If i take the valve cover off do i need to replace the gasket ?

[alfa147x]

If i take the valve cover off do i need to replace the gasket ?

I took the cover off because my spark plug wire's boot came off on the plug...

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

My advice is to replace the gasket anyway. All VCG's that I've had to replace were cheap enough to warrant the replacement. You might as well do it now since you have it apart anyway. Plus, you're going to have a hell of a time getting all the oil off the original VCG so the RTV can adhere to it.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
My advice is to replace the gasket anyway. All VCG's that I've had to replace were cheap enough to warrant the replacement. You might as well do it now since you have it apart anyway. Plus, you're going to have a hell of a time getting all the oil off the original VCG so the RTV can adhere to it.

thanks i just bought it $23

RTV?

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
My advice is to replace the gasket anyway. All VCG's that I've had to replace were cheap enough to warrant the replacement. You might as well do it now since you have it apart anyway. Plus, you're going to have a hell of a time getting all the oil off the original VCG so the RTV can adhere to it.

thanks i just bought it $23

RTV?

Some vehicles require it, but some don't. I always put a thin seal just for safe measure. RTV - gasket sealant. I always use the black stuff. Clean all oil from the surface of the head and the valve cover gasket, apply RTV to both sides of the VCG, put VCG on the valve cover then put in back on the head. Do not fully tighten down the bolts that hold the valve cover quite yet. Let the RTV cure for a couple of hours, then tighten down the rest of the bolts to the specified torque listed in the service manual. For my car it's 10 ftlbs. What kind of vehicle is this? Also what I was thinking, if the gasket is cork it's usually mandatory to apply RTV.
Disclaimer: This might not be 100 percent correct for your vehicle. This is the usage for my VW.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
My advice is to replace the gasket anyway. All VCG's that I've had to replace were cheap enough to warrant the replacement. You might as well do it now since you have it apart anyway. Plus, you're going to have a hell of a time getting all the oil off the original VCG so the RTV can adhere to it.

thanks i just bought it $23

RTV?

Some vehicles require it, but some don't. I always put a thin seal just for safe measure. RTV - gasket sealant. I always use the black stuff. Clean all oil from the surface of the head and the valve cover gasket, apply RTV to both sides of the VCG, put VCG on the valve cover then put in back on the head. Do not fully tighten down the bolts that hold the valve cover quite yet. Let the RTV cure for a couple of hours, then tighten down the rest of the bolts to the specified torque listed in the service manual. For my car it's 10 ftlbs. What kind of vehicle is this? Also what I was thinking, if the gasket is cork it's usually mandatory to apply RTV.
Disclaimer: This might not be 100 percent correct for your vehicle. This is the usage for my VW.

1994 Nissan Altima GXE
its not cork
and what should i ask for at the auto parts store?

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
My advice is to replace the gasket anyway. All VCG's that I've had to replace were cheap enough to warrant the replacement. You might as well do it now since you have it apart anyway. Plus, you're going to have a hell of a time getting all the oil off the original VCG so the RTV can adhere to it.

thanks i just bought it $23

RTV?

Some vehicles require it, but some don't. I always put a thin seal just for safe measure. RTV - gasket sealant. I always use the black stuff. Clean all oil from the surface of the head and the valve cover gasket, apply RTV to both sides of the VCG, put VCG on the valve cover then put in back on the head. Do not fully tighten down the bolts that hold the valve cover quite yet. Let the RTV cure for a couple of hours, then tighten down the rest of the bolts to the specified torque listed in the service manual. For my car it's 10 ftlbs. What kind of vehicle is this? Also what I was thinking, if the gasket is cork it's usually mandatory to apply RTV.
Disclaimer: This might not be 100 percent correct for your vehicle. This is the usage for my VW.

1994 Nissan Altima GXE
its not cork
and what should i ask for at the auto parts store?

Just ask for gasket sealant. The black stuff is a higher temperature rating. It'll come in a toothpaste size tube.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
My advice is to replace the gasket anyway. All VCG's that I've had to replace were cheap enough to warrant the replacement. You might as well do it now since you have it apart anyway. Plus, you're going to have a hell of a time getting all the oil off the original VCG so the RTV can adhere to it.

thanks i just bought it $23

RTV?

Some vehicles require it, but some don't. I always put a thin seal just for safe measure. RTV - gasket sealant. I always use the black stuff. Clean all oil from the surface of the head and the valve cover gasket, apply RTV to both sides of the VCG, put VCG on the valve cover then put in back on the head. Do not fully tighten down the bolts that hold the valve cover quite yet. Let the RTV cure for a couple of hours, then tighten down the rest of the bolts to the specified torque listed in the service manual. For my car it's 10 ftlbs. What kind of vehicle is this? Also what I was thinking, if the gasket is cork it's usually mandatory to apply RTV.
Disclaimer: This might not be 100 percent correct for your vehicle. This is the usage for my VW.

1994 Nissan Altima GXE
its not cork
and what should i ask for at the auto parts store?

nvm my dad has RTV

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
My advice is to replace the gasket anyway. All VCG's that I've had to replace were cheap enough to warrant the replacement. You might as well do it now since you have it apart anyway. Plus, you're going to have a hell of a time getting all the oil off the original VCG so the RTV can adhere to it.

thanks i just bought it $23

RTV?

Some vehicles require it, but some don't. I always put a thin seal just for safe measure. RTV - gasket sealant. I always use the black stuff. Clean all oil from the surface of the head and the valve cover gasket, apply RTV to both sides of the VCG, put VCG on the valve cover then put in back on the head. Do not fully tighten down the bolts that hold the valve cover quite yet. Let the RTV cure for a couple of hours, then tighten down the rest of the bolts to the specified torque listed in the service manual. For my car it's 10 ftlbs. What kind of vehicle is this? Also what I was thinking, if the gasket is cork it's usually mandatory to apply RTV.
Disclaimer: This might not be 100 percent correct for your vehicle. This is the usage for my VW.

1994 Nissan Altima GXE
its not cork
and what should i ask for at the auto parts store?

Just ask for gasket sealant. The black stuff is a higher temperature rating. It'll come in a toothpaste size tube.

thanks for the help!

 

[thedarkwolf]

If you use RTV on both sides of your new gasket you certainly won't be able to reuse the gasket the next time. I'd only do it to the valve cover side if at all. Just makes more crap to clean up the next time.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
If you use RTV on both sides of your new gasket you certainly won't be able to reuse the gasket the next time. I'd only do it to the valve cover side if at all. Just makes more crap to clean up the next time.

well saying i havnt opened it in 15 years i dont plan on opening it any time soon

 

[CycloWizard]

The best way to see if you need a new gasket is to look at it when you take it out. Does it look damaged? If not, it's probably ok to reuse. I've kept the same one after about three removals of the head cover without any problems, but the one on my car is a thick piece of rubber which is very sturdy, so it will depend on your car (not familiar with Nissans).

RTV=room temperature vulcanizing (rubber). If you have a good gasket, you shouldn't need this. A cork gasket (which I've never used because it's nowhere to be seen on my car) is probably not a bad seal. If you have a rubber gasket and you add RTV, it's fairly redundant unless the gasket doesn't fit very well or you're being extra-conservative. Still, RTV is very good at stopping leaks - I use it for this all the time, just not on my car.

 

[alkemyst]

Depends on car...also what sealant and where depends on car.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Can't you just use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pull the boot off?

ZV

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Can't you just use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pull the boot off?

ZV

wasnt long enough, only after i took the VC off was able to use my needle-nose pliers

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Can't you just use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pull the boot off?

ZV

wasnt long enough, only after i took the VC off was able to use my needle-nose pliers

Damn. If it had been me, I'd have been scouring Sears for some kind of extended-reach thing. But I'm lazy.

ZV

 

[alkemyst]

make sure you use spark plug boot grease (dielectric) this time and twist the boot back and forth before pulling it off.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
make sure you use spark plug boot grease (dielectric) this time and twist the boot back and forth before pulling it off.

well it no longer gets stuck, it got stuck because a week ago i de-greased the engine and water got into the area around the boot and created a vacuum type situation which caused the boot to get stuck, then i proceeded to take off the valve cover to get closer to the boot
then when i put the cover back on something caused the gasket to break in one area and i had oil leakage
thats what lead to the question of needing to replace the valve cover

I put the new one on today and after putting it on using the direction i was given above
i put RTV all around it kinda like caulk in a bathroom looks good
I didnt have the dark stuff my dad had the clear RTV so I used that, the silicone kinda burns after a short run i take it this is only temporarily

thanks for the help

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Hopefully you'll be able to dismantle everything again to put the correct RTV on. When you are able to, make sure you scrape clean both surfaces (Head and valve cover) and make sure not to get any of the material in the engine. Usually the oil filter will suck it all in but you never know. I would also suggest using some type of degreaser on a rag to wipe the head clean.

 

[alkemyst]

yeah not all RTV is the same and not all valve covers call for it. Also I hope you torqued the valve cover the right way or you will have problems. On my 240SX the torque specs is very low..I think like 8-9lbs...

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
yeah not all RTV is the same and not all valve covers call for it. Also I hope you torqued the valve cover the right way or you will have problems. On my 240SX the torque specs is very low..I think like 8-9lbs...

True. You don't even want to over torque the bolts that hold the valve cover. Nothing worse than snapping one of those flush with the head. Such a PITA to remove sometimes. Also, over torquing them leads to more oil leaks.