Thread: RTV the valve cover

Noticed a bit of leaking from my valve cover, specifically the driver's side. Not much but enough to leave a small spot after driving and a vague oil stench.

On motorcycles here, we've RTVed these rubber seal gaskets on a number of bikes simply to avoid the cost and time delay of these older hard-to-find parts. While I don't see any difference between that and the one on the SR, I wanted to make sure there isn't something odd or goofy I don't know about that happens with our valve cover seals. I'd rather not order a brand new one, this motor is pretty driven and tired as it is.

Once the motor cools down here at the shop I'll probably be doing it, so anyone who knows a good reason I should stop should speak up!

I've always had some leaking into the spark plug valleys even with new gaskets, so I always put a little grey RTV in the gasket channel and spin the gasket circles around to evenly distribute it. Since employing this method, I've had squeaky-clean spark plug holes ever since. I think if you're careful not to do too much, some RTV in the gasket channel is a good idea for you.

Although, with a good gasket I've never had problems with leaks on the perimeter gasket.

I like "the right stuff" best RTV I ever used period.

p.s. Sup ass man!! sorry, everytime i see your name i think of ass man!

Thats what I figured. Just needed some reinforcing on the idea. The VC has been swapped a few times (since one looks like poo and one looks great) so I guess it's just getting tired.



Never going to live that down, am I.....Might as well embrace it.

i rtv the shit out of valve covers.. i've always had bad luck with them things leaking.. it leaks on the inside, leaks on the outside an its a pain in my ass! So i apply a very thin but continuous line of rtv around the head an the plug holes in the middle an smooth it out with my finger then i set the v/c on an finger tighten all the screws and let it sit a half hour so it can form a nice shape an not squeeze out when i do the final tightening

when ever i do this it cures all leaking! an when i've had to pop the v/c for what ever reason down the road, theres always a nice gasket shape in the rtv an you can tell how it wasn't going to let shit by.

so what happened with blockheads engine then?

no rtv on the valve cover LOL

just on vital corners thats where it usually leaks from

Never had a leak from a VC, but i always make sure to very very thoroughly clean the gasket, the goo (in the half moons and over the dizzy) and i clean the channel in the cover itself before refitting. Smearing RTV over the whole seal is just going to be a mega pain to get off next time you pull the cover and have to reseal it.

VC gaskets weren't supposed to be reused. But if you're going to reuse it apply some rtv. I've popped my valve covers plenty of times and always replaced with new VC Gaskets after I didn't use a new gasket on an S4 cam install. Leaked really bad.

I have never used RTV when using new gaskets and they have never leaked on me. Also make sure you torque down the vc bolts in the correct order and in multiple steps. FSM does say to use a tiny amount of rtv on the half moon parts.