Valve cover gasket plus grommets

[katapaltes]

So I think need to replace my valve cover gasket. (The bolts were so loose at 99,000 miles that I could spin them with my fingers and I lost about a quart of oil to leaks until I figured it out and tightened them.) I'm at 112,000 miles now and the leak is not too bad, but it is leaking a little. I called my local dealer and they want a reasonable $40 for the valve cover gasket itself, but between $6 and $9 *per grommet* for the 11 little round grommets (two different kinds of grommets; not sure if that includes the round metal pieces that I don't need to replace or even if "grommets" is the right word here). That's a total of $131 for the entire set.

O'Reilley has a Fel-Pro gasket set that *includes* the rubber part of the grommets for $35 and they're across the street from me. My question is, are the Fel-Pro gaskets/grommets any good? I've searched and searched and not found a definitive answer. Perhaps there's another gasket *set* I can buy that's more expensive and better than Fel-Pro, but not as much as the dealer's $131? Or do I even need to replace the grommets? I do think oil may be leaking from around them as well as the gasket itself. Then again, if the gasket is leaking, it could just be letting oil through to the valve cover bolts, and if the gasket was replaced, maybe any leak around the grommets would stop...

 

[Keno1542]

I've used Fel-Pro stuff quite a few times, I trust their products. Have always been high-quality. You should go over to O'Reilly and take a look at the gasket in the store and see if you are comfortable using them. Like I said though, I have never had any issues with Fel-Pro stuff

 

[Valk]

I just used beck arnley in all my proteges.. easy to get, cheap and more than adequate for the task. my kits all came with new groumets ect.

 

[katapaltes]

Thanks, guys. Unless someone responds in the next few days with concerns about those two brands, I'll pick one of them up locally.

Valk, your build thread is crazy. And here I thought I was burnishing my man-cred by replacing a valve cover gasket. Oh well, you've got to start somewhere; struts are next.

 

[MrGiggles]

Fel-pro is regarded as one of the best aftermarket gasket manufacturers in the industry. It's all they do.

 

[katapaltes]

Thanks, guys! This is fantastic news. I'll grab some RTV as well as it's indicated in the shop manual. Only question is how much to use... Any thoughts? The only advice I've seen is to "use as much as what's already there," assuming it was done at the factory or done correctly the last time. Any thoughts?

 

[Valk]

there isnt anything you need rtv for when replacing the valve cover gasket. remove the old one. clean up the mating surface of both parts and reinstall. i used an electric impact and it took like 10 minutes.
you really cant install the coils in the wrong order either so dont worry about that.

thanks for the kind words. my build is more about cosmetic repair work over mechanics and modding though. i just see s*** that needs doing, i don't wanna pay for it, so i learn how lol. im sure an actual car person would frown at my methods for a lot of stuff.. but after dicking aroudn with rc cars for so long where you make 1/4mm changes that make the cars undriveable... fullscale just isn't complicated lol.

 

[katapaltes]

OK, I bought an inch-pound twerk wrench, I've got my Fel-Pro gasket+grommets, and I've got an upcoming day where it's going to warm up a bit... I have read both sides that RTV is and isn't needed, but the shop manual says it is needed, so I will want to add four pea-sized blobs as indicated in the manual near the cam seals - especially if I pull the cover and see sealant from the factory. The question is, which RTV sealant to use? There are all the colors in the rainbow at O'Reilly. Would Permatex Ultra Black be good, or is there something much better? O'Reilly across the street has the Ultra Black in stock, along with several others. The guy in the store called their resident mechanic back at O'Reilly HQ or wherever, and he recommended something in a spray can. (!!!) I declined.

Help?

 

[Keno1542]

Ultra black will work fine, it has the highest oil resistance of the rtv colors if I recall correctly. I would use the rtv as the FSM says, some people may get away without using it. If Mazda put it in the FSM and all the cars rolling off the assembly line, there must be a good reason.

 

[MrGiggles]

OK, I bought an inch-pound twerk wrench, I've got my Fel-Pro gasket+grommets, and I've got an upcoming day where it's going to warm up a bit... I have read both sides that RTV is and isn't needed, but the shop manual says it is needed, so I will want to add four pea-sized blobs as indicated in the manual near the cam seals - especially if I pull the cover and see sealant from the factory. The question is, which RTV sealant to use? There are all the colors in the rainbow at O'Reilly. Would Permatex Ultra Black be good, or is there something much better? O'Reilly across the street has the Ultra Black in stock, along with several others. The guy in the store called their resident mechanic back at O'Reilly HQ or wherever, and he recommended something in a spray can. (!!!) I declined.

Help?

When I spoke with a Permatex rep a few years ago, he said when in doubt, use Ultra Grey. Although you will most likely be fine with either product. It's cheaper at Walmart, BTW.

Some Fel-Pro kits include sealant, you might check yours first before buying some.

 

[katapaltes]

Thank, guys. I got the Ultra Black as it was in stock. I put four small blobs in as directed. I'm letting it cure now, a process that will take a bit longer since it's cold... But since it's just small blobs, it shouldn't need too much time. The link below is what I found when I removed the valve cover. Hopefully, stopping the oil leak from this point forward will preserve my timing belt for a bit more...

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/show...hanging-the-timing-belt&p=6426149#post6426149

I wonder if I can replace that upper timing cover without taking the whole valve cover back off or any other parts like belts off. Does anyone know? If I can't replace it easily, I'm just going to leave it.
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