Valve cover RTV options

[XC92]

I took the valve cover off to access the hex parts of the camshafts to allow me to remove the cam sprockets so I could replace their seals, so I'll be replacing the gasket, 4 plug seals and half-moon piece. I'm just wondering what to use to seal the half moon and where the 3 semi-circles meet the horizontal mating surface. I think that most folks here use either Ultra Black or Grey, and I have both. But the FSM says to use "MOPAR Part No.4318034 or equivalent".

While you can buy this via Mitsubishi dealers or online, it's kind of pricey at $20~$30 for a small tube. I looked it up and Permatex makes their own version called "Hi Temp Threadlocker Sealant", product # 59214. At least that's what their cross-reference chart says. I was about to place a RockAuto order and they had it for just over $2 without adding to the shipping, so I ordered it too just in case. Even if I don't use it on this application I'm sure I'll have a use for it eventually, like the several temp sensors connected to the thermostat housing and radiator.

Anyway, should I use this instead of either Ultra RTV? Or does it not really matter? All these RTV, sealant and gasket maker options can be confusing.

Also, while I have the valve cover off how well should I clean it? It looks to be in pretty good shape (as opposed to my mom's Camry's which I recently took off that basically looked like the botton of a heavily-used and never cleaned BBQ pit, and which I managed to clean till it was in near-new condition). Should I even bother to wash it with degreaser and water and let it air dry, or just rub it down with clean towels, make sure its mating surface along with that of the cylinder head are gasket-free and smooth, and reinstall it?

 

[streetraceboi]

Permatex-The Right Stuff.

 

[pauleyman]

I use the ultra grey. Black is fine also. It's nothing special.
How clean is up to you. Make it look new or bolt it back on as is. Seems kinda silly to not clean it though.

 

[steve]

Ultra Grey is the cross reference to the Mitsubishi/Mopar RTV

 

[XC92]

Here's where I got the cross-reference. Search for 4318034:

I use the ultra grey. Black is fine also. It's nothing special.
How clean is up to you. Make it look new or bolt it back on as is. Seems kinda silly to not clean it though.

That's what I was thinking, just that with all those "hidden" sections it'll take a while for it to thoroughly dry. How bad is a few drops of water in the oil, btw?

I accidentally splashed a little water into the head with the VC off when I was rinsing the engine front after scraping off the old WP gasket (yeah, I know, stupid mistake, happens). Maybe a few teaspoons. I'm going to change the oil soon anyway as this was supposed to be the final "sacrificial" oil change after the car sat for 5-6 years before it gets back to a regular OCI.

 

[pauleyman]

That's what I was thinking, just that with all those "hidden" sections it'll take a while for it to thoroughly dry. How bad is a few drops of water in the oil, btw?

I accidentally splashed a little water into the head with the VC off when I was rinsing the engine front after scraping off the old WP gasket (yeah, I know, stupid mistake, happens). Maybe a few teaspoons. I'm going to change the oil soon anyway as this was supposed to be the final "sacrificial" oil change after the car sat for 5-6 years before it gets back to a regular OCI.

it isn't a problem.

 

[XC92]

What happens to the water, gets "absorbed" or neutralized by oil additives then removed in the next OC? Won't corrode or rust internals?

 

[pauleyman]

it evaporates. You get water naturally in the crankcase all the time from condensation. It isn't much. You may see it under the oil cap on cold winter mornings. Likely under your valve cover too but you won't see it.

 

[BLACK'98DSM]

I always use rubbing alcohol to clean sealing surfaces when doing valve cover gaskets. Make as many passes as you need until your wipe comes out clean.

 

[XC92]

What about thus Permatex thread sealant? Wrong cross-match and I shouldn't use it, use Ultra Black or Grey instead?

 

[pauleyman]

Thread sealant is not the same as rtv

 

[XC92]

I realize that, just wondering why Permatex claims that its sealant is what the FSM intended to be used in this application. I wonder if this was a mistake when they published this.

 

[pauleyman]

I realize that, just wondering why Permatex claims that its sealant is what the FSM intended to be used in this application. I wonder if this was a mistake when they published this.

Trust what the oem tells you, not permatex.
Why they said that? Who knows

 

[XC92]

But OEM/FSM says use 4318034, which a google search says is thread sealant in multiple results, which maps to the Permatex. OEM is saying to use thread sealant, which is what the Permatex is. Or I should spend 10x as much for the OEM sealant, which I'm pretty sure is made by the same company that makes the Permatex?

Bit of a dilemma, no?

I know that pretty much everyone uses Ultra, which is what I'll probably use, but it's not per the FSM, which of course is over 30 years old and there's probably been revisions issued since then as to what to use. But I have no idea how to find those. Aren't those called TSB's, or something else?

Or could the FSM have a typo that's repeated across multiple pages? Typesetting was digitized over 30 years ago when they issued the first FSM and a single error could have been repeated many times over if they used a placeholder token that a macro later substituted a wrong value for.

I agree that thread sealant make no sense. But the FSM says otherwise. Just wondering why.

 

[Christo]

I have always used Permatex high temp red silicon and have never had an issue.

 

[XC92]

I'll use one of the Ultras, per most peoples' recommendation. But it's just odd that the FSM would indicate something that isn't really appropriate for this application.

 

[dustyboner]

https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/valve-cover-rtv-install-question.533170/post-153793143

 

[XC92]

Well that's more like it. It maps to Permatex Ultra Grey, which is what I was going to use. Is there an FSM errata site or page here or somewhere?

 

[DSMPT]

If you would like to use the same RTV that came from factory, ThreeBond TB1211 for valve cover. That's the white/gray-ish RTV from factory.
And for oil pan, ThreeBond 1207F. This is the one shown in FSM from Mitsubishi motors Japan and it's equivalent to Mitsubishi 1000A992, MD997110 and more. And Permatex Ultra grey is equivalent to MD997110. That's the reason why many people including myself use the ultra grey for oil pan.