esoteric question

[Brian Smith]

Does anyone know if ford/yamaha used rtv on the valve cover gaskets when our engines were assembled at the factory?

 

[rangerj]

A small amount of RTV was used at the corner where the camshaft bearings meet the head (4 spots per head). There is no need for any additional amounts of RTV when the gaskets are in good shape and cylinder head cover bolts are properly torqued. rangerj, with an esoteric answer!

 

[Brian Smith]

Cool, I was just thinking this might be a way to determine if some of us higher mileage cars had ever gotten valve lashes. I have done mine since purchasing the car at about 120K and I was hoping to comfort myself that the adjustments had been perviously made at 60K but, I cannot say for certain now. Thanks

 

[jelloslug]

Another thing: Factory RTV is metalic and matches the color of the paint on the valve covers and intake.

 

[Brian Smith]

ouch. my engine got probably its first real servicing at 120K. I distinctly remember the metallic rtv. no wonder it burns oil. I need to find a decently maintained 3.2.

 

[DHMag]

the factory used RTV is also the same on the oil pan. well, on the outside it is. inside, its carmeled a bit.

regardless of what vehicle im working on, if a gasket/seal comes/goes into an angle of anything over 45*, it gets a small bead of RTV.

given my experience with Ford Service Techs, if any maintainance was completed, either the old RTV wasnt removed or it wasnt added during reassembly.