Can i use an actual Gasket or do I have to use RTV?

[Carcrzy2]

Im going to tackel my valve cover gaskets tomorrow on my 92 Q and i know originally RTV was used for the gasket but the 94 and up cars have the actual Gaskets my thinking is that they are the same engines why can't i use the actual gaskets? so is the 94 and up gaskets compatible with my 92?

Thanks!

[Infinitiguy19]

Good question but I think the way the valve cover bolts up to the head is different on a 1990-1993 and on a 1994-1996 Q45. So if you want to swap heads only then will it work I think.

Infiniti must have gone that way to only save money and technician laziness/ignorance.

[paranoidjack]

Good question but I think the way the valve cover bolts up to the head is different on a 1990-1993 and on a 1994-1996 Q45. So if you want to swap heads only then will it work I think.

Infiniti must have gone that way to only save money and technician laziness/ignorance.

I'd take a real gasket over RTV any day.

[Q451990]

Yep... the heads and covers lack the grooves that would hold an actual gasket in.

Heath

[qship96]

not sure the later 94-96 motors with gaskets last any longer than the 90-93 with just rtv ???? On my 96, the gaskets began to weep by 100K, and it took another 50K till they actually dripped oil on headers during cold only......finally replaced them at 203K when having other maintenance performed!

[Carcrzy2]

Great thanks for all your help i will go to my local yard and pull the covers off of the 94 they have and see if they are groved!

[Infinitiguy19]

Gasket or not its still a hard job and I know Gaskets stick to the metal they are on. Unless the valve cover gasket is different from the Auxiliary Air Control valve and Throttle Body (Main and TCS elbow).

So I wouldn't say Gasket is the best solution but it does maybe save a little time because you can sand down the gasket if it gives you a hard time.

But I am just a Q45 enthusiast which by no means works on multiple Q45's in a day, So don't take my word as the Gospel.