Valve cover gasket change help

[NPdarkside21]

Since I hardly ever work on engines and I need some helpful advice on changing a valve cover gasket. What's this silicone sealant that has be put on the gasket during installation? For reference, I have a '99 Ranger XLT with a 3.0L Flex engine.

 

[black_demon69]

Since I hardly ever work on engines and I need some helpful advice on changing a valve cover gasket. What's this silicone sealant that has be put on the gasket during installation? For reference, I have a '99 Ranger XLT with a 3.0L Flex engine.

should only need a dab where the heads meet the intake 2 spots on each. i prefer grey or black rtv myself.

 

[pjtoledo]

gaskets have a hard time squishing into sharp angles, such as where 2 items come together. a dab of sealant fills in the void quite effectively. be sure to clean the area, sealants don't stick to oil contaminated surfaces.
any parts place sells sealant/gasket maker/RTV/silicone sealant.