Camshaft Valley Seal

olaf · 09-30-2008, 10:13 AM

I am replacing my valve cover gasket as well as the cam tensioner gasket. Do I need to replace the camshaft valley seal too? What type of RTV should I use?

**Kris Hansen** · 09-30-2008, 10:19 AM

use a little RTV in the 90 degree corners where the VCG comes up and down onto the cam caps.

77'911 · 09-30-2008, 10:22 AM

Here's is the factory equivalent sealant. Both gaskets should come as a set(valve cover & valley).

olaf · 09-30-2008, 10:28 AM

Gotcha. I ordered a valve cover gasket kit from German Auto parts. So it will come with the valley seal? I forgot the cam tensioner gasket so I am going to swing by the dealer to pick that up today. I have the #3366 tool as well.

So I should put the valve cover gasket on dry? What does the Bentley recommend?

Can I substitute Permatex black or something like that? I can't justify paying $60 for the Audi sealant, lol, especially if it leaks!!!

MrGoodbytes · 09-30-2008, 11:15 AM

Nothing for the tensioners.

**Kris Hansen** · 09-30-2008, 11:41 AM

for the 'valley' or the area where the spark plugs live.

cparke · 09-30-2008, 11:42 AM

From GermanAutoParts.com for 1998 A4 V6 5V. I was about to ask to return it to them.

Stupid repair shop I asked to do the job wouldn't do the cam tensioner gaskets, saying simply they don't need to be changed. Lazy bast*rds!

Valve cover gasket sets from GermanAutoparts.com do not include any sealant.

77'911 · 09-30-2008, 11:52 AM

I generally stick with the factory sealant or Wurth. The valve cover gasket set should come with the gasket that fits around the sprak plug gallies in the head as well as the one that fits around the perimeter.
The cam tensioner gasket set should come with a metal gasket and the half-moon seal. I'm not close to my manual, but generally I degrease the contact areas for the tensioner completely. The gasket seems to work best with a very light coating of sealant on the hatched areas, corners of the VCG, corners of metal gasket, top & edges of half moon seal. You might see if you can obtain the torque spec for those bolts as its quite small and over torqing the bolts can cause leaks.
Regards

MrGoodbytes · 09-30-2008, 12:34 PM

olaf · 09-30-2008, 12:54 PM

My 1.8T valve cover kit came with the inner and outer gaskets. The outer one is a complete piece with a half-moon molded into it in one location. It looks like all I am missing is the cam tensioner gasket.

I'll use a little Permatex black on the verticals, but that is about it. I am not going to spend $60 on an oem sealant that leaks after 60k. What is that worth?

It really seems like you should do all of the gaskets at once. I am doing them all now as I have the whole front off the car to do the timing belt. My car has 83k. The gaskets are weeping and they look messy, so it is time to do them, but they don't drip oil.

09-30-2008, 10:19 AM	#2
Kris Hansen Chief of Goat control 2000 Audi A6 Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 66,549,243	It comes with the VCG. Don't use any silicone on the gaskets. I use a little gasket glue.. use a little RTV in the 90 degree corners where the VCG comes up and down onto the cam caps. __________________

09-30-2008, 10:28 AM	#4
olaf AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 259	can I use Permatex or equivalent? Gotcha. I ordered a valve cover gasket kit from German Auto parts. So it will come with the valley seal? I forgot the cam tensioner gasket so I am going to swing by the dealer to pick that up today. I have the #3366 tool as well. So I should put the valve cover gasket on dry? What does the Bentley recommend? Can I substitute Permatex black or something like that? I can't justify paying $60 for the Audi sealant, lol, especially if it leaks!!! __________________ -Olaf 99.5 GTI GLX 5spd 208k !!! 05 A4 Avant 1.8TQMS 64k 06 Chevy Colorado 4x4 5spd 53k

09-30-2008, 11:15 AM	#5
MrGoodbytes AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,469	Only thing in VCG set was a one piece gasket, for me at least. Nothing for the tensioners. __________________ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯2000 A4 2.8 quattro [ Tip \| Sport \| Xenon ]¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

09-30-2008, 11:41 AM	#6
Kris Hansen Chief of Goat control 2000 Audi A6 Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 66,549,243	The tensioners are a different kit. The VCG kit would be the outer gasket, and the one.. for the 'valley' or the area where the spark plugs live. __________________

09-30-2008, 11:42 AM	#7
cparke AudiWorld Senior Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 687	I have the cam tensioner gasket set, and I'm not going to use it From GermanAutoParts.com for 1998 A4 V6 5V. I was about to ask to return it to them. Stupid repair shop I asked to do the job wouldn't do the cam tensioner gaskets, saying simply they don't need to be changed. Lazy bast*rds! Valve cover gasket sets from GermanAutoparts.com do not include any sealant.

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09-30-2008, 10:22 AM	#3
77'911 Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2,593	a comment.... Here's is the factory equivalent sealant. Both gaskets should come as a set(valve cover & valley).

09-30-2008, 11:52 AM	#8
77'911 Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2,593	a response.... I generally stick with the factory sealant or Wurth. The valve cover gasket set should come with the gasket that fits around the sprak plug gallies in the head as well as the one that fits around the perimeter. The cam tensioner gasket set should come with a metal gasket and the half-moon seal. I'm not close to my manual, but generally I degrease the contact areas for the tensioner completely. The gasket seems to work best with a very light coating of sealant on the hatched areas, corners of the VCG, corners of metal gasket, top & edges of half moon seal. You might see if you can obtain the torque spec for those bolts as its quite small and over torqing the bolts can cause leaks. Regards

09-30-2008, 12:34 PM	#9
MrGoodbytes AudiWorld Super User Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,469	Oh yeah. Those came too. :D __________________ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯2000 A4 2.8 quattro [ Tip \| Sport \| Xenon ]¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

09-30-2008, 12:54 PM	#10
olaf AudiWorld Member Garage is empty, add now Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 259	a little Permatex black on the verticals + cam tensioner gasket My 1.8T valve cover kit came with the inner and outer gaskets. The outer one is a complete piece with a half-moon molded into it in one location. It looks like all I am missing is the cam tensioner gasket. I'll use a little Permatex black on the verticals, but that is about it. I am not going to spend $60 on an oem sealant that leaks after 60k. What is that worth? It really seems like you should do all of the gaskets at once. I am doing them all now as I have the whole front off the car to do the timing belt. My car has 83k. The gaskets are weeping and they look messy, so it is time to do them, but they don't drip oil. __________________ -Olaf 99.5 GTI GLX 5spd 208k !!! 05 A4 Avant 1.8TQMS 64k 06 Chevy Colorado 4x4 5spd 53k

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