Tips for Installing Press-in-Place Valve Cover Gaskets | Fel-Pro Gaskets

Fel-Pro Gaskets

4 Feb 202105:42

Summary

TLDRJohn Gurnig, a master certified technician from Fell Pro, discusses installing press and place valve cover gaskets, spark plug tube seals, and valve cover grommets. He emphasizes the importance of clean sealing surfaces and proper part orientation. Gurnig demonstrates how to correctly position gaskets, avoid common mistakes, and use tools for tube seal installation. He also covers replacing grommets and applying RTV silicone to seal imperfect areas, ensuring a professional repair.

Takeaways

🔧 Fel-Pro gaskets are designed for the repair environment, ensuring perfect sealing in real-world scenarios.
🧰 Each gasket set includes all necessary components, such as gaskets, tube seals, and grommets.
⚙️ Always clean and dry sealing surfaces before starting any job and check that the valve covers are in good condition.
🔩 Lay the gasket on the valve cover and press it straight down into the groove, avoiding sliding with your thumb to ensure proper alignment.
📏 For V-type engines, make sure to distinguish between left and right gaskets and place them accordingly.
⚠️ Work in short increments between bolt holes to properly seat the gasket without misalignment.
🔩 Spark plug tube seals can either be pressed in place or driven in, depending on the valve cover. Always check the seal’s orientation before installation.
🔨 Use a seal driver or a large socket to install the tube seals, ensuring the tapered side faces the tube.
🛠️ For valve cover grommets, use a vise and screwdriver to replace them, ensuring the retention features hold the grommet in place.
💡 Apply a small dab of RTV in specific areas (such as timing covers or half-moon areas) to seal imperfect surfaces, but avoid using it on the entire gasket to prevent leaks.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of Fel-Pro's valve cover gaskets?
-Fel-Pro designs valve cover gaskets specifically for the repair environment to provide a reliable seal, even when dealing with imperfect sealing surfaces typically found in real-world scenarios.
What components are included in a Fel-Pro gasket set?
-Fel-Pro gasket sets include all necessary components for a complete repair, such as gaskets, spark plug tube seals, and valve cover grommets, ensuring the technician has everything needed for the job.
What is the recommended procedure before installing a valve cover gasket?
-Before installing a valve cover gasket, it is recommended to ensure that all sealing surfaces are clean and dry, and to check the covers for any cracks or damage.
What retention features do Fel-Pro valve cover gaskets incorporate?
-Fel-Pro valve cover gaskets incorporate various retention features to help hold the gasket securely in the groove, preventing misalignment during installation.
What should you keep in mind when installing gaskets on V-type engines?
-For V-type engines, there may be left and right valve cover gaskets. It's important to lay the gasket onto the covers first and ensure that the correct gasket is used on the corresponding cover.
What is the proper technique for installing a gasket into the groove?
-The proper technique is to start at one area and push the gasket straight down into the groove, working in short increments between two points (such as bolt holes). Avoid pushing the gasket along with your thumb, as this can cause misalignment.
How do you install a press-and-place spark plug tube seal?
-To install a press-and-place spark plug tube seal, simply push the seal straight down into the groove, making sure it is properly seated.
What should you check before installing tube seals that need to be driven into place?
-Before installing tube seals that need to be driven in, check the orientation of the sealing lip. One side is tapered, and this side should face the tube for proper alignment when fitting the cover over the head.
What tools are recommended for installing tube seals?
-It is recommended to use a seal driver or a large socket to drive the seal into place to avoid damaging the seal during installation.
How should RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanizing) sealant be applied in areas requiring additional sealing?
-RTV should be applied sparingly as a small dab on the cylinder head in areas with machined surfaces or where different castings meet (e.g., timing cover or cam journals). Avoid applying RTV to the entire gasket, as it can cause excessive compression, leading to gasket failure.

Outlines

00:00

🔧 Introduction to Valve Cover Gaskets and Fel-Pro's Approach

John Gurnick, ASE Master Certified Technician from Fel-Pro Field Test Garage in Skokie, Illinois, introduces himself and outlines the topics of the video. He will address common issues related to press-and-place valve cover gaskets, spark plug tube seals, and valve cover grommets. He emphasizes Fel-Pro's design approach, where gaskets are specifically created for the repair environment, ensuring that all necessary components like gaskets, tube seals, and grommets are included in their kits. The goal is to help achieve a perfect seal on surfaces encountered in real-world scenarios.

05:01

🛠️ Steps for Proper Valve Cover Gasket Installation

John explains the process of laying the gasket on the valve cover, ensuring a correct fit by pressing the gasket into the groove. He stresses the importance of preparing the work area—clean and dry sealing surfaces with no cracks on the covers. For V-type engines, he advises checking the left and right gasket orientation. He cautions against pushing the gasket along the groove with your thumb, as this could misalign it. Instead, work in short increments between two bolt holes for a precise fit, ensuring the gasket stays aligned with the groove.

⚡ Installation of Spark Plug Tube Seals

John explains the different methods for installing spark plug tube seals depending on the valve cover. For press-and-place gaskets, he recommends pushing the gasket directly into the groove. For seals that need to be driven into place, he advises using a seal driver or a large socket. He highlights the importance of positioning the tube seal correctly, with the tapered side facing the tube to ensure a smooth fit when placing the cover over the head.

🔩 How to Replace Valve Cover Grommets

Some valve covers require grommets for installation. John explains the process of removing old grommets using a small screwdriver and replacing them with new ones. Fel-Pro's grommets are designed with built-in retention features to help them stay securely in place. Once the grommets are replaced, they can be installed in the cover, which is then ready to be installed onto the vehicle. He emphasizes the importance of following the manufacturer’s torque sequence and specifications when tightening the cover.

🛑 Use of RTV in Imperfect Areas

In some engines, there may be areas where different castings meet, such as at the timing cover or cam journal. John advises applying a small dab of RTV to these imperfect areas on the cylinder head to ensure proper sealing. He warns against applying RTV to the entire gasket, as this could cause over-compression and lead to leaks. The gaskets are designed to fit precisely within specified tolerances, and excessive RTV can cause them to split or shift out of place.

💻 Conclusion: Tips and Resources from Fel-Pro

John wraps up the video by reminding viewers that Fel-Pro gaskets are designed for the repair environment and are trusted by professionals. He encourages viewers to visit the Fel-Pro website for more sealing tips and product information. He signs off by reinforcing Fel-Pro’s message of 'installing confidence' with their trusted gasket products.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Valve cover gaskets

Valve cover gaskets are seals placed between the engine's valve cover and the cylinder head to prevent oil leaks. In the video, John explains how Fel-Pro designs these gaskets for real-world repair environments, ensuring that they fit properly and seal imperfect surfaces encountered in older or used engines. The video demonstrates how to correctly install these gaskets to avoid misalignment and leaks.

💡Press and place gaskets

Press and place gaskets are designed to be easily installed by pressing them directly into the groove on the valve cover. The video emphasizes that these gaskets need to be aligned properly by working in small increments to ensure a proper fit, rather than pushing them along with your thumb, which can cause misalignment and sealing issues.

💡Spark plug tube seals

Spark plug tube seals prevent oil from leaking into the spark plug wells, which is crucial for engine performance. The video highlights two types of seals: some are press and place, while others require being driven into place using a seal driver or socket. Ensuring proper orientation, especially with the tapered side facing the tube, is critical for a proper fit and function.

💡Grommets

Grommets are small rubber or silicone rings that seal fasteners, preventing oil leaks from valve covers. In the video, John explains how to replace grommets by securing the fastener in a vise, removing the old grommet, and sliding the new one into place. Proper installation of grommets helps ensure a leak-proof seal around the fasteners.

💡Sealing surfaces

Sealing surfaces refer to the areas on the engine where the gasket makes contact, such as the valve cover and cylinder head. The video emphasizes the importance of ensuring these surfaces are clean, dry, and free from cracks before starting a repair. This is crucial for the gasket to seal properly and prevent oil leaks.

💡Retention features

Retention features are design elements that help hold the gasket in place within the valve cover groove. In the video, John mentions that all Fel-Pro valve cover gaskets incorporate these features to ensure a secure fit, preventing the gasket from slipping out during installation and leading to a more reliable seal.

💡Torque sequence

Torque sequence refers to the specific pattern and force used when tightening bolts or fasteners. Following the manufacturer’s recommended torque sequence and torque specs is critical to avoid damaging the gasket or valve cover. In the video, John advises installers to adhere to the proper sequence to ensure even pressure on the gasket, resulting in an effective seal.

💡RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanizing) sealant

RTV sealant is a silicone-based product used to fill gaps in imperfect sealing surfaces. John explains that a small dab of RTV is necessary in specific areas, such as around machined surfaces or casting joints like timing covers or cam journals, to ensure a complete seal. He warns against applying RTV to the entire gasket, as it can lead to over-compression and potential gasket failure.

💡Tapered seal

A tapered seal has one side that is angled or tapered to facilitate fitting. In the video, John stresses the importance of paying attention to the orientation of the tapered side of the spark plug tube seal, which should face the tube to ensure proper installation. Incorrect installation can lead to improper sealing and oil leaks.

💡Repair environment

The repair environment refers to real-world conditions mechanics face when working on older or imperfect engines. The video highlights that Fel-Pro gaskets are designed specifically for these conditions, accommodating surfaces that are no longer perfectly machined. This ensures that their gaskets provide a reliable seal even in less-than-ideal circumstances.

Highlights

Introduction of John Gurnig, ASE Master Certified Technician from the Fel-Pro Field Test Garage in Skokie, Illinois.

Fel-Pro designs gaskets for the repair environment to ensure perfect sealing surfaces in real-world conditions.

Fel-Pro gasket sets include all the necessary components like gaskets, tube seals, and grommets required for repair jobs.

When installing valve cover gaskets, ensure the sealing surfaces are clean and dry, and that the covers are in good condition with no cracks.

Fel-Pro gaskets incorporate retention features to hold the gasket securely in place during installation.

For V-type engines, ensure you are using the correct left and right gaskets. Lay the gasket on the cover first to avoid misalignment.

Work in short increments when pressing the gasket into the groove to prevent misalignment and ensure proper installation.

Avoid sliding the gasket into place with your thumb, as this can cause the gasket to misalign and not fit properly.

Spark plug tube seals either press into place or need to be driven into the cover with a seal driver or socket.

Ensure the tapered side of the spark plug tube seal faces the tube to allow proper fitment when installed on the cylinder head.

Valve cover grommets may require replacement, and Fel-Pro grommets have built-in retention features to hold them in place.

Some engines require RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanizing) sealant at specific machined areas like timing covers, cam journals, or half-moon areas.

Apply only a small dab of RTV sealant to the cylinder head, not to the entire gasket, to prevent leaks and ensure proper compression.

Fel-Pro gaskets are precision-engineered for the repair environment and designed to withstand imperfect surfaces.

For more sealing tips and information, visit Fel-Pro’s website for additional resources and product information.