10 Things to Consider When Buying Valve Gasket Seals

13 Apr.,2024

 

Installation Tool

On some applications, the valve stem seals are interchangeable between the intake and exhaust valves and will look exactly the same. On applications which use different seals on the intake and exhaust valves, due to needing higher temperature material on the exhaust side or different design, the seals will be bagged and labeled appropriately.

An installation tool is included in Fel-Pro valve stem seal (VS) sets. This tool is a thin plastic sleeve which is placed over the tip of each valve stem during installation. It protects the inner lip of the seal from damage by the lock grooves in the valve stem.

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The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be used in lieu of seeking professional advice from a certified technician or mechanic. We encourage you to consult with a certified technician or mechanic if you have specific questions or concerns relating to any of the topics covered herein. Under no circumstances will we be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any content.

Just remember that rubber is NOT compressible ... it deforms ... and if it gets squeezed too much, then it splits apart. typically, rubber can only be squeezed no more than about 30% of its thickness, then it splits apart.

Cork-rubber material is truly "compressible" and forgives to some imperfections in mating surfaces. I favor the steel cored cork-rubber designs -- they hold their shape, offer compressibility and can be re-used a few times; no need for adhesives (always be careful when using RTV silicone -- too much and it will cause problems such as entering inside the engine, or acting as a slippery grease that allows the gasket to mis-align under compression/squeezing.

I'm a former gasket engineer from a major company and I wrote all the installation instructions.


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10 Things to Consider When Buying Valve Gasket Seals

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