Rocker Cover Gasket - sealant or no sealant?

4crosses · Feb 22, 2015

I have a small oil leak through my 300tdi 90 rocker cover gasket. I will be replacing with a genuine LR gasket as others have recommended. My question is if I should be using some form of sealant or grease either side of the new gasket or not. If so, what should this be? Also, is there anything else I should be doing as well "as I'm there". Thanks.

jamesmartin · Feb 22, 2015

you dont need anything though i usually use a thin smear of rtv silicone to stick gasket into the cover, let it set then fit cover

4crosses · Feb 22, 2015

Thanks. Is rtv silicone the same as hylomar blue? If not, is there a certain specification of rtv silicone I should order? Thanks again.

jamesmartin · Feb 22, 2015

heat and oil resistant ,hylomar would do , i use the silicone a its easier with a caulking gun and thin hole in nozzle

flat · Feb 22, 2015

jamesmartin said:
you dont need anything though i usually use a thin smear of rtv silicone to stick gasket into the cover, let it set then fit cover

This is what I do, although I just do it to stick the gasket down to prevent movement when refitting the cover. Generally it seals immediately, after a few months you can see the gasket has swollen with oil and is tight. I use cork ones

Turboman · Feb 22, 2015

flat said:
This is what I do, although I just do it to stick the gasket down to prevent movement when refitting the cover. Generally it seals immediately, after a few months you can see the gasket has swollen with oil and is tight. I use cork ones

Different gasket. 2.5na/td have a cork seal, some are self adhesive, some you glue to the cover with spray.

Tdi have a rubber ring

flat · Feb 22, 2015

Turboman said:
Different gasket. 2.5na/td have a cork seal, some are self adhesive, some you glue to the cover with spray.

Tdi have a rubber ring

Noted could still be hylomar'd though right?

jamesmartin · Feb 22, 2015

with cork gasket either dry or glued on with evo stick or similar hylomar etc can act as a lube and cause gasket to spread and split

flat · Feb 22, 2015

jamesmartin said:
with cork gasket either dry or glued on with evo stick or similar hylomar etc can act as a lube and cause gasket to spread and split

Not noticed that happening with mine and do it everytime I do the tappets (every year). I only use the thinnest skim just to hold it down, RTV sealant in a squeezy tube. Rocker cover gasket doesn't leak.

Turboman · Feb 23, 2015

flat said:
Not noticed that happening with mine and do it everytime I do the tappets (every year). I only use the thinnest skim just to hold it down, RTV sealant in a squeezy tube. Rocker cover gasket doesn't leak.

I hang it up and spray with hi-cote adhesive, let it dry, then stick to the clean cover.

Some of them are ready coated with adhesive, and you peel off greaseproof paper before sticking to the cover.

As james said, they don't leak if assembled dry, but I prefer to stick it as it is easier to position accurately under the cover.

flat · Feb 23, 2015

mine deffo dont have adhesive, i got a box of ten at an autojumble, NOS. I find i dont get the bit at the back of the engine lined up right and it weeps there if i dont stick it down.

Might try the spray adhesive.

What do you recommend for sumps? I put my new gasket again with a very thin smear of rtv. stuck the gasket on, let it dry then cleaned up the minimal excess rtv from the inside face (dont want excess to go up the oil pump!) then bolted it up under the car. I find it well hard to do with the gasket not stuck down

Turboman · Feb 23, 2015

flat said:
mine deffo dont have adhesive, i got a box of ten at an autojumble, NOS. I find i dont get the bit at the back of the engine lined up right and it weeps there if i dont stick it down.

Might try the spray adhesive.

What do you recommend for sumps? I put my new gasket again with a very thin smear of rtv. stuck the gasket on, let it dry then cleaned up the minimal excess rtv from the inside face (dont want excess to go up the oil pump!) then bolted it up under the car. I find it well hard to do with the gasket not stuck down

Hi-cote workshop aerosol is the one I use, but sure the other brands are fine too. Handy stuff, you can use it to stick soles on shoes and so on, as well as workshop uses.

But do hang the gasket up. or it will stick it to the surface its on

Never taken the sump off mine, haven't needed to, memory is that mine is sealant only, no gasket.

Rocker Cover Gasket - sealant or no sealant?

4crosses

Member

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

4crosses

Member

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

flat

Well-Known Member

Turboman

Mab An Gov

flat

Well-Known Member

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

flat

Well-Known Member

Turboman

Mab An Gov

flat

Well-Known Member

Turboman

Mab An Gov

Similar threads