Valve cover gaskets

Javabirds · « **on:** March 11, 2013, 01:24:30 PM »

I just wanted to check with you guys and see if I'm on the right track. Sweetpea has had some leaking valve cover issues over the last few years and I've replaced the gaskets twice before. The leak is back on the driver's side and it is bad so I'm about to replace them again. This time I found a guy on eBay selling a thicker gasket for a type 4 that claims to help with the weak spring/bale. It seems to me like this is a good idea but does anyone else have a take on it?

Here's the link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-improved-valve-cover-gaskets-stop-leaking-Type-4-made-for-porsche-914-/171005519140?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27d0b92524&vxp=mtr

Russ · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2013, 02:09:10 PM »

Hard to tell from his photo but those don't look much thicker than the regular cork gaskets I have been using. The last bunch I got from Mainly Foreign have worked fine.

What are you using to seal the gaskets? The last time I replaced them, they leaked a little and I found out Hylomar is the recommended stuff to use. I had a thread on it a while back.

http://www.volksfolks.org/forums/air-cooled-vw-tech/tech-tip-hylomar/

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2013, 02:29:24 PM »

Quote from: Javabirds on March 11, 2013, 01:24:30 PM

I just wanted to check with you guys and see if I'm on the right track. Sweetpea has had some leaking valve cover issues over the last few years and I've replaced the gaskets twice before. The leak is back on the driver's side and it is bad so I'm about to replace them again. This time I found a guy on eBay selling a thicker gasket for a type 4 that claims to help with the weak spring/bale. It seems to me like this is a good idea but does anyone else have a take on it?

Here's the link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-improved-valve-cover-gaskets-stop-leaking-Type-4-made-for-porsche-914-/171005519140?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item27d0b92524&vxp=mtr

Try this before you buy. I use to split short pieces( about a inch long) of Type-1 OEM fuel line and slip them over the bail at the point where the bail contacts the cover. Install new OEM gaskets and "peck" around the edge of the cover to be sure the cover is sited on the head. They can be a hassle and sometimes its hard to tell if they have sited. The added tubing can make it a little tough to snap on. Once on, "peck" a few times around the edges to make sure they are down on the head. Worked for me for years. You could put a little bit of cement on the gasket to help. Use a non-hardning type so it will come off down the road when you replace the gaskets the next time. Hope this helps.

Ret.Bugtech · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2013, 02:49:10 PM »

The gasket is not the problem. The stupid cover does not have enough "lip" to hold the gasket in place. Those thicker gaskets would only make it harder to seal. They would fill the "lip" up and you wouldn't have anything to snap on the head. I don't know how many gaskets I've seen hanging out or sucked in around the rocker arms. Poor design. With all the fancy stuff people make for Type-4 engines, you would think someone would have addressed this problem a long time ago.

Javabirds · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2013, 02:55:52 PM »

Thanks guys! Good words. I didn't do the last job so I'll let you know what I find.

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Topic: Valve cover gaskets (Read 3601 times)

Javabirds

Valve cover gaskets

Russ

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Ret.Bugtech

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Ret.Bugtech

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Javabirds

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