13 Legion Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Hey all. I have a 87 2.5 4speed. Over the weekend I replaced a few seals. Differential as well as a leaking pinion seal..no big deal. I also figured I might as well address a leaking valve cover gasket, no problem or so I thought. The cover is original hard plastic type. Well I found a gasket and cleaned everything up and replaced it. Got to work the next day and it looked as if I hadn't even put a cover on!!! Oil everywhere. I used the gasket as well as some black rtv. That's when I noticed the cover was cracked in a few spots were the bolts make. I was looking for a replacement cover and ended up at my local Jeep dealer. They have a replacement,plastic as well,(apparently a revised cover) but parts guy said it does not need a gasket. Just bolt it up and good to go. Can this be right? Has anyone replaced their cover? I can't see putting it on without so much as a little rtv. Also is there a torque spec for the cover bolts? Thanks for any input. I truly thought this would be as easy as changing an air filter..wrong!! :fs1: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinajeep726 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Get an aluminum cover from a newer model 4-banger XJ and get the nice Felpro PermaDry rubber gasket for a '98 Dodge Dakota with 2.5L. Bolt it on, route your CCV lines and call it a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schardein Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Fel-Pro perma dry gaskets are the way to go hands down. Although they can be a little expensive... tip, they are blue, and I have had good luck in the junkyards taking a peek at valve covers and seeing a little blue there... then pulling the cover to get the gasket and re-using it (this is on Jeep 4.0s). Make sure you get the little plastic spacers for the valve cover bolts, they pop right off the valve cover. The junkyard guys scoff at me buying a used gasket and even give them to me free sometimes. I've used (re-used?) three so far with no leaks. And the aluminum cover is the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1989 Eliminator Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 I nhave also used the fel-pro blue silicon gasket and you DO NOT use rtv on this type of gasket. Just tighten in a circular pattern and youll be good to go. I also have done crusiers valve cover mod on my 4.0, but i do not know if it applies to 2.5 as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 I hear you don't have to with those particular gaskets but I put a little bit to stick to the valve cover...I've done it on my 88 2.5 comanche and my 98 4.0 cherokee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjy_26 Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 In a fit of desperation, I bought a Droman VC fro Oreiley's. It has a rubber O ring built into the cover. I added a thin bead of Ultra Black RTV on top of the o ring. No leaks so far (knock on wood). This is on a 87 2.5 SporTruck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvzj Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 For torque specs Hayne's manual say's 55 inch pounds with rtv and 44 inch pounds with "pre-cured permanent gasket". Like everyone above said the Fel-Pro perma dry gaskets are great, they are worth the few extra bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 For torque specs Hayne's manual say's 55 inch pounds with rtv and 44 inch pounds with "pre-cured permanent gasket". Like everyone above said the Fel-Pro perma dry gaskets are great, they are worth the few extra bucks. Idk if I would go that tight...I did it hand tight because I didn't want to break a bolt in the head.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitroxsteve Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 For torque specs Hayne's manual say's 55 inch pounds with rtv and 44 inch pounds with "pre-cured permanent gasket". Like everyone above said the Fel-Pro perma dry gaskets are great, they are worth the few extra bucks. Idk if I would go that tight...I did it hand tight because I didn't want to break a bolt in the head.... he said 55 "inch" pounds that's only about 4.5 foot pounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88whitemanche Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Oooops....sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
13 Legion Posted June 7, 2014 Author Share Posted June 7, 2014 The replacement worked fine. I seem to be getting blowback from pcv hose back to air box. Is there a better type of connection I can make at cover to avoid oil seepage here? Also cover bolts seem to loosen up after driving awhile. Off to the JY today.Image Not Found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Check to see if your vacuum port is clogged, mine was. Image Not Found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
13 Legion Posted June 7, 2014 Author Share Posted June 7, 2014 Just blow it out with carb or brake cleaner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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