VCG & Plug Well Seals question?!

[DigDeez]

Plan on only doing my valve cover gaskets and plugging up the well seals. I have valve cover gaskets, but not plug well seals. Don't want to buy a whole new set of gaskets, so is there some type of sealant like RTU I think, that can be put in place of the well seals? I'm doing this the cheapest way, because my vcg need replaced now. Lots of oil in the wells. Is there any other cheap fix or cleaning that I can do while replacing the vcg?

 

[jessemachone]

ultra grey RTV from prematex

Use ultra grey RTV sealant from permatex. It is oil proof and water proof. Put like an 1/8 inch tall / wide bead on your old seals (leaving them installed of course) let the rtv gel a little and slap them on. Don't forget to put a dab of silicone in the corners where the cams go through the side of the head. The RTV worked great on my car.

 

[DigDeez]

....the silicone in the corners........can you use the same rtv for that also, I dunno?

 

[sdpatt]

Yes, you can. I do.

About RTV on the old plug well seals - there are two side to the seals. You must remove the seals from the valve covers to access the other sealing surface. If you don't do that, you are wasting your time and RTV.

You should replace them, but you know that.

 

[sillystring]

Using RTV is OK, but the seal job will only be as good as the mating surfaces are clean.
If you clean the seals and all gasket surfaces with carb cleaner to remove oily films the head covers should seal up nicely.