Sorry, should have included this with other thread but forgot. Anyway, am going to replace valve cover gasket with one piece rubber gasket (Felpro) since I just replaced the gasket with the cork and rubber and sealer combo. So instead of leaking out the front, it leaks out the back now. Boy am I good or what? Oh sorry, back to the question, do I need to used sealer or gasket maker or rtv or whatever, or is the rubber gasket good enough by itself. '89 Dakota 2.5 4cyl. I've Googled this but cannot seem to find a definite answer. Anyone used this gasket? Thanks. Scott.

 

Heck I've seen some cars come from the factory with nothing but RTV sealing the valve covers, but the rubber gasket does help. I don't use the cork gaskets for a reason. If you tighten them too much, they crumble and leak. The best thing to do, for any rubber gasket(whether it be oil pan, trans pan, valve cover,) is to put a thin bead of rtv on the head, let it set for a minute or two, put the gasket on, then put another thin bead on top of the gasket and let that set, then put the cover on and snug it down until the rtv just starts to squash. Let it cure for 30 mins and torque to spec. It should never give you a problem again.

 

I only use RTV along with a gasket if its a multipiece gasket (like the intake manifold gasket on the v6 and v8), where I'll put a small glob of it between the peices, or I'll use it if the surface the gasket is trying to seal is "3 dimensional" with corners, like an oil pan gasket, where I'll use it in those corners.

I hope that makes sense...

 

for those real nice (and expensive) felpro rubber gaskets - don't use any sealer. just make sure the surfaces are clean and torque to spec.

 

Ya RTV is not needed. But for some jobs I will use the RTV spray. It sprays a fine layer. It also makes it sticky, which helps hold it in place during installation. Some gaskets are folded too, that spray helps hold it down so it don't fold right back up.

 

when i did mine i used the felpro gaskets, i didn't have torque wrench so i tightened them down as much as i could without going to tight and they've been fine ever since

 

I've always RTV'd the gaskets to the valve cover. It helps keep the gasket in place when installing it. They have a tendency to move around on the head. Just make sure your holes are lined up.