NorCalZman
02-04-2014, 09:18 AM
Saw this thread at e46fanatics. The guy who does Beisan posted this. I JUST had my VCG done last week. They used Elring which I am fine with but if I had seen this I would have insisted on BMW VCG. Ah well. Next time. Thoughts?
As most of you know valve cover gaskets fail causing oil leakage. They also harden and can be difficult to remove. This is because they are made from Buna synthetic rubber. Buna has a temperature ratting of 212F, but really starts degrading before this. Over time the engine temperature hardens it. Buna is also not compatible with synthetic oil. This leaches from it it's elasticity and further causes it to harden and fail.
The correct material to use is Viton rubber. This has a temperature ratting of 400F and is compatible with synthetic oil. BMW uses it on the E46 M3 valve cover gaskets and it works very well.
Recently when performing a repair I tested the OEM valve cover gaskets and bolt grommets and found they were Viton. I purchased valve cover gaskets and bolt grommets for the i6 single and double vanos engines and v8 engine, including upper timing cover gaskets and solenoid gasket, and tested them. They are now all Viton where they were all Buna before. I know because I had tested them all before.
I believe all the aftermarket gaskets are Buna.
Gloeckler is the OEM valve cover gaskets and bolt grommets manufacturer. But this is not usually available aftermarket.
Given this info I suggest only using OEM valve cover gaskets and bolt grommets. With Viton these should essentially last for the life of the car.
It's really great BMW made this change and applied it to the older cars.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1023859
As most of you know valve cover gaskets fail causing oil leakage. They also harden and can be difficult to remove. This is because they are made from Buna synthetic rubber. Buna has a temperature ratting of 212F, but really starts degrading before this. Over time the engine temperature hardens it. Buna is also not compatible with synthetic oil. This leaches from it it's elasticity and further causes it to harden and fail.
The correct material to use is Viton rubber. This has a temperature ratting of 400F and is compatible with synthetic oil. BMW uses it on the E46 M3 valve cover gaskets and it works very well.
Recently when performing a repair I tested the OEM valve cover gaskets and bolt grommets and found they were Viton. I purchased valve cover gaskets and bolt grommets for the i6 single and double vanos engines and v8 engine, including upper timing cover gaskets and solenoid gasket, and tested them. They are now all Viton where they were all Buna before. I know because I had tested them all before.
I believe all the aftermarket gaskets are Buna.
Gloeckler is the OEM valve cover gaskets and bolt grommets manufacturer. But this is not usually available aftermarket.
Given this info I suggest only using OEM valve cover gaskets and bolt grommets. With Viton these should essentially last for the life of the car.
It's really great BMW made this change and applied it to the older cars.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=1023859