Reusable valve cover gaskets ?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 238
Likes: 52
From: Western ny
Reusable valve cover gaskets ?
What is the expected life of these? My truck is 20 yrs old and I have no history on it, so they could be original. Should I have OEM replacement or replacements on hand before pulling valve covers to do the 51 cent mod and torque things.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,353
Likes: 5,946
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
They are reusable as long as they are serviceable. Great answer right...
Basically, if the sealing surface is not brittle and still provides a good seal for the union of the head and the valve cover, they are serviceable.
If the pins/contacts that serve as a passthrough connection for the injectors and glow plugs are clean, not burnt, not loose and show no signs of wear, they are serviceable.
I replaced my gaskets in 2018 on my 2000 because the previous owner had a Dorman installed on the driver side and I wanted a fresh platform to start from when I was installing new glow plugs. If you decide to go with new gaskets, get International/Motorcraft and purchase from a reputable source. Even then check them very closely before installing them. There was a bad run of gaskets coming out and being sold by International a while back. I believe they sorted that out by now, but there might still be a few out there.
I hope this helps.
Basically, if the sealing surface is not brittle and still provides a good seal for the union of the head and the valve cover, they are serviceable.
If the pins/contacts that serve as a passthrough connection for the injectors and glow plugs are clean, not burnt, not loose and show no signs of wear, they are serviceable.
I replaced my gaskets in 2018 on my 2000 because the previous owner had a Dorman installed on the driver side and I wanted a fresh platform to start from when I was installing new glow plugs. If you decide to go with new gaskets, get International/Motorcraft and purchase from a reputable source. Even then check them very closely before installing them. There was a bad run of gaskets coming out and being sold by International a while back. I believe they sorted that out by now, but there might still be a few out there.
I hope this helps.
Super Moderator
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 13,315
Likes: 6,094
I have a 2000 model year, built within a month of Sous's truck.
I got by for 20 years without ever touching the valve covers, and was hoping to go another 20 years, if for no other reason than just to be able to mutter a toothless grunt from my wheelchair in the corner of the bingo room "I drove that 'ol truck 40 years and never touched a valve cover."
But alas, the harness connector wiggle out (the common issue that the infamous 50 cent mod is intended to address) finally got me, so in 2020 I popped the valve covers to install the International shim kit in the connectors.
While I was at it, I installed new Beru / Motorcraft glow plugs, but I reused the original production valve cover gaskets, now in their 22nd year of service.
I got by for 20 years without ever touching the valve covers, and was hoping to go another 20 years, if for no other reason than just to be able to mutter a toothless grunt from my wheelchair in the corner of the bingo room "I drove that 'ol truck 40 years and never touched a valve cover."
But alas, the harness connector wiggle out (the common issue that the infamous 50 cent mod is intended to address) finally got me, so in 2020 I popped the valve covers to install the International shim kit in the connectors.
While I was at it, I installed new Beru / Motorcraft glow plugs, but I reused the original production valve cover gaskets, now in their 22nd year of service.
More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 544
Likes: 213
From: UT
Check the sheathing on the wires inside....I have helped people change out glow plugs and noticed several wires that were missing the sheathing in spots. I advised them to get new harnesses at that point.....don't want to risk a short on the road.
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