Importance of rocker cover gasket

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The Zetec rocker cover in my Escort is getting a little...dirty looking, and
I bought a tin of high temperature spray paint today so I could spruce it
up.

It's not some crazy boy racery blue to match my blue Samco hoses, just a
plain black.

I'm going to take it off and give it a good scrub with various nasty
chemicals and a wire brush to clean it down, then spray it with this paint.

Anyway - to the point, is it OK to just reuse the gasket already in place,
providing it doesn't tear or bugger up when the cover is removed?

Obviously I'll make sure I torque all the nuts up again correctly.

Cheers for any advice.

Ta,
G.



Re: Importance of rocker cover gasket

testbox@magaff.co.uk says...

Don't know, but I'm going to have to do similar soon. My gasket pisses
oil and seems to have shagged a rear engine mount thanks to years of hot
oil treatment.

Even replacing the mozarella based cross head screws with allen bolts
has only helped to a degree, because the rear ones are hidden under the
throttle body and idle up controls.

I got told by Toyota, as it is just a fancy rubber band it could be re-
used. I have a new one on order, because they were obviously talking
bollox. Don't know what the Zetec gasket is made from though.

This posting was brought to you with Stolly and fresh OJ, and a
delightful beer called Clouded yellow, flavoured with fragent scents and
extracts of Cloves, Corriander and Vanilla.

--
Carl Robson
"Sorry Sir the meatballs are orf"
(The poster formerly known as Skodapilot)
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

Re: Importance of rocker cover gasket



funny that mine does the same but it's a VERY VERY tiny amount around the
edge which i only noticed recently, not bad for 6 months and 2 oil changes
:)



Re: Importance of rocker cover gasket


Same cheese head screws holding it down.

BTW, have you pulled your sparkplug leads?
There is an inner gasket that runs round lead 2 and 3.

The plug wells may be full of oil. Mine were, until I replaced the
screws with bolts and antishake washers.

This time I'm doing it properly. Cover off, degrease the inside/outside,
and check the PCV airways are clear with degreaser and brake cleaner.
Should get rid of any sludge and stop it blowing the new gasket.

Then give the outside quick polish up to get rid of the oxidisation.
Should look proper blingy.
--
Carl Robson
"Sorry Sir the meatballs are orf"
(The poster formerly known as Skodapilot)
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

Re: Importance of rocker cover gasket

says...

They cost like 10 pence. THe old one will have been compressed. Just
buy a new one.


--
Conor


"Be incomprehensible. If they can't understand, they can't disagree"

Re: Importance of rocker cover gasket

conor.turton@gmail.com says...

If only the Toyota ones were so cheap.
Saved a little money buying pattern at =A328 all in. Was quoted =A329+VAT b=
y=20
local dealership. Although some franchises seem to do them for =A39=20
instead.
--=20
Carl Robson
"Sorry Sir the meatballs are orf"
(The poster formerly known as Skodapilot)
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

Re: Importance of rocker cover gasket

Apparently on date Sat, 4 Jun 2005 16:04:55 +0100, Sleeker GT Phwoar


Depends what it is, but that's crazy money for gaskets.



Re: Importance of rocker cover gasket

Questions@forgotten.what.this.was.now.com says...

It is http://www.webparts.co.uk/BGA/Buyguide/HTML/RK5399.HTM
Both the outer black ring part, and the inner Fig8 part.

Shaped to go over the cam bearing arches, and surround the plugs (the=20
inner fig8 gasket does plug 2 and 3.
--=20
Carl Robson
"Sorry Sir the meatballs are orf"
(The poster formerly known as Skodapilot)
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

Re: Importance of rocker cover gasket

Apparently on date Sun, 5 Jun 2005 16:36:58 +0100, Sleeker GT Phwoar


Blimey. Do you get to re-use them or is this an "every time" replacement?

Good reason not to get a toyota, not that they need gaskets all that often.


Re: Importance of rocker cover gasket

Questions@forgotten.what.this.was.now.com says...

Well, Toyota parts guy said "No, you don't need to replace it=20
everytime".
But on mine, if it like everything else I've been replacing, it is 15=20
years old, original and never been removed or replaced. if the parts=20
I've fitted last as long as I will be happy.
--=20
Carl Robson
"Sorry Sir the meatballs are orf"
(The poster formerly known as Skodapilot)
http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

Re: Importance of rocker cover gasket

Apparently on date Fri, 03 Jun 2005 19:33:05 GMT, "G-Man"


Yeah, if it is in pretty much fine condition, should be ok, but that depends on
the car and the gasket type.

My main fiddling is with a rover v8 engine, has rubber rocker cover gaskets
which don't need replacing. I have a set of cork gaskets like it originally
had, it's probable that these would be hard to re-use as once you tighten the
cover on, the cork is crushed and separating it again would probably damage the
cork.

Paper type gaskets can be made with a sharp knife and a sheet of generic gasket
material just stuck to the part with engine oil. That said, it's more bother
than it's worth when you can buy the correct one for 50 pence.

Just do what seems sensible at the time, if it is wrong then the covers will
end up leaking a bit of oil / crankcase gas, you'll be able to see this and
replace them later if you cut a corner wrongly, it won't damage the engine as
far as I can imagine.


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