Valve Cover Gasket Replacement and Oil Change Gasket

[6603]

What are you using on the valve cover gaskets when replacing them? I have been using form-a-gasket #3 on my old engine on the gasket facing the valve cover side. It was suggested that I use a light coat of wheel bearing grease instead on both sides of the gasket.

We have many knowledgeable members on here and would like to know what you guys use. Thanks! I am about to do my first valve adjustment on my rebuilt engine @ 300 miles.

Also, for oil change gasket are you guys doing it dry or putting something on it. I was using form-a-gasket.

[6603]

Also as for oil? What do you guys use for break in? After break in? I just bought half a case of Brad Penn 30 weight break in oil, I have read it has high zinc that older engines require and coats the internal parts better. I think I'm going with 30w brad penn oil after the break in. By the way the climate I'm in is So Cal.

[cfvwtuner]

Valve cover gaskets, Cork and factory covers and bails.

Nothing but paper gaskets used on strainer and cover.

[6603]

Valve cover gaskets, Cork and factory covers and bails.

Nothing but paper gaskets used on strainer and cover.

That's what the guys at my neighborhood vw parts told me too.

I'll give putting bare gaskets on a try.

[ANSAracingb]

On my cork valve cover gaskets, I put a thin layer of drum brake wheel-bearing grease. Sounds weird, I know...but it helps tremendously for when you replace the gaskets for your next valve adjustment. The grease can take a LOT of heat because its the thicker stuff for drum brakes, and when you open your valve covers a few thousand miles down the road, your gaskets just peel off, easy as pie. No small, baked-on cork chunks are left on your valve covers for you to clean off.

I've been doing this on the cork gaskets for a couple of years, and it works well. I have no leaks and cleanup is a breeze. Give it a try sometime. It doesn't take much, just a thin coating on your valve cover, then put the gasket on, then another thin film on the gasket side facing you. Then install the valve cover and on down the road you go.

[stealth67vw]

German VW valve cover gaskets glued to the stock VW covers using Permatex Aviation sealer, dry against the head. I've been doing it this way for 20+ years and my valve covers never leak. I used one set of gaskets/covers on three different engine for more than 10 years before switching to a new set of valve covers for my new engine.

http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=1832

[6603]

German VW valve cover gaskets glued to the stock VW covers using Permatex Aviation sealer, dry against the head. I've been doing it this way for 20+ years and my valve covers never leak. I used one set of gaskets/covers on three different engine for more than 10 years before switching to a new set of valve covers for my new engine.

http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=1832

That's what I have been doing. I'll try dry ones next. Then see how they come off on the next adjustment. If they get stuck I'll try grease.

[6603]

What are you guys using for oil?

[ANSAracingb]

Castrol 30w is what I use

[subtle jetta]

Castrol 30w is what I use

Me too

[stealth67vw]

Valvoline VR-1 10w30 racing oil, the not street legal kind. It is made for flat tappet engines with a high zinc and phosphorus (zddp) content.

[6603]

Valvoline VR-1 10w30 racing oil, the not street legal kind. It is made for flat tappet engines with a high zinc and phosphorus (zddp) content.

Same reason I'm using the Brad Penn oil. How much is a quart?

[TheAmazingDave]

Being an air-cooled noob, I wasn't aware of any specal sealing procedures on the VCGs. My covers were filled with RTV so my girlfriend scrubbed them out with Simple Green and a wire brush. The bales on the heads were incorrect, so I put on the correct ones to match the covers. With new cork gaskets, my covers haven't leaked a drop.

Wish I could say the same about my cyl base gaskets and the rear main seal...

[stealth67vw]

Same reason I'm using the Brad Penn oil. How much is a quart?

I get it at Napa for $4.99 a quart. O'Reily's has it on sale sometimes for $3.99 a quart but weight choices are limited. They usually have 15w40 and 20w50 which is tar in my opinion.

[6603]

I get it at Napa for $4.99 a quart. O'Reily's has it on sale sometimes for $3.99 a quart but weight choices are limited. They usually have 15w40 and 20w50 which is tar in my opinion.

Nice. Because Brad Penn is at $7. I'm going to switch over once I'm finished with my break in since I'm using break in oil.

[stealth67vw]

Nice. Because Brad Penn is at $7. I'm going to switch over once I'm finished with my break in since I'm using break in oil.

Bought another case today and it was $5.79 a quart. That's still pretty cheap when you've got $10k+ in your dub motor.