OK Whats the Trick for Valve Cover Gasket

[bigbore2]

RTV silicone works great until you need to get it off an aluminum surface. It adheres so tightly, its difficult to remove without scarring up the aluminum surface, so I have found.

Gasket shellac will come off easily, once set??

Robert, what is cleanup like??

[JPaganel]

The trick is this stuff:



Gasket shellac

Can you still buy this? It was common until the 60's and I've never seen it since. There's a couple of Pre War MG's I work on that still have residue of this stuff in and on the motor that has probably been there for 70 or 80 years. It sets hard and never goes away. Working on an engine that's been assembled with it is a PIA.

IMO

Noel

Any auto parts store has it. Something like $2 for the bottle, I've had the same one for years.

Gasket shellac will come off easily, once set??

Robert, what is cleanup like??

It dissolves with rubbing alcohol.

[CutterBill]

Don't forget to throw out the rubber grommets under each bolt, they are worthless since they leak anyway. 

You aren't doing it right. You need to slather a big glob of RTV over the bolt heads.  Seals 'em right up, it does... 

[Timbox]

Great stuff to use on the low pressure areas of the engine.

[Paul.1478]

The trick is this stuff:



Gasket shellac

Can you still buy this? It was common until the 60's and I've never seen it since. There's a couple of Pre War MG's I work on that still have residue of this stuff in and on the motor that has probably been there for 70 or 80 years. It sets hard and never goes away. Working on an engine that's been assembled with it is a PIA.

IMO

Noel

I know this is old but for someone like me just getting into this, the gasket shellac worked like a charm. easy cheep. Auto zone had it like 2.50.

[ribbert]

The trick is this stuff:



Gasket shellac

Can you still buy this? It was common until the 60's and I've never seen it since. There's a couple of Pre War MG's I work on that still have residue of this stuff in and on the motor that has probably been there for 70 or 80 years. It sets hard and never goes away. Working on an engine that's been assembled with it is a PIA.

IMO

Noel

I know this is old but for someone like me just getting into this, the gasket shellac worked like a charm. easy cheep. Auto zone had it like 2.50.

Easy!!?? Cheap!!?? For less than the cost of a cup of coffee you could have bought a tube of RTV.
There is a reason this stuff went out of favour half a century ago, it disappeared with cork gaskets.

Why buck the accumulative knowledge of hundreds of members and thousands of motors (in fact the entire worldwide automotive industry) and not avail yourself of modern technology? Modern engine sealants are amazing.

Man, I cut my teeth trying to clean up engines glued together with that shit!

Noel

[ribbert]

.......I think it's time for another hiatus.

Noel

[JPaganel]

Easy!!?? Cheap!!?? For less than the cost of a cup of coffee you could have bought a tube of RTV.
There is a reason this stuff went out of favour half a century ago, it disappeared with cork gaskets.

Why buck the accumulative knowledge of hundreds of members and thousands of motors (in fact the entire worldwide automotive industry) and not avail yourself of modern technology? Modern engine sealants are amazing.

Probably because you don't actually need a sealant in this instance. You need a temporary adhesive that is easily cleaned up.

Man, I cut my teeth trying to clean up engines glued together with that shit!

Noel

Trying to clean up engines slathered in RTV isn't really that much better.

[MOTOMYSZOR]

I don't use any sealant.

I just place gasket on head then I fit valve cover on it. It takes no more than 3 minutes to proper fit gasket in to grove in cover.

I use this same gasket for last 4 years, and I removed valve cover 6 times during this time ....  no leak noticed so far.

[Tuned forks]

When I replaced my gasket this Fall, 3M weatherstrip adhesive was used in a few spots just to keep the gasket adhered to the cover.  After it dried the cover was just laid in place and fasteners tightened down.  No leakie, no teakie.

Joe

[JMR]

 Gasgacinch   https://www.amazon.com/Gasgacinch-440-Gasket-Sealer-Dressing/dp/B0012TTDN8