Reusing Valve cover gaskets

MX3newbie77 · Post by **MX3newbie77** » April 26th, 2005, 9:56 pm

Well, I was pulling apart my KL-ZE today and the V.C. gaskets are practically brand new. I looked them over 2 or 3 times and couldn't find any cracks, tears, etc...

Is it alright to reuse them, or should I get new ones?

Tunes67 · Post by **Tunes67** » April 26th, 2005, 10:07 pm

Generaly I replace all gaskets if they have been torqued down before.. Now I have seen valve cover gaskets recently that are made of a very flexible rubber and those may work ok depending on how long they have been torqued down.. but typically.. gaskets are cheap and if you replace them you know you wont have to rip it apart again to replace them if they dont work. Just my two coppers..

Tunes67

Trevor · Post by **Trevor** » April 26th, 2005, 10:19 pm

If the Rubber is still soft then then gasket should be good to go but if it's hard replace it.

mitmaks · Post by **mitmaks** » April 26th, 2005, 11:06 pm

use some gasket seal and you can reuse it

SE-Man · Post by **SE-Man** » April 27th, 2005, 3:09 pm

not suppose to use gasket seal on our engines, but like what was posted their reusable if their still soft.

Gro Harlem · Post by **Gro Harlem** » April 27th, 2005, 4:12 pm

even if they are brand new use gasket sealer on the BOTTOM of the gasket (the part taht touches the cylinder head)

I bought new gaskets, didn't use sealer and the bastages still leaked. I had to remove the manifold and gasket the crap out of the rear & front and now it don't leak. Dunno why it did that but it did...maybe my valve covers are bent or something and don't seat properly w/out that stuff.

rebel2k4 · Post by **rebel2k4** » April 27th, 2005, 6:00 pm

Good to know. I just got a new front and rear valve cover gasket set and I didnt plan to use silicone... I will now.

My rear VC has been leaking since the motor went in and I've been dreading fixing it. Someday I will... someday *hint hint megasquirt+550cc injector install*