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Spark Plug Tube Seals

Tiny
CHRIS VC
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 220,000 MILES
Hi. Doing my first valve cover gasket. Removing the old seals left some scratches and at least one small hole where metal was shaved off. I don't trust it not to leak. What can I use to seal the spot that is safe for the engine/sensors? Also whatever I use should I let it dry before I install the seal because I am expecting it to need some oil or something to help slide it into place with my DIY bolt-washers press? I already have Ultra Grey RTV and some 3M super weatherstripping glue that I'm not sure is safe and leak/temp proof. Also I need a good, large photo of where to put the RTV on the head. The one in Haynes is too small to be useful. Thank you. Using Fel Pro PermaDry set.

Oh one more thing. I'm nervous about the torquing so I planned to under torque to say 35 in-lbs to make sure I don't bust something and then drive it straight to a shop (5 miles) and have them check and torque it properly. Is this something I can get away with safety-wise and will they charge me to do so? (I have a rented torque wrench and no way of checking it's accuracy). Thanks again.
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Friday, April 26th, 2013 AT 8:48 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If the seal is rubber you shouldn't need any thing to put on head but if you do use the rtv with a very thin coat and not hanging over the edge of head on either side. Valve cover nut is 52 inch lbs or 6nm torque
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Saturday, April 27th, 2013 AT 7:55 AM
Tiny
CHRIS VC
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Hi. I guess you were responding to the picture portion of my question. Haynes says there are 5 or 6 areas on the head edges where I am required to put RTV to prevent leaks like around the cams? Or something I think. This is whether or not you use something on the gasket itself. Thank you for the coating info.

I don't know if this is the only response I'm going to get so I better say most of my question still needs to be answered.

Sealing leak paths for the spark plug tube seals. How and what product to use.

Apply sealant on aluminum walls where the seals installs, dry sealant then coat seal with oil and press in. Or just coat seal with sealant, press in and dry.

RTV application photo.

My torquing plan.

Thanks a lot,

Chris
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Saturday, April 27th, 2013 AT 7:43 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If there are no Orings seals there then use rtv sparingly If there are Orings replace them but coat then pressin and wait about 10 minutes before starting car for it to start to seal. Rtv takes 24 hrs to seal.
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Sunday, April 28th, 2013 AT 5:47 AM
Tiny
CHRIS VC
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Hi. Thank you so much for your answer. My very specific questions are about installing the spark plug tube seals (not O-rings) that come with the kit into the valve cover prior to installing the valve cover on the car. I don't think it's possible at this point that my questions are misunderstood. So can you please tell me how to really get the answers I asked for? How do I do that? I am waiting on these answers before I can proceed with my car.

Chris
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Sunday, April 28th, 2013 AT 11:34 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
The seals should slide over the tubes, you put the tubes in and then the spark plug. The spark plug should hold them in place. You shouldn't have to glue the seals just install them
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Sunday, April 28th, 2013 AT 12:55 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If you are concerned about kocking the seals off when installing the valve cover then glue them in place at top. With glue it's faster but with rtv it shold wait about 10 minutes.
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Sunday, April 28th, 2013 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
I really dont know what to tell you about the seals they should go in easily the little marks you are showing pics of shouldn't really mean much as the seal will seal it. Put them on the top of the tube and install the valve cover.
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Monday, April 29th, 2013 AT 4:53 PM
Tiny
CHRIS VC
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Unfortunately, this has been a very frustrating experience. I will go elsewhere so I won't have to explain the question to the expert.
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Monday, April 29th, 2013 AT 5:12 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
I was asked to see if I can help you but I'm not real sure I understand your issue either. The previous expert was pretty thorough.

If I understand the picture, it looks like the groove that the tube seals gets pressed into and it appears to have a screwdriver dig in it. You should be able to just knock of any sharp edges and press the new seal into it. You don't use sealer on those at all. The only places to put sealer is in the corners. Just make sure you get all the old gasket from inside any channels so the new gasket seats properly.
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Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 AT 11:08 AM
Tiny
CHRIS VC
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Hi,

I pulled off a 2mm x 2mm shaving from the well leaving a small hole. The same one I mentioned in my original question. I am aware I don't put anything on those just because. But I have a leak path. A small hole. I am supposed to ignore that, not fill it in, and expect the cover not to leak? The diagram?
The torquing?

Thanks for answering,

Chris VC
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Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 AT 11:32 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
We don't have any photos or diagrams that you don't already have. They all come from the same place, the manufacturer and whatever they release, is what's available.
That channel serves as a footing for the seal to sit in so that scratch doesn't mean much of anything.
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Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 AT 11:48 AM
Tiny
CHRIS VC
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
*That channel serves as a footing for the seal to sit in so that scratch doesn't mean much of anything.*

Oh, then that's the info I was missing. All the hype I've read saying don't touch the metal with so much as your fingernail or you have to throw out the valve cover. All of that was a lie. I get it now.

Thanks
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Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 AT 11:57 AM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
That scratch is not on the sealing surface. The seal makes contact with the head at the exposed surface. The side is just support.
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Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 AT 12:06 PM

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