Vanos gasket w/ sealant?

[Cubieman]

I am trying to decide if it might be a good idea to add a bit of RTV sealant to the Vanos gasket on either side of it. Any tips?
I've got some of the Toyota FIPG as well as Loctite 5970 RTV. My new vanos gasket has a very small nick in it so I am thinking some RTV or new gasket might have to happen.

[r4dr]

Nah.

Just follow the Beisan instructions, don’t overthink it.

[Icecream]

Nah.

Just follow the Beisan instructions, don’t overthink it.

His is nicked. I'd get a new one unless you must drive the car now. Otherwise yeah, I would put some on there.

[Cubieman]

His is nicked. I'd get a new one unless you must drive the car now. Otherwise yeah, I would put some on there.

Just going to play it safe and get a new one, its 30° here w/ snow anyways, no rush.

[eacmen]

I usually put a very small amount of fipg around the lower left mounting bolt head area. IMO Its a common leak point.

[heinzboehmer]

I usually put a very small amount of fipg around the lower left mounting bolt head area. IMO Its a common leak point.

Yeah mine leaked in that area as well and I had to go back in and add some fipg.

[Cubieman]

How about up top around the mounting dowels?

[eacmen]

How about up top around the mounting dowels?

I have not had a leak there. I do put some fipg over the gap between the head and vanos. But that is valve cover gasket not vanos gasket.

[sapote]

I usually put a very small amount of fipg around the lower left mounting bolt head area. IMO Its a common leak point.

This is needed only if the oil leaked pass the gasket. I would investigate why the gasket is leaking.

However, the the top bolts through the dowel pins do need some sealant at the bolt head to be bulletproof.

[eacmen]

This is needed only if the oil leaked pass the gasket. I would investigate why the gasket is leaking.

However, the the top bolts through the dowel pins do need some sealant at the bolt head to be bulletproof.

Sorry the way i wrote that was ambiguous. I put it on the head mating surface around the hole where that bolt would thread in, not on the bolt itself.

I scrubbed both the head and vanos mating surfaces with red 3M pad and they were spotless. VANOS gasket was brand new. Still got a leak there. Very thin layer of FIPG sealed it up well and has held up to track abuse. I was very hesitant to try and tighten down that bolt more since I already stripped the threads on one of the other VANOS bolts and had to do a timesert. Its possible there was not enough clamping force but I had a recently calibrated CDI torque wrench and used the Beisan torque specs.

Only other reason I can think of is maybe a warped mating surface on the head side.

[sapote]

I was very hesitant to try and tighten down that bolt more .

I would stick with the torque spec. and add a thin sealant as you did as needed.