ka valvecover

[Gemmis]

After looking in the chelton manual, i noticed that it does not show a valve cover gasket on the dohc motors but does on a sohc motor. Im pretty sure im leaking from my valve cover but with no gasket how am I supposed to fix it? use liquid insta-gasket stuff?

[trpower7]

There are three gaskets actually. Just go to AutoZone or Nissan and ask for a valve cover gasket, they'll give you what you need. Chiltons is WORTHLESS.

[DAEDALUS]

Without a solid gasket you'll have to use RTV. It isn't "instant" but it does its job. The most important thing with the RTV is to take your time and do a really good job cleaning both mating surfaces. If there's any contamination at all (oil, silicone) the gasket won't adhere well and you can expect it to start leaking again in less than a year.

[JJ240]

If you can use liquid gasket in leiu of a valve cover gasket you are the liquid gasket GOD!!! You definetly need the gasket to cover the half circle slots that give access to the cam gear bolts on the front and back of the head.

[DAEDALUS]

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I wasn't suggesting you could use one or the other. I just didn't know for sure whether it was solid or RTV. Replace it with whatever type you remove. You should be able to tell just by looking at the seam if it's solid or RTV. No way to substitute RTV for crescent plugs, regardless.

[JJ240]

Hmm....I bet if you used multiple layers letting them dry between applications you could do it Might take a year or so. I pulled my front plate off two and a half weeks after my rebuild and the sealant was still wet and gooey. I had no clue it took so long to dry.

[DAEDALUS]

Did you wait 24 hours before running the car? What kind of sealant did you use?

[JJ240]

Liquid Gasket with a really high heat rating.

[JJ240]

And yeah I think it was a bit more than 24 hours.

[DAEDALUS]

Hmmm...bad batch maybe? I've used Permatex Blue and Black, and the Nissan red RTV, and all dried within a day. The black and the red I had to remove once a few weeks after assembly because of a clogged tensioner passage. It was still soft, but not tacky, just like it should have been.

[JJ240]

Suppose its just as well my timing chain broke. Guess the gaskets needed redoing anyhow. Now I just hope my valves are ok. :rolleyes