Hi
Looked through the guide for replacing the gasket for the valve cover on Honda Accord, year model 1992
( https://honda-tech.com/how-tos/a/hon...-gasket-374912 )

It mentioned you need to put RTV sealant on four corners of the gasket (not sure why), but I am unsure of what kind of brand could be used as RTV sealant. It seems the geniune RTV sealant from Honda is hard to get ahold of and rather expensive as well. What other options could be used?

 

Permatex ultra grey RTV is all I have ever used and I have had 0 issues with it.

The reason you need to use a dab of RTV at those 4 locations is because the seam of the cam caps meet head at that same as the corner location of the silicon gasket. Don't need much more than a small dab. But trust me, if you figure you can do with out, it will start leaking eventually and cause a mess.

 

Very good advice ghost. From experience lol, those are always the leaky point of that particular gasket

 

That's lovely. Tried to look for that brand here. I am not sure if this is the correct brand as I could not find ULTRA gray, but I found something called SUPRA gray

https://www.permatex.eu/product/supr...-gasket-maker/

 

They are one in the same if you compare the specifications. More than likely just branded differently in EU (Supra) than here in North America (Ultra).

 

Seems like quite expensive to only use a "dab". Are there any other alternative brands that would function as well?

 

Well if you lived local I would spare ya a couple dabs without question. You could check around local shops or neighbours to see if they might have an open tube in their garage that could share.

 

Sorry for the delay in replying. I tried browsing to find a RTV from Permatex, Supra Gray. Seems to be hard to acqire however, not sure where to find this.

I saw a shop selling Supra BLUE, but I am not sure if that is good enough for the purpose here.

In a video guide there was even someone using another brand in black color. Not really sure what the colors have in common.

 

You are looking for an RTV with the following specs;

• Remains flexible and is resistant to oils, cooling and shop fluids
  
• Temperature range -65°F to 500°F (-54°C to 260°C) intermittent
  
• Applications: Valve covers, oil pans, intake manifold end seals, timing covers, water pumps, thermostat housings
  

 

Permatex RTV should be available from any parts store. I got some from Advance the other day.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/223577135511

My local repair shop posted this on their shop. But not sure how reliable the brand is. Says made in China, in case that could be bad or good, not sure.

I don't live in the US, but Europe.

 

I think you are overthinking it. As ghost said

"You are looking for an RTV with the following specs;

• Remains flexible and is resistant to oils, cooling and shop fluids
• Temperature range -65°F to 500°F (-54°C to 260°C) intermittent
• Applications: Valve covers, oil pans, intake manifold end seals, timing covers, water pumps, thermostat housings"

 

That is a bit much for heat resistance but it hits all of the check boxes, it is more than enough for what you are doing.

 

This is what the auto parts guy suggested for the job, i used it, Been several months with no issues. Not very expensive if i remember correctly.

Edit: by the way, i used it at the points where the gasket makes a sharp 90° turn , like the hump behind the cam timing belt sprocket and on the other side, opposite.

 

Permatex ultra black is a good one size fits all. Never had issues at all

Same for the equivalent loctite etc etc etc

 

I think the Permatex is be twice as expensive with the shipping compared to the Visbella I found from the local repair shop, it's unfortunate they cannot offer Permatex though as you all mentions it here. I don't know how well that brand works being less expensive. Maybe it contains more carcinogens.

 

this thread seems to be spinning in circles. Just use whatever is available locally, I am sure it is fine!

 

At this point, I would have used some kitchen & bath clear silicon caulking and called it a day......