Cork or Rubber Valve Cover Gasketes

[mjonesjr]

Which is better for a 2.9, cork or rubber valve cover gaskets?

I am replacing my buddies valve cover gaskets on his '89 Bronco II.

 

[BlackBII]

I like rubber ones. My dad swears by cork, but I have a tendancy to overtighten things.....

 

[mjonesjr]

Yea, I over tighten things a lot.

 

[Psychopete]

I've used both with no leaks. Most of the time the problem is distorted sealing surface on the valve cover lips or bad tightening procedure. FWIW, I snug them up some, warm up the engine, and finally carefully tighten in a sequence. If a cork gasket can be used on a trans pan without leaking, I don't see why not.

But I am using rubber gaskets on my 5.0L valve covers. Oil pan is a rubber gasket, but the main reason for that is because I didn't want to use a 2 piece cork.

Pete

 

[mjonesjr]

Hmmm, what is your tightening sequence Pete?

It might come down to which ones are cheaper.

 

[johndeeregarner]

I like the cork ones (at least I do now). I've tried the rubber ones and they pissed me off because they wouldn't stop leaking, no matter how many times I replaced them! So I went to the cork gasket and they stopped leaking right away. And the cork gaskets have a little metal spacer in them so they won't over tighten. You also want to tighten them in this order (from 1 to 8, or), or something similar to this.

1. O O 4.

8. O O 6.

5. O O 7.

3. O O 2.

 

[mjonesjr]

Thanks!

 

[Cyberbeer]

I used the rubber ones. They come with tabs so you can make sure everything is seated and hasnt shifted.

 

[CraigK]

Did it with the Felpro regular rubber. Twice.
Then I spent a few (lot) extra $$$ and bought the Felpro Permadryplus Premium Molded Rubber.
End of problem. (Special rubber, beaded design, with metal inserts.)

For all the time and effort to replace your VC gaskets, I'd recommend using the premium product the first time. Wish I had.

CraigK

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

Did it with the Felpro regular rubber. Twice.
Then I spent a few (lot) extra $$$ and bought the Felpro Permadryplus Premium Molded Rubber.
End of problem. (Special rubber, beaded design, with metal inserts.)

For all the time and effort to replace your VC gaskets, I'd recommend using the premium product the first time. Wish I had.

CraigK

Just put these on the 81 i bought,awesome part...........down side is 35 bucks!

 

[mjonesjr]

I went with the cork gaskets. They are nice, easy to install, and seem to seal well.

I got 1 side done this afternoon. Decided to clean up and have a cookout instead of doing the other side.

 

[kena]

Did it with the Felpro regular rubber. Twice.
Then I spent a few (lot) extra $$$ and bought the Felpro Permadryplus Premium Molded Rubber. End of problem. (Special rubber, beaded design, with metal inserts.) For all the time and effort to replace your VC gaskets, I'd recommend using the premium product the first time. Wish I had.

CraigK

Listen to the voice of experience. Replacing the valve cover gaskets is one job you don't want to do twice. The Felpro PermaDryPlus gaskets work the first time.

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