it never leaked. If I had occasion to remove the valve cover anytime with in 20k miles or so, then I would use a little ultra black on the bottom surface as the gasket will have hardened up some. If it gets too hard, then I would get a new one.

BTW, today I would recommend using "The Right Stuff" instead of ultra black, it is way better on sealing against oil leaks.

[TominMO]

Thanks Keith, esp. for the tip on the camshaft bearing cover.

[Ace]

I've never put sealer on both sides of the valve cover gasket of my '83 Tercel because the maintenance recommends valve adjustments every 15,000 miles IIRC. Although I haven't done it that often in recent years, it doesn't hardly change. I have replaced the valve cover gasket every so often, they seem to shrink and leak over time and it's due for replacement now. A new gasket seems thick and soft enough to seal OK without sealer on both sides IMO.

[TominMO]

Ended up using red high-temp RTV on both top and bottom of the half-moon, and also RTV'd the flat areas at the bearing cover area. Old gasket was so brittle it broke; the half-moon was brittle too. And the grommets needed replacing. I bought the Fel-Pro kit that had all these. Used brake cleaner on a spare valve cover with "TOYOTA" embossed on it before the install, and used this nicer-looking cover. Looks very good.

[dlb]

Used brake cleaner on a spare valve cover with "TOYOTA" embossed on it before the install, and used this nicer-looking cover. Looks very good.

those valve covers are from the 83/84 tercs. i love them too, they look way cooler than the plain later ones.

[TominMO]

Used brake cleaner on a spare valve cover with "TOYOTA" embossed on it before the install, and used this nicer-looking cover. Looks very good.

those valve covers are from the 83/84 tercs. i love them too, they look way cooler than the plain later ones.

Heartily agree.

[sandlappermike]

I am new to your site. I've got a 1984 Tercel 4WD wagon that I bought second hand in 1986. It has been an incredibly reliable vehicle despite my less than stellar maintenance. I recently decided to replace the valve cover gasket for the first time because of an oil leak that had slowly gotten worse over the last couple of years. I'd done this job on a 1976 Jeep pickup without much trouble, so I thought I'd try doing it on my Toyota. I got a gasket kit from Rock Auto & went to work. I removed all the connecting hoses & air cleaner housing & the 3 hold down nuts, then tried to remove the valve cover. It didn't budge, even after hitting the cover with a rubber mallet. Searching for an answer, I came across this forum. Many thanks to Paul for giving me access to the forum & telling me about the three grommets. These things were not in my gasket kit, so I was going to try & re-use the old ones using some high temp RTV under the upper metal caps of the old grommets. The metal caps are in good shape, although I tore up the rubber beneath them. Has anyone successfully re-used the grommets?

[Notmikeb]

The rubber grommets are what exerts the pressure from the nuts to hold down the valve cover. I don't think the brass washers will hold any torque without bending. You could try it but I doubt it will hold.

[Notmikeb]

I just realized you plan to reuse the rubber AND use rtv to seal. That might work but the grommets should have come with the gasket. Did you replace the half moon shaped but at the rear? The gasket set is cheap enough and comes with all of those so I would recommend just getting the right thing and only doing this once.

[Petros]

welcome to the forum sandlapper,

if there old brittle rubber grommets still make full contact, using the silicone sealnat on them would likely work okay. I have reused old ones before, in fact I like them when they are more stiff. the new soft ones are difficult to get off when you want to pull the cover.

FWIW, I only put sealant on the top of the valve cover gasket to hold it in the cover. When they get old and stiff, they will start to seep. Than I will use non-hardening sealant on the lower side. When that stops working I have to break down and buy a new gasket. I would reuse all my gaskets if I could get them off without damaging them, not always possible, but many can actually be reused if they are not damaged. saves lots of money.