Valve cover gaskets are designed to seal “dry,” so don't apply sealant to the face of the gasket. Finish off the job by snugging up the valve cover bolts to the torque specifications in your shop manual.
Can you put silicone on a rubber gasket?
Depends on what it's for but ultimately, yes. Silicone is what rubber is made of. Silicone is used to “fill the gaps” depending on what gasket you refer to and if it is intended to be removed later on.
How do you seal a valve cover gasket?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE-9cfYFrBc
Do gaskets need silicone?
Gasket Sealant can be Helpful in Some Cases. We would recommend gasket sealants alongside our solid gaskets only when necessary, if a flange is very uneven and it could help to fill any gaps and when leakage of the sealant would not be an issue. ... A general rule, if you are using gasket sealant, you don't need a lot!
Should you grease gaskets?
It depends on the application, and the gasket material. Sometimes, gluing the gasket to one surface and greasing the other surface works very well. A good quality carb gaskets will probably work dry. A smear of grease generally won't hurt and will hold the paper in place during assembly.
Do I need to put sealant on head gasket?
If you're installing one of those old school embossed steel gaskets, you need a sealer to cold seal the engine. But most modern gaskets do not need to be coated with any sealers. And if you're installing a coated gasket, avoid any chemical seals. ... This could cause deterioration and gasket failure.Sep 3, 2015