valve cover gasket

[hawaii]

just got my first bike 84 fj1100 17,000 , im stoked , valve cover is leaking so im changing it . it looks like from the factory they put some silicone on bottom half of gasket ?  my question is should i put some high temp silicone on bottom half after i insert top half of gasket ? thx

[FJmonkey]

just got my first bike 84 fj1100 17,000 , im stoked , valve cover is leaking so im changing it . it looks like from the factory they put some silicone on bottom half of gasket ?  my question is should i put some high temp silicone on bottom half after i insert top half of gasket ? thx

Welcome, or aloha. Chose what works for you. Many here will not put or use silicone on the valve cover gasket. Too many chances of bits of it getting dislodged and getting in the engine. Personally I have used High Temp with a very small bead to adhere one side of the gasket, not enough to leave any globs to enter the engine. I have heard of using some really thick sticky grease to keep one side of the gasket in place as you put the cover back on. You are in a good place as an FJ owner, where you can learn to get your Kookaloo on, its an FJ thing......

[hawaii]

thx fjmonkey ill put pics soon

[racerrad8]

just got my first bike 84 fj1100 17,000 , im stoked , valve cover is leaking so im changing it . it looks like from the factory they put some silicone on bottom half of gasket ?  my question is should i put some high temp silicone on bottom half after i insert top half of gasket ? thx

The factory never put any glue/dealer on the head contact surface. They used a glue to keep the gasket in the cover. They did use a light coat of a silicone dealer in the half round end pieces.

Make sure you install new bolt seals as well or two things can happen...

1) The gasket can get cut by being crushed too much.
2) The gasket will not compress the require amount to see.

You can see what they are supposed to look like when new here; www.RPMracingca.com

Randy - RPM

[hawaii]

thank you so much for the advice