Too much RTV on valve cover?

[dcmarf]

Is it possible to use too much RTV when installing a valve cover--I bought a used engine and it has RTV spewing out the sides of the valve cover -Looks like he used the whole tube on the gasket and when he put the screws down it came out the sides-Im worried about the inside and if it spewed in there would it tear this engine up???

 

[LiquidX]

Too much is a bad thing. It might be a good idea to pull the cover off and remove any and all chunks from the inside. When you re install it you only need a thin layer to help it seal better.

 

[whe3ls]

ive never used rtv on the valve cover. i just use it on the half moon seal, but i dont use very much

 

[dcmarf]

So it sounds like im gonna have rtv flying around in my engine(OUCH) good thing I havent cranked it due to a bad fuel pump-think I can reuse the gasket

 

[LiquidX]

Yes you can reuse it. I know that you *aren't* supposed to reuse gaskets but you aren't torquing it down much at all and it hasn't been heat cycled.

 

[nlzn]

I don't really thing a little extra rtv up there is going to cause failure..

I've been rtv'ing valve covers for years instead of gasketing.

And yes, the rubber ones are reusable.

 

[dcmarf]

Just not sure if I should bother pulling it off since its definitely sealed just done with too much RTV and didnt wanna buy another gasket for 35 bucks but since I can reuse it I better open up and look huh

 

[16vtawd]

The excess rtv will end up stuck on the oil pump strainer, clean it off and replace the gasket.

 

[dsmnthamakin]

too much RTV is not good but it will not hurt anything in the engine. I use RTV on almost all my gaskets just for insurance. Also i use a thin coat just so it seals and looks clean, dont really care for globs of stuff hanging out especially where its visible.

 

[dcmarf]

I was just scared that too much on the inside would break off and float around in the head????Its also very ugly on the outside -blue color

 

[Coreyred95]

Yeah, just pull it off, pull all the rtv off and re-apply a thin layer of rtv to the gasket. It is a quick and simple job and it will make your engine bay look alot better, and everybody that looks under your hood wont think you have no clue what youre doing.

 

[LiquidX]

too much RTV is not good but it will not hurt anything in the engine.

Too much RTV is a reason why I'm on a new engine now. Back yard mechanic put so much on it clogged the strainer and what made it though got to the bearings and destroyed them.

 

[dcmarf]

thks for the help Ill pull it off and clean it -Im hoping to reuse the gasket -does that rtv clean off easy ??Do I need to use a certain cleaner or degreaser?/

 

[Detective Coating]

I don't understand some people's obsessions with RTV. This is what happened when the previous owner of my new car got a little too friendly with it. My oil pickup is covered in it. Try getting oil passed a clogged pick up. Obviously this is because it wasn't fully cured but obviously way too much at the same time.

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EDIT: RTV is easy to get off, you can just peel it right off or use a razor blade in some spots that may be hard to get to but make sure not to tear into the metal when using one.

 

[tsi1991awd]

I never reuse the gasket....and I've never used RTV on the VC. I hate RTV and only use it when absolutely necessary.

The new DSM I got was caked in RTV....EVERYWHERE. The idiots used RTV on the pickup tube, the strainer had RTV strands dangling from it, the oil pan was sealed with some kind of thin RTV that wasn't even oil resistant so the pan was leaking oil everywhere. The VC had a gasket and RTV both. The intake manifold had NO GASKET, just half ass done RTV. Took forever to scrape it all off of the head and manifold itself. The CAS was missing a nut on one side and they tightened the other nut more to "make up" for it....well, it caused the CAS to leak. So what did they do? Glob RTV into the CAS orifice. I spent FOREVER picking every little piece out of there. IDIOTS....I hate RTV with a passion.

That's not to say you can't use it....just stating my dislike for the shit.

 

[dcmarf]

ya I found it on the oil return from the turbo where it hooks up to the oil pan and oil is leaking there -gotta drain the oil and pull that line off too and hopefully not need a new oil pan??

 

[arodgst]

Just buy a new valve cover gasket kit... I used to use rvt but after getting laughed at by my fellow DSMer's because over orange rvt smashed out the sides of my cover I bought a new valve cover gasket and I scraped off all the rvt I used and vuoala no more leaks and looks 100x's better... I highly recommend spending the few bucks for a new gasket you will not be disappointed gauranteed and it will look clean!! Like liquidx said do not over tighten and it will work perfect.

 

[VTEC_lol]

Is it possible to use too much RTV when installing a valve cover--I bought a used engine and it has RTV spewing out the sides of the valve cover -Looks like he used the whole tube on the gasket and when he put the screws down it came out the sides-Im worried about the inside and if it spewed in there would it tear this engine up???

well, if it gets in your cylinder head and down to your oil pan. it has probably collected on your oil pickup strainer. might be worth checking.

 

[BrokenTsi]

I copper spray my valve cover gasket. It NEVER leaks.

 

[VTEC_lol]

I copper spray my valve cover gasket. It NEVER leaks.

gots to love da coppper spray... and pb blaster

 

[cthab]

x20 on the RTV clogging the oil pickup strainer...you will all of the sudden have no oil pressure and then all of the sudden need a rebuild if you don't be cautious with RTV. Sure it will not affect rotating parts as it breaks down easily when forced but in oil passages it is basically a problem waiting to happen.