Valve Cover Gasket

[diveman82]

Hey Everyone, I'm new to the board... I read a few posts now and then, but now I have a big problem of my own that I'm going to try to tackle.

Engine: KA24DENissan 91' 240sx

I bought all of the supplies to replace my valve cover gasket. I am confused about whether or not I use the sealant or not. The person at the autoparts store said that I could not use if for the type of gasket I bought. Where as, I have yet to find any others who have NOT used the sealant.

Any suggestions/tips about doing the process in general?

Thanks. Would appreciate any help. (Chilton's sucks)

-Guy

[JNM240]

Valve pan gasket is made of rubber and should have come with (or purchased seperately) 2 half moon cam plugs. You do not need to use gasket sealer on these. Just wipe any oil or residue off the head and the pan and be sure to tighten them down to the correct torque. It is an aluminum head and the bolts will strip out easily.

[jotchy]

I am not sure all the things you had to buy? I just bought the Nissan OEM gasket and used the silicone just on the 4 rounded notches indicating the cam ends and a little around the thread areas. When you take the old one off you have to scrape the old silicon off just put it where you scrape. Plus the factory silicone is silver on my 91 so it kind of blended with the aluminum head. Its harder to get it off the back two notches (no room for a scraper) try your finger nail. Good luck also don't over tighten the valve cover bolts JUST SNUG them Especially the front two Because the font cover is weaker aluminum than the head. I sripped my and had to go with bigger bolts it sucked.

[diveman82]

All i have is the big rubber seal, and the spark plug gromets...no half moon seals with this one. The man told me that the cresent moon plugs go on the KA24D, not the KA24DE... anybody know anything about this?

-Guy

(Guess I'll find out when i pop the top and find out)

[jotchy]

The new OEM twin cam gasket comes with the four moons attached so it is one piece. The factory one came with seperate rubber moons. Plus The nissan factory used silicone in the notches and I was over 100k with no leaks.

[diveman82]

Okay, I think I'm okay then.... I have a rubber seal on there currently...so I don't think removal will be too bad.

As far as a cleaner to use? any suggestion?

Somebody also recommended using a little oil on the seal similar to that of an oil filter... any comments?

2-3lbs on each bolt? *More liley 2lb on front closer to 3 on the others?

[JNM240]

Basically hand tight, no socket wrenches. Get a screwdriver adaptor for your 10mm and get them hand tight. And sorry, i was thinking for SOHC KA24E.

[bruinbear714]

If you have the replacement gasket then you don't need that silicone sealant. It's only used when you can't locate/find the gasket you need, or if you don't feel like blowing $20 on a gasket.

[NISMOdrift240]

Hopefully everyone is still reading this thread....

Im doing the same thing...pulling the valve cover off, but so i can remove the top timing chain guide. I have the Nissan Sillicone Gasket to use.

My question is...do i have to let it dry for x-amount of time before i start the car? or can i apply it, put the cover back on it, and drive it away?

[Aries]

let it set about 5 minutes, then you can drive off.You just want the silicone to have time to seep out into any little nicks or crevices before you heat it up and it becomes solid.

[Kinesthesia]

Please forgive if I misunderstand...

And I reading this right, that you don't need a valve cover gasket? You can just run a bead of silicone around it ?

[Aries]

no, you do need the gasket, but the only place you should use silicone is in the cam end grooves.

Liquid gasket and other silicones are not strong enough nor reliable enough to be used for this application without a rubber gasket.If you are running high compression, or cams I do recommend a bead of silicone along with the gasket to prevent any small oil leaks from appearing