Let's talk Valve Cover gaskets

[Topcat]

SCE makes a V/C gasket with a steel core. (NHRA)
Cometic makes a rubber V/C gasket.
Then you have Fel-Pro that is a mixture of rubber/cork.
Mr. Gasket is just cork.

I recall back in the day (I believe) that Police cars had a special silicone V/C gasket.
Never seen them up close.

So many choices.
What worked best for you (or you would get) and why?

[dakota]

 

[Moparal]

http://www.superformanceproducts.com/

 you'll be glad you tried them.  Super great customer service to

[DocMel]

As far as valve cover gaskets, cork is the only thing that has sealed.   I have had about 3-4, 427's ,440, 350's, 454's   Cork is the only thing that has really works for me.  Key to cork is to install, not too tight, run it, let the cork swell, then snug down a little more and thats it

Rubber ones have been the worse, at least for me.   Sorry, cant help you with vendor make, only that the cork ones have worked well

[Topcat]

Hemi blocks are banked wider apart than the other Mopar blocks.

This means oil flowing in the heads is riding against the V/C sealing area much more.

How do I know that?
Try priming a Hemi with V/C's off sometime and see how much of a mess you get.
Tape kept it in control.

Cork tends to wick oil thru itself yet is very pliable/friendly on sealing.
After repeated use, (valve adjustemnts) I suspect they'll begin failing.

Has anyone ran the Cometic brand?

[734406pk]

For cast aluminum covers I've used the rubber gaskets with good results. On stamped covers, rubberized cork is a bit softer, but reinforcement plates are needed (not flat washers). Stamped covers need to have the bolt holes tapped down flat as well. A water thin application of RTV can seal up any imperfections if needed.

[422STROKER]

I have the same cork covers on mine for 7+ years. Starting to weep a little now. Been on and off once or twice a year for visual checks.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[cudabob496]

Mancini brand

[DocMel]

Further thoughts about cork gaskets.  I have only used them on OEM, stamped type valve covers, (that tend to flex at the fastener points), and they have worked well, as long as I have used the little triangular type "washers" to alleviate the slight warping = leakage, of the thin steel type valve covers.   But when I tried rubber gaskets in the same manner, they would leak, regardless

But corks would be bad choice for anyone that would have to remove the valve covers with any frequency (Like those running mech lifters):  Cork just wont last of hold up.

['Cuda Hunter]

No gaskets.

RTV the whole thing. 
That's the only thing I have ever had that did not leak.  Pontiacs, chevies and mopars. 

Pain in the butt to remove the valve cover, but if your not that kind of a driver/tinkerer it works well.

[Oldschool]

I use the thicker cardboard type on my Hemi. Whatever type you use, make certain that you are using the right thickness gasket. If you are running stock height valve covers and stock height spark plug tubes, then you don't need the big fat/thick gaskets. If you try to run too thick a gasket, the spark plugs will screw right through the bottoms of the spark plug tubes after a few valve adjustment cycles. Everything has to be the right thickness for all the rest of the gear being used.......

['Cuda Hunter]

I've never had a hemi. Didn't even think about that aspect.

[dfrazz]

On my 360 I started with rubber and they leaked like a stuck pig.  I switched to cork with a steel core from Napa and they were perfect.  Even stood up to removing the covers a couple of times.

[Racer57]

I'm getting ready to use gaskets that are something like rubber, but not exactly sure what their made of. I'm also going to use Indian Head shellac to glue them to the cast covers. I had cork and I got tired of the car marking its spot.

[734406pk]

If you are running a solid cam, I would use cast aluminum covers with the rubber gasket. Contact cement the gasket to the cover and use some high temp grease on the head side. Torque to specs. The gasket remain intact after several valve adjustments. Hydraulic cam engines can use a stamped cover, but the cork is a Better choice ( softer) as it will conform to the distortions in the gasket surface of the cover. Reinforcement plates MUST be used at the bolt holes. RTV applied seals the rest.