So as long as I'm right there replacing other stuff I might as well replace the valve cover gasket. I go to Auto Zone. It's 5 minutes from the house and the Jeep dealer is 45 minutes one way. I figure it may be the same FelPro vendor anyway right?

Remove the valve cover no problem, really straight forward operation. The new gasket looks a little cheesy but ok. I pop out the old really nice metal sleeved rubber grommets in the old old cover and open the bag of
replacement grommets and find these piece of **** plastic ones with a the 3 little **** that are supposed to hold them in place. Right...

Anyone else replace a valve cover lately? If so what brand and did it leak around the bolt holes if its a felpro?

Think I should pick up a valve cover gasket at the dealer just for the what ifs?

I'm going to the dealer for a fan drive tomorrow anyway... thanks in advance for any info.

 

I'd LOOK at the gasket the dealer has and then decide. Are you saying the new gasket you got is leaking? Or speculating that it will?

 

FWIW:
When I did my VCG 2 months ago, I encountered the same problem with the crappy plastic bolt hole dealies. They looked so fragile and delicate. I decided I would be more confident with the metal ones that were already in the cover, they were still in decent shape and the fitment was identical as far as sitting flush with a good seal. I used the new felpro gasket with the old metal bolt hole dealies and tightened the bolts to the correct torque. It hasn't leaked in 2 months and I drive over 12000ft mountain passes to get to the desert heat and play. I never took the metal dealies out of my cover though so I'm not sure what shape yours might be in.

The hot rod green hi-temp paint may have helped a lil too...

 

I did my gasket. Took the metal sleeves out of the old grommets and put them in the new plastic dealies. The gasket I got was a felpro rubber one with the metal core

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So any leaks???

 

Just did mine yesterday, used a felpro. I felt a little sketch about the plastic gromets as well, but after everything was torqued down i felt more confident. I cant say anything about leaks yet though because i washed the engine and am giving it a day or so to dry. The jeep isnt my daily so its all good.

Sent from my htc evo on the Cherokee Forum app. I haz teh technologiez

 

Judging from past experience, the fact that I'm Irish and more than likely related to Murphy, I thinking it might. The old gasket wasn't leaking a drop but I like to do the periodical maintenance so I don't have any surprises on the road. Probably not the most cost effective way to go but I did get to see the rocker assembly. It is really clean for a 50,000 mile motor. I love those government maintenance programs!

The Jeep has been sitting for two weeks because incorrect parts, parts availability, etc. Once I get the fan clutch I should be able to fire it up and go...I hope.

 

if you keep up on mechanical things they stay up and running

 

No leaks.

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I may re-install my old ones depending on what I find at the dealer.

 

Cool!

 

That's my theory anyway and sounds like yours too. It also helps with the things you don't expect to see. While you're in there doing the PM's it gives me the chance to look other things over as well.

 

I did the same, saved the FelPro replacement pieces in a jar.. just incase i needed them another time.

I "think" the dealer only sells the new grommets with a valve cover assembly. Not inclusive with the gasket.

 

I'm of the same mind when it comes to "while I'm in there." I'm about to do new brakes and hub assemblies and I figured I'm almost to the U joints so I might as well just do those too. so I ordered them with the rest of the stuff! Plus I wanna see what the inside of the axle looks like, having not been in there before...

To stay on topic though, I'd keep an eye on the bolt torque for a week or two after you change the VC. Mine started to get a little loose on the back few bolts by the firewall. I re-torqued them once and they seem to be holding steady now with no leaks. I was expecting a little seepage cuz it seems like every XJ i've seen seeps a little around the gasket, but mine hasn't even done that yet...

 

I felt the same way about the felpro grommets on first glance, until I looked closer. You need to take the metal bushing out of the grommets on the old one and put them into the new ones that come with the kit.

They still don't look meaty enough to me, but if the bolts are tightened properly, the gasket should do all the sealing.