Cam cover gasket 4200

niels42spyder

New Member
Messages
23
I just pulled off all the stuff to change rhe cam cover gaskets. Got the set from superperformance. Discovered there’s a thicker bead of rubber around every spot where the bolts go through. The original gasket doesnt have this. Due to the set up of the cam cover the gasket gets twisted a little. Do I have the wrong gasket or do i need to bolt it on with some additional liquid gasket? 58079
 

niels42spyder

New Member
Messages
23
Its on the inside of the cover where the rubber is extra thick. The cover itself also has an aluminum ring slightly lower than on the outside.
 

hladun

Member
Messages
149
The gasket looks fine. Don't use gasket sealer because this is more like an o-ring. Use the high temp silicone sealer and put a bead in the cam cover channel and then on the gasket face that sits on the head. The sealer in the channel will also keep the gasket in place when you put it in.

Also, if the gasket on the engine front leaks you can clean the mating grove and then smear on some sealant. Doesn't look great when the car is on a hoist but it stops the leaks without having to take the front of the engine apart.
 
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niels42spyder

New Member
Messages
23
Tx with hight temp you mean dirko High, which will harden or more like Curil T which stays soft.

My doubts were especially around that extra bead around the holes on the insead it just doesnt stick flat without screwing together
 

hladun

Member
Messages
149
The sealant that should be used is one that stays flexible and has good adherence.

Concerning the pictures above, when I did my gaskets several years ago (no leaks since) I had to trim the gasket to fit. The gasket in the picture and the one I got don't fit the cam covers. But hey they're Italian!
 

niels42spyder

New Member
Messages
23
Ok many thanks for all the help, now I understand why to use the silicon sealant. I’ve tried to push all in to go for a dry mount. The rubber gasket itself should be able to move a little I thought (hence my question regarding the curilT).

Arguably I’m making to much fuss about it. However it took me hours to take the stuff of as Ive also tried to not take off the secondary air rail. Which is not possible I discovered. o_O

Honestly Maserati is Italian with capital I. Unpredictable, beautifull and challenging :)
 

hladun

Member
Messages
149
Yes, the problem here is it's too fancy. The rubber gasket hardens from the heat. It can't be compressed by tightening because of the feet on the cam cover. So then it leaks.
 

niels42spyder

New Member
Messages
23
Tx for the help. Got all in without the rubber ring with permatex red. Took too much hours because it was the first time and I lost too much stuff dropping down, though worth the experience.

Somehow I wasn’t carefull enough in the end and a small piece of metal from a hose clamp dropped behind the engine. Stupid mistake I know but thats too late now :) Could not locate it so far. Is it a big issue when it dropped though the hole at the friction discs?