Cottontail
Three-De Off-Road
- Location
- Nashville, TN
I replaced the OEM gasket in the XJ with an aftermarket of the same kind. It is the rubber gasket with the metal strand running though the middle.
The OEM set up had metal "eyelets" that were on the top of the pan for the screws to feed though. The aftermarket had plastic ones. Not having a torque wrench, I tightened them down until they were tight. Afterwards I noticed that the plastic eyelets were compressed.
I was told that snug is good enough on a valve cover, but have I compromised anything by making them tight to the first turn on the socket wrench? I tend to think no, becuase the gasket is a seperate entity and it is fully compressed now between the engine and the cover. But then again I know that some gaskets can be compromised by overtightening...such as the tranny pan gasket.
Thoughts?
The OEM set up had metal "eyelets" that were on the top of the pan for the screws to feed though. The aftermarket had plastic ones. Not having a torque wrench, I tightened them down until they were tight. Afterwards I noticed that the plastic eyelets were compressed.
I was told that snug is good enough on a valve cover, but have I compromised anything by making them tight to the first turn on the socket wrench? I tend to think no, becuase the gasket is a seperate entity and it is fully compressed now between the engine and the cover. But then again I know that some gaskets can be compromised by overtightening...such as the tranny pan gasket.
Thoughts?