AAZ 3-bolt steel valve cover - gasket sealer or no?

[Gizmoman]

When installing an AAZ 3-bolt steel valve cover using a new rubber gasket (with metal inside) - does anyone recommend using gasket sealer or just very clean and dry?

I have Hylomar spray and also form-a-gasket copper silicone.

Head is brand new and surface of cover is very good.

Your opinion is appreciated.

Jim

[libbydiesel]

I just put a small dab where it meets the part that goes over the cam cap and the half moon at the back of the cam. 

[hillfolk'r]

10-4 on that. What he said.

[Gizmoman]

I just put a small dab where it meets the part that goes over the cam cap and the half moon at the back of the cam. 

Very well - would Hylomar spray be your first choice or a dab of the orange stuff?
Obviously I would like zero leaks but I'd also like to remove it without needing a new gasket every time.

I already put a tiny bit under the cam cap on the front (nearest to #1)

The PO had it glued to the cover pretty good - ruined the old one (gasket) taking it off.

[theman53]

I have had such good luck with just putting on the vc gastket plain that is what I do. My plan was to put it on and see if there were leaks and if so brake clean it down then silicone it where needed. So far I haven't had the need. It was good to go and I even reused mine a couple times as I have to run the valves every so often being it was mech 1.6. I would suspect the aaz to be no different as far as sealing goes.

[hillfolk'r]

Yea a little dab in the spots described, and you won't have any problems removing it in the future.
Just be gentle removing it and use a little flat blade screwdriver or a pick and you can unstick it from the rtv easily.
Definately check why the po used alot of sealer. Maybe he owned some stock in the company. Its kind of hard to over tighten it but people can perform miracles. The little rubbers for the 3 hold down bolts dont really need any sealer, but if you were nervous i guess you could coat them with a thin swipe. I like to apply rtv in a blob and smooth it out with my finger until its almost transparent, thats all you would need there.
But put a little teeny tiny blob in the spots described like the cam cap and half moon spot.

[Gizmoman]

Thanks all - I'll go dry for the first run and see how it goes.

[JamesT]

I use aircraft sealant at the non-flat bits. You don't want to use silicone anywhere exposed to your engine's oil. Any non-hardening sealer should work.