V6 Rocker Cover Gasket

[amclean]

My front rocker cover gasket is leaking oil. When I had the cam/rocker cover off before I noticed someone had used the pink type gasket sealant on it when it had been refitted. I've ordered a new one, should I fit it to the rocker cover with or without any gasket sealant?

Thanks
Alan

[Pud237]

If its a genuine Alfa rocker cover gasket you've ordered then it shouldn't need sealant.

[amclean]

OK thanks Dan, yes it's a genuine Alfa part, bit pricey at £38.46, should've checked online before ordering from local Fiat dealer.

[Pud237]

That is fairly pricey but there's no cheap source of genuine stuff these days, its all still more expensive than pattern. But the pattern camcover gaskets don't really seal very well, so I always recommend genuine ones.

[amclean]

One last question on this Dan if you don't mind - when you lift off the cam cover, you tend to disturb the layer of dust/dirt/oxidised alu alloy around that joint. How do you ensure that crud doesn't drop into the engine, do you clean it with a stiff brush and compressed air or similar?
Alan

[Pud237]

Yeah a wire brush & air blower before lifting the cover off will get rid of it. They're usually not as bad as you descibe though, but it depends how long the cover has been on for.

[amclean]

OK thanks mate. Dirt got in last time I had the cover off, and it took a bit of time to try and get it all out.