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To seal or not to seal
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aero3113
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:48 am    Post subject: To seal or not to seal Reply with quote

How many of you guys seal the gasket to the valve covers with sealant? I plan on adjusting the valves this weekend and would like to know if I should seal them.
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John Moxon Premium Member
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:16 am    Post subject: Re: To seal or not to seal Reply with quote

aero3113 wrote:
How many of you guys seal the gasket to the valve covers with sealant? I plan on adjusting the valves this weekend and would like to know if I should seal them.


51% use sealer and 52% don't. (all figures approximate) Wink
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NOVA Airhead
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:53 am    Post subject: Re: To seal or not to seal Reply with quote

aero3113 wrote:
How many of you guys seal the gasket to the valve covers with sealant? I plan on adjusting the valves this weekend and would like to know if I should seal them.


You should not need gasket sealant with stock covers and gaskets. If you do use it you will likely regret it the next time you go to adjust the valves and you have a mess on your hands.
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cseay1
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My general rule for valve cover gaskets regardless of vehicles: attach the gasket to the valve cover with a good adhesive sealant, use no sealer on the engine side. That way when you pull the valve cover off for valve adjustment, gasket stays on the cover and is not damaged and can be re-used. Also, if the valve cover is sheet metal any deformities are more likely to be present on that side, and the engine side will always be the better fitting surface.

I like the Permatex Ultra Grey
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Bleyseng
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 7:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have always used permatex sealant to glue in the cork gaskets and no leaks. Yep, when you change gaskets you have to scrape the sealant off to apply new sealant, big deal as its better than tons of oil on the heat exchangers.
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analogmax
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 9:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I always use a thin coat of wheel bearing grease on both sides of the gasket. never have any leaks.
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Max Welton
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 10:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've always gone dry with mine. But I have had them "suck in" at the bottom. Now I do this:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

Max
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sparkleplenty
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 11:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I use a thin coat of Gasgacinch..."Monkey Snot"...works great, easy to remove and no leaks...
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karmann1st
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 8:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Max Welton wrote:
I've always gone dry with mine. But I have had them "suck in" at the bottom. Now I do this:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

Max


Cool idea...!! I love it.
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djkeev
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

cseay1 wrote:
.....................
I like the Permatex Ultra Grey


Well, it is good to like something but........

Educate yourself on silicone and engine seizure.

If you are running the stock oil screen and not full filter modification take note.

If you use Silicone improperly, by this I mean the "If a little is good..... MORE IS BETTER!" You are at risk for serious engine damage. (Honestly, most users of sealants haven't a clue about using the proper quantity but just slather it on liberally like butter on bread!)

When you apply excess Silicone products such as various colored RTV's, the product squeezes out as you tighten the joint.

The excess forms "balls" dripping down inside that you cannot see.
These "balls" cure into small rubber balls.
The Balls can eventually break free and now run with the oil!
These balls can and do get sucked past the oil screen and through the oil pump intact.

Once they get into the oil passages they get stuck at various points and stop the critical flow of life giving oil to bearings, lifters, etc.

No oil means no lubrication....
No lubrication means damaged over heated bearings...
This means major engine damage and expense.

Does it always happen?
No.
But why risk it?
If you insist on Silicone based materials, use the smallest thinnest smear you can get by with!
Or
Install an after market spin on filter to catch the balls of Silicone.

Just saying..........
I've got a 1600 case with a spun #1 bearing in the storage area. I found red RTV in the oil passage mashed into the bearing oil port hole.

This engine was slathered with red RTV by some well meaning individual before me.

There are other non hardening, non silicone options..... Choose one of them.
Your engine and your wallet will both thank you!

Oh, to answer your question...... Don't seal.
I also use grease on gaskets, valve cover, oil pan, etc. it works really well.
Only seal if you have problems after using grease, though if it leaks your cover may be bent or your bail wire is weak.
If this is the case, sealant is simply a poor band-aid.

Dave
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Era Vulgaris
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PostPosted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Max Welton wrote:
I've always gone dry with mine. But I have had them "suck in" at the bottom. Now I do this:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

Max


Someone nicked that idea from type 4 valve covers!

I use Permatex 2 on the valve cover side only...and only the lightest smear of it so that nothing squeezes out when pressed against the valve cover. In truth it probably doesn't need it at all, but it helps keep the gasket in place when re-installing the valve cover, which can be helpful.
I'll dick punch a mofo that puts it on the head side of the gasket. When I got my 914 I spent an hour scraping hardened sealer off the heads because some idiot thought it needed it. It doesn't.
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vwracerdave
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sparkleplenty wrote:
I use a thin coat of Gasgacinch..."Monkey Snot"...works great, easy to remove and no leaks...


I use the same thing, then let them set overnight before I start the engine.
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 15, 2014 12:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My 2 cents would be: don't use sealant, just some grease on the gaskets if you like.
Only if you have serious leaks which you can't resolve by renewing the gasket, then a sealant seems the way to go.
The VW factory intended a dry fit, as far as I know, so that should work for a stock engine.
Just don't buy crappy gaskets, get quality gaskets (they don't cost a zillion bucks).
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