'98 Valve cover won't seal. Aluminum units any better?

[yossarian19]

Kastein's right.
With valve covers, cylinder heads and anything else you want to seal - work your way from inside to outside if possible in a spiral fashion. Straight out of the ASE study books for auto certifications.

 

[8Mud]

I don't know which gasket you used, but the Felpro I used had kind of a semi soft, slightly sticky, silicon bead all the way around it. I figured they made it sticky for a reason and cleaned the surface down to bare metal, I made sure there was no oil residue. I figured the sticky silicon might adhere and help with the seal. I'm not sure if all the Felpro valve cover gaskets have that silicon bead on them or not, there may be different types available. The time before last, when I did that job, the gasket (kit) was different and didn't have the silicon bead.

 

[kastein]

Minor nitpick...

Silicon is a hard, grey, semimetallic, crystalline element. We make semiconductors out of it.

Silicone is a soft, rubbery, chemical resistant compound. We make fake boobs and gaskets out of it. I'm sorry, what was I saying? Something about boobs I guess.

They're very different and it irks me (dumb, I know) when people confuse them :spin1:

 

[8Mud]

Minor nitpick...

Silicon is a hard, grey, semimetallic, crystalline element. We make semiconductors out of it.

Silicone is a soft, rubbery, chemical resistant compound. We make fake boobs and gaskets out of it. I'm sorry, what was I saying? Something about boobs I guess.

They're very different and it irks me (dumb, I know) when people confuse them :spin1:

My bad, being bi-lingual sure hasn't helped my spelling any. The stuff they make fake boobs out of is what I meant. In my second language it is spelled silikon, silicone would be pronounced siliconi, the "e" wouldn't be silent, it gets confusing sometimes. Sometimes best guess is good enough.

 

[yossarian19]

I'm going out on a limb and saying your English is a hell of a lot better than my German...

 

[Talyn]

This shows the parts you are missing: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f12/4-0l-valve-cover-swap-write-up-1503171/