Timing cover gasket - dressing or not.

[adamnreeves]

When I last installed a timing cover it used a plain paper gasket and I used a gasket dressing, the blue stuff. Even though I had read somewhere that gasket dressing was not required.

Anyway installed my new timing cover tonight and the gasket I had was a much better design, it had sort of impregnated gasket dressing or sealant, the other side was plain but it was black not buff coloured. I have therfore thought I do not need to use gasket dressing for this.

The water pump gasket was kind of like grey paper, I used as gasket dressing.

[ChrisJC]

I've never used any kind of sealant on timing cover / water pump gaskets. There shouldn't be any need.

However I do on the rubber valley gaskets, and on the bolt threads on the distributor clamping bracket.

Chris.