Hello, all I have done many repairs but I have yet to do a valve cover gasket change. A few questions for all of you so for the half moons where do you apply RTV to? Also do I have everything from this list, 2x valve cover gasket 4x spark plug gaskets, 4x half moons. Also do I need to replace the rubber bolt bushings?

Thanks,

Ike

 

yep. RTV on the half moons and wipe excess off. be sure to clean mating areas before re sealing. rubber bolts? be ready for a lot of oil if not drained prior to cover removal. GL!

Edit: Rubber bushing on cover bolts: Id say replace as well. its a "why not" part to replace at the low price

 

Yeah I totally forgot the rubber bolt bushings also is the dealer RTV good or any other brands?

 

I used grey RTV from O'Reilly when I rebuilt. No leaks so far at 10k. Some say toyota RTV is best. Others have had no problems with grey. Biggest thing is keepinflg clean while applying. One little dab of rtv gets in oil passage, major problems. Be sure.to wipe off excess. But ya, grey from Reily is just fine. Unless someonr with bad experience jump on thread and says so. Lol

 

Hahah yeah I will probably end up using O'Reilly. Also someone said to RTV corners of the valve cover gasket channel. I am thinking it could be good but I don't know.

 

Yes! You are very right. Tiny amountbof rtv goes on corners. I forget exact places. But google ken gilbert factory manuals and check fsm for specific spots

Edit..why is therenthat icon??

 

Lol idk I found a fourm somewhere that said to do the corners and pointed that out that was very helpful. BTW your in Los Altos!? I live in Sunnyvale and commute to Foothill.

 

Ya. Deff. download those manuals. Very helpful. Ya im in LA might have seen my dark blue BRP RP in that area. Lol

 

Lol hey it seems like either I can't find the manual for doing the valve cover or its not there. Just one more question where do I put rtv on the half moons? Do I do the sides facing the block or on the surface of the cover itself?

 

Impreza Manuals | ken-gilbert.com

What year is your car?

 

The one I'm doing it on is a 98 forester DOHC I think it should be similar to the early wrxs

 

Here's a 99 OB Leggy DOHC. in the pic you can see where the factory RTV was placed. on the half moons and around the front cam journal cap (hold in camshaft seal) This is where i resealed as well. hope it helps

 

Ok yeah that's an awesome photo super helpful. I doubt the half moons are leaking but considering its high mileage i might as well replace it. Oh ok I see just a dap of rtv on the inside and a bit more facing outwards of the heads.

 

You got it take out half moons, clean off old RTV from moon and head mating surface, reapply new RTV where old RTV was (bewtween moons curve and head surface), wipe off excess that squeezes to inside and outside of head and wipe it along the top of the moon to make sure you get all the places. then in the front, you can kind of see where the original RTV went in between the bolt hole and where cam sits. this is important. put RTV on other side of bolt hole and youll have leaks from that hole. not much at all. just a lil dab'll do ya.
also, LiC has some cool aluminum replacement half moons for the oem plastic ones

 

Thanks a bunch I already got all my parts from capitol subaru so I am ready to start tomarrow morning!