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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rocker cover gasket

Hi All

Quick bit of advice needed, just done a 12000 mile service on my 1500 midget and last job is to put a new rocker cover gasket on, problem is it is not flat and each time I lie it down it curls up so cannot get a good seal, whats the best thing to use to keep it in position whilst I bolt it down, I was thing some grease may hold it, don't have any indoors but that is atleast what I was thinking.

Thanks
Arron
Arron

grease

or glue it to the cover with a gasket sealant and grease the lower face before fitting then it won't stick and tear when you have to remove the cover next time
Guy Weller

Cheers Guy, I thought grease was what I used all those years ago but its been a long time since I've serviced a car myself, setting the points casued some concern to start with until the old brain cells kicked into gear,

thanks
Arron

I hate to disagree with you Guy, but I would NEVER grease a cork gasket of any sort. Grease is a lubricant (as we all know) and cork is very prone to breaking up and moving when under compression and lubricated.
Instead I always glue the gasket to the rocker cover itself with a contact type adhesive and put the cover back onto the engine absolutly DRY. No leaks and it comes off every time.

However, if it is a paper or card gasket, that's a different matter and Welseal, Hylomar, CAT gasket guu or even grease is perfectly good.


Mark.
Mark T. Boldry

I got one of the silicone gaskets from a chap off ebay, it works great.
Stefan

I thought cork gaskets were supposed to get saturated with oil, swell and seal?
J Van Dyke

I stuck my gasket up into the groove in the cover with a thin application of blue RTV sealant, making it a no-brainer to fit the cover afterward. Admittedly, it's pretty difficult to get it all aligned right if you don't stick it to the cover somehow.

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

I have always did the RTV sealer and grease trick....but had heard the grease is hard on the cork...but I figured itss going to get soaked in oil anyway so whats the differance ...just keep a spare hanging on a nail in the shop for just in case


I know petroleum is bad but i cant imagine its not going to wear any faster with or without grease as its going to be soaked in oil anyway


prop
Prop

I typically use the thin brush on aviation gasket cement on the valve cover side, and white lithium grease (Lubriplate) on the head side. I think the grease prevents it from sticking to the head.

I've been using the same valve cover gasket for 10 years now, still no leaks, so I don't think the lithium grease has any short-term negative impact on the cork. Now, since I've been bragging on it, watch it break up next time.

Charley
C R Huff

Mark,
I have no problem with you disagreeing with me! But that is how I have dealt with cork rocker gasket covers since around 1963. I cannot see why one wouldn't use grease on a gasket that then spends its life immersed in oil. Perhaps though, I will try it "dry" next time.
Guy Weller

Thanks for evryones input.

Guy, the grease trick worked a treat and fitted the gasket in about 2 minutes,

Thanks
Arron
Arron

This thread was discussed between 31/07/2008 and 03/08/2008

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