i am just about to refit my cam cover, and i am wondering waht sealant to use?

when i removed it the cam cover gasket came off in one piece, and feels kinda metally? i'm thinking it maybe a cometic but i can bet sure.

i take it i can get new half moon seals from ford?

just wondering what other tricks people use as it does look like mine had some silicon sealant on it too, and definately did over the half moon seals.

anyone know how to recognise a cometic gasket?

cheers

 

would be very very suprised if you could still et half moons from fords

matt

 

use specific automotive sealent .. apply it in vary small amounts .. once it squishes out it will end up falling off and going everywhere inside the engine

 

i may fit it without the sealant if this is better idea?

i asked about the half moons as mine are covered in clear sealant

 

when i fit the half moons in mine i just put a blob on each end so it seals against the gasket

 

not supposed to be siliconed except for the half moons

 

half moons should be still available the thing to watch when fitting the new gasket is when you tighten down the cover the gasket can tend to spread at the fwd corners in at the cam bearings due to the new half moons compressing and forcing the gasket outwards.you can avoid this by puting a very very light skim of sealant on the metal surface of the head and sit the gasket into position making sure that it fits snug into the bearing corners (i think there is little locaters on the gasket) then let it set.
next put the half moons in position on the head and put a dab of sealant in the same corners because this is where it will leak, then tighten the cover down evenly bit by bit in a pattern like a head bolt sequence.when all done after its been running check in the spark plug cavities because if the gasket leaks in there it will fill up and cause a weeeee missfire and the n when you go to remove the plug the oil pores into the piston

 

cheers guys

any ideas on how to tell if its a cometic gasket?

seems rather stiff so it shoudnt spread out when compressed

will go to fords this afternoon and try and get half moons