Valve cover gasket brand recommendation

[Noiseydiesel]

I am in need of replacing gaskets before the next long road trip. Any rec's on who has the best?
Felpro, Apex, Mahle? Other??
I need to order these today and get them coming.
Thanks in advance!!

 

[DrCharles]

I like my Felpros. The important thing is to make sure your covers are as flat as possible. Turn the spreaders over if needed so the center hole is higher than the ends. And (as I discovered the hard way when I had a leak that would NOT stop) make sure the bolt holes are clear all the way to the bottom, so the cover bolts don't bottom out before putting correct tension on the spreaders!

 

[chillman88]

I haven't looked for these engines but I've always liked the silicone gaskets when available. They work and are reusable.

 

[dgr]

Does it matter? I went with off the shelf rubber felpro. Cleaned the surfaces well and put good rtv on the engine side.

There's not much oil up there. CDR mostly keeps the crankcase at negative pressure. I guess that most were like mine. Leaked enough to ruin the heater hose every few years but not enough to really drip. Most of the bolts were about finger tight after years of vibration and the gaskets shrinking.

Reminds me. I need to get to the junkyard and find a few missing spreaders

 

[Exhumis]

I like my Felpros. The important thing is to make sure your covers are as flat as possible. Turn the spreaders over if needed so the center hole is higher than the ends. And (as I discovered the hard way when I had a leak that would NOT stop) make sure the bolt holes are clear all the way to the bottom, so the cover bolts don't bottom out before putting correct tension on the spreaders!

This. I had a leak too, blew the bolt holes out with air compressor, no more leaks.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Does it matter? I went with off the shelf rubber felpro. Cleaned the surfaces well and put good rtv on the engine side.

That's what I use. I haven't seen the silicone ones myself. If they look like the ones that I'm thinking of, I'd bet that they are very good to use too.

 

[Garbage_Mechan]

Felpro “rubber” ones once every 10 years. If they have the plastic/ silicone bead ones now that would be just about permanent.