Replacing head cover gaskets on '87 90HP EV - gasket sealer application

[bang4dabuck]

Last weekend I was putting my motor back together and when I got to this part I wasn't sure so I interpretted the manual to mean to apply the sealer to entire side of the gasket going to the heads. I applied NO sealer on side of gasket going to head covers. I did coat head cover bolts with gasket sealer. Should I have read between the lines and at least put sealer on edges of head covers ?

 

[iwombat]

Re: Replacing head cover gaskets on '87 90HP EV - gasket sealer application

Most of the head gaskets you get now are coated and require no sealer at all.

 

[bang4dabuck]

head COVER gasket - not head Gasket.

head COVER gasket - not head Gasket.

kind of a thin but dense/stiff cardboard material.

 

[iwombat]

Re: head COVER gasket - not head Gasket.

Re: head COVER gasket - not head Gasket.

If it has a shiny coating you don't need any.

 

[bang4dabuck]

Re: Replacing head cover gaskets on '87 90HP EV - gasket sealer application

Not shiny at all. The manual said to put adhesive on gasket and then apply gasket to head so I painted the one side of the gasket and held it in place, put head cover and lined up a few bolts to hold everything in place. Put other bolts in and torqued them.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Replacing head cover gaskets on '87 90HP EV - gasket sealer application

On that crossflow, I put gasket sealer on the raised "ribs" in the head casting that actually touch the gasket. Most of the gasket surface doesn't contact any metal at all. So, if you put the sealer on the curved ridges/ribs that form the water passages that is all you need.
Same with the other side of the gasket. Look where the head cover will touch gasket material, and put the sealer there. They will leak at the spark plug holes if done incorrectly, or if the head cover is warped. I used Permatex Aviation FormaGasket in the plastic bottle.

For the cylinder head gasket, no sealer.

 

[bang4dabuck]

Re: Replacing head cover gaskets on '87 90HP EV - gasket sealer application

Thanks, stupid for me not to put it on,only makes sense. It wouldn't of hurt even if not called for. My stupidity. Hopefully gaskets will be OK after I take head covers off to put the sealer on.