Valve cover gasket - regular or silicone?

[Sojourner]

After reading BassCliff's site it would appear that the reusable silicone gaskets are a nice-to-have since us 16v owners need to check clearances as part of our regular 4000 mile maintenance. After doing a search however, t would appear that some members have less than favorable experiences with the reusable silicone gaskets- namely with leaks.

So seeing as how I am going to be checking mine on my new (to me) GS1100E, I'm just trying to determine which route to go. Normal OEM gasket or a reusable silicone one?

Thanks in advance!

[Tim Tom]

I have used two Real Gaskets on my bike. Both of them leaked. The second one leaked quite badly to the point where I would loose a quart of oil every 200 miles or so. Replaced it with an OEM gasket and has been leak free since.

[Flatline_Racing]

Also silicone gaskets are too thick if your tach drive mounts in the valve cover. You end up ruining the gears because they don't mesh fully

[teedubya56]

I have a RealGasket on my GS1100GK. Have had no problems - leak or otherwise.

[7981GS]

I have a RealGasket on my GS1100GK. Have had no problems - leak or otherwise.

How many heat cycles?

Eric

[bwringer]

For your engine, no.

Do NOT use a Realgasket on any engine with the tach drive in the valve cover. I think this means most or all of the 16V engines. The thickness of the gasket is critical on these engines, so use OEM only -- most, if not all, aftermarket gaskets are too thin or too thick.The 16V engines also have very skinny edges where the gasket sits, so a Realgasket is more prone to "squirt" out.

I used a Realgasket on my GS850G for over 60,000 miles (yes, that's at least 15 valve checks) with no problems.

I switched to a regular OEM gasket because I installed new half-moons, and it turned out that the Realgasket couldn't develop enough pressure to seat the half-moon seals properly.

I've been re-using the same OEM gasket ever since -- just checked the valves again yesterday, in fact. I've lost track, but it's been off and on at least six times. It still works fine, but if it ever tears or deteriorates, I'll pull my old Realgasket out of the Ziploc bag it's stored in and slap it back on -- the half-moons are nicely squished now.

If you FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS and can understand the difference between inch-pounds and foot-pounds, Realgaskets will pretty much last indefinitely.

[Badooka]

I've always favored the silicone on my car motor rebuilds, but in the case of my GS- it was 25$ down the tube. Leaked like a bugger. Wasn't happy with the company's answer as well. On a GS my input is OEM- leak free.

[teedubya56]

How many heat cycles?

Eric

Don't know - several - about 2000 miles.

[DanTheMan]

RealGaskets on both my 850 and the 1100. Many miles on both. Don't overtighten them, you'll be fine.

[MAJikMARCer]

Like it or not I have to use the OEM gasket due to my tach gear being on the valve cover. Intellectually I can see the value of a silicone gasket though.

[1980GS1000E]

I would really love to try one of the reusable gaskets, but I am uneasy about the light torque required. If there was a system to keep it from crushing while applying the proper torque specs for those bolts, such as several dowel pins or spacers integrated in there somehow, I would be sold. Oh, and the color.

[DanTheMan]

I like the orange color, makes people think I used that silicone gasket maker, then they try it and there are more questions answer about how come their bike is so messed up.......

[salty_monk]

I used one... It was ok the first couple of times I removed the cover but eventually it leaked. I didn't like the finger tight bolts either.
I use OEM or aftermarket now... Put grease on them to stop them sticking

[btbarb]

Switched to a Real Gasket about 300 miles ago, no leaks, no issues.

[SVSooke]

Someone said Realgakets will not sell you one for a in cover tach drive engine because of the problems it causes.Went OEM on the 1000 and OEM on the 750 is reusable