Should you use sealant when replacing the rocker cover gasket?

[GOM]

Now then,

I will be replacing my rocker cover gasket soon (2004 3.0i) and after doing some research, am still not certain if you need to use some sealant at certain points or not.

Any advice is much appreciated!

Paul

[G600]

Just round the half moons at the front, mainly where there's a slight step in the head casting

[enuff_zed]

Agreed. There is a sharp angle where those half moons meet the flat part of the outer face and the seal has trouble pushing right into the corner. So a dab of sealant in those corners helps. Front and back I think.

[colb]

Blue Hylomar sealant applied around the half moon shapes front and rear of the cover where the gasket changes direction and between the Vanos between the two front half moons. Its detailed in the BMW TIS worksheet to do this when replacing the gasket.
Bolts torque is 11Nm.
Some models also have round rubber seals under the cover retaining bolts, these should also be replaced with the main and inner plug well gaskets when doing a replacement job. The round bolt seals go as hard as the main gaskets and need to be compressed to achieve a good seal.

[patriot66]

Ble Hylomar sealant applied around the half moon shapes front and rear of the cover where the gasket changes direction and between the Vanos between the two front half moons. Its detailed in the BMW TIS worksheet to do this when replacing the gasket.
Bolts torque is 11Nm.
Some models also have round rubber seals under the cover retaining bolts, these should also be replaced with the main and inner plug well gaskets when doing a replacement job. The round bolt seals go as hard as the main gaskets and need to be compressed to achieve a good seal.

Blue Hylomar ! Wow ! Proper old school Think back in the day my old Minis and Alfas were held together with that stuff

[G600]

Blue Hylomar ! Wow ! Proper old school Think back in the day my old Minis and Alfas were held together with that stuff

Not that old school, still used on jet engines!
I used high temp RTV for the gasket though

[colb]

Knew Blue Hylomar was used by Rolls Royce on their jet engines and have always used it on my cars without any issues, its only used around the half moon shapes on the cam cover, the rest of the gasket has a ribbed surface that provides a series of sealing points when its tightened down. Thats why its best to replace the round rubber seals under the cover retaining bolts so they compress and torque down the cover to ensure a good seal. The old seals will go hard with age and prevent a good seal being applied.

[GOM]

Excellent, thank you everyone for your responses!!