Valve cover gasket, What do I do? Options

[JohanFer]

Hi,
I have just replaced the valve cover gasket and when I read the instructions on that RTV silicone it says there that I need 24 hrs. for it to fully cure. So my questions is this, can I use the car after the cover is fully tight, or I need to wait until tomorrow? What should I do?

Thanks!!!!

[xrav22]

Hi,
I have just replaced the valve cover gasket and when I read the instructions on that RTV silicone it says there that I need 24 hrs. for it to fully cure. So my questions is this, can I use the car after the cover is fully tight, or I need to wait until tomorrow? What should I do?

Thanks!!!!

As long as u put a real valve cover gasket(rtv as a bonus) and not just rtv you can drive. If you just squirted rtv in place of a valve cover gasket(not recommended) you can't drive.

[Syaoran]

As long as u put a real valve cover gasket(rtv as a bonus) and not just rtv you can drive. If you just squirted rtv in place of a valve cover gasket(not recommended) you can't drive.

Yep, always get a proper valve cover gasket (some people are unlucky and have cars that don't use them)

I put on mine and put some Mega Grey on there, and under the spark plug tube seals as well. Left it there for around an hour for it to start drying then ran the car to check for leaks.

[JohanFer]

Oh yes!!! I did put a brand new gasket, the added the RTV for a better seal. I just wanted to make sure I could drive it before Thr RTV is fully cured. Thanks guys!!

[al94st]

There's no reason to put RTV on a valve cover gasket. You should put a light amount of oil on it like your oil filter. Valve covers are meant to be removable.

[trdproven]

There's no reason to put RTV on a valve cover gasket. You should put a light amount of oil on it like your oil filter. Valve covers are meant to be removable.

wrong, you have to at least put RTV on the half moon humps before putting on the gasket.

[al94st]

Wrong, you don't. Unless you're talking about the little metal piece part that meets the head...not the gasket.

*Edit: In my personal opinion it's not necessary, while the book may say to use it. I haven't had any issues not using it and it's a lot easier to add it if you had a small leak rather than dealing with getting that crap off if you need to take off your valve cover.

This post has been edited by al94st: Aug 26, 2012 - 4:23 PM

[trdproven]

Remember, he has a 5s, so trust me everyone here will side me with me to use RTV at the half moon humps. The OEM uses it becus it will leak if you don't and its not something you should be doing rework on. the old RTV or FIPG was formed using the old gasket, you must put new to make it form to your new gasket. I'm not talking about putting it all over, just at the half moons. The way you are talking about is not how to deal with it. you dont add RTV after you have a leak, its for one time seal. The way i work on cars is not to work on it twice or worry about it later for the same problem. Of course you can always do what u need to do and maybe you might get by but others here sometimes dont want to deal with it again. I post responses as if its for others here still trying to learn, in order to get a learning curve you gotta learn correctly first.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Aug 26, 2012 - 5:18 PM