Valve Cover Gasket Replacement - How Clean Does Valve Cover Need To Be?

[86FJNJ]

I'm replacing the valve cover gasket on my 86, how clean does the gasket channel need to be? I scrapped away some of the larger gunk leftover from the last replacement and washed it with soapy water but there is still some residual gasket sealer leftover, although it's very minimal. I didn't want to scrap too hard and gouge or disturb the aluminum surface.

Am I good to install new gasket or does it need to be spotless?

[Pat Conlon]

You should never need sealant on the FJ's valve cover gasket. The valve cover gasket seals upon compression, as such you want to remove all the old left over sealant residue.

Acetone and the pointy end of a bamboo sis kabob skewer works for me.

[Sparky84]

Are you going to replace valve cover bolt grommets also, or have they recently been done ?

[86FJNJ]

I'm doing the bolt grommets as well, idk how old the existing valve cover gasket was but oil was leaking through down the heads so I'm hoping replacing the gasket and grommets fixes that.

[Chainlube]

You should never need sealant on the FJ's valve cover gasket. The valve cover gasket seals upon compression, as such you want to remove all the old left over sealant residue.

Acetone and the pointy end of a bamboo sis kabob skewer works for me.

Yea... At dealers we sometimes used gasket sealer just to hold the valve cover gasket to the cover while reinstalling the cover.  Gasgacinch was my go to.  Sorry about that. 

[fj1289]

That mostly looks like discolorization to me.  I'd install it as is - and like Pat said - no sealant required!

Be careful not to overtorque the valve cover bolts.  The long shoulder on them bottoms at the top of the cam caps.  If you try to force them tighter they simply break off in the cap (if you are lucky!  If you aren't lucky you strip the cam cap ...)