Valve Cover Gasket Questions ?

[samms95s14se]

I searched but wasn't satisfied. I just replaced my timing belt tensioner and removed the upper guides and I know that the front camshaft cover uses RTV and not a rubber gasket, now when I removed my Valve Cover gasket there was some kind of white RTV all around the head where the rubber gasket touches the metal on the head and I scraped it all off but I keep reading to just put RTV in the semi circles front and back and nothing about all the way around where the gasket touches the head like I scraped off? So here are the questions.

1.When using all new gaskets Do I need to put RTV all the way around the head like I scraped off under the gasket? or is it just on the semi circles?

2. Do I put the RTV on the rubber semi circles or just on the metal part of the head?

2. Does RTV go on the rubber spark plug gasket?

Thanks I just wanted some for sure answers.

[aznpoopy]

1.When using all new gaskets Do I need to put RTV all the way around the head like I scraped off under the gasket? or is it just on the semi circles?

just on the semi circles. if you feel like being cautious i dont see how adding some rtv could hurt.

2. Do I put the RTV on the rubber semi circles or just on the metal part of the head?

i dont quite understand. are you asking if you should apply it to the semi circle, vs applying it to the area the semi circle will sit on? the fsm says to apply it to the semi circle and then stick it on; honestly i dont think it makes a difference.

2. Does RTV go on the rubber spark plug gasket?

i didnt put any on there, it's been fine

[MakotoS13]

RTV isn't necessary if your VC gasket is still good, however, one of my bolt holts for the VC got stripped so i rtv'd the hell out of the whole cover on account of me replacing the whole motor in the not too distant future.

and spark plug gasket? is he confused?

[aznpoopy]

iirc, isnt there a little gasket that runs along the middle? i thought thats what he was referring to. it has been a while though...

[samms95s14se]

iirc, isnt there a little gasket that runs along the middle? i thought thats what he was referring to. it has been a while though...

Yea that's what I meant. Also would it be easier to put the gasket in the valve cover first then set it on top of the head because of the track that the gasket goes in underneath the valve cover to make it line up better or should I just put the gasket on the head and then set the valve cover on top? I just like to know any tricks I can use to make things go on better when I havn't done it before. Thanks

[aznpoopy]

that little gasket is such a non issue i honestly don't remember. just do whatever works.

[jordanrose8]

if you're gonna rtv the front notches, i would do the sparkplug gaskets while you're at it, because i've seen a couple sr's that the gaskets looked fine ard were installed correctly, leak oil down into the sparkplugs...which wasn't fun.