QUESTION
I read somewhere that the cork cam cover gasket could be dispensed with on a Lotus twin cam engine if the correct sealant was used.
What is your experience in this area?
M.W. - Sorrento, Victoria
ANSWER
I would suggest if Lotus could have built the Lotus twin cam engine without a cam cover gasket, they would have done so and made a cost saving.
The gasket is there for good reason - to allow easy access for servicing purposes.
A useful tip - If sealant is applied to the cylinder head upper face only then the cover maybe periodically removed without damaging the gasket.
From experience many cam covers are not perfectly flat so the gasket compensates for this.
The cam cover cam be checked for flatness by placing it on top of the cylinder head without a gasket.
If the cam cover is not flat and true then it will rock when finger pressure is applied on top.
If the cam cover is badly distorted then it should be carefully machined so the contact surfaces are perfectly flat once more.
Installing a cork gasket is useful as it allows slight movement created by the temperature gradient between the cylinder head and cam cover.
As the cam cover is such an odd shape it will tend to move in different directions as it is temperature cycled.
Hence a cork gasket is the correct solution in this application.
Copyright © 2014 Lotus Marques
I read somewhere that the cork cam cover gasket could be dispensed with on a Lotus twin cam engine if the correct sealant was used.
What is your experience in this area?
M.W. - Sorrento, Victoria
ANSWER
I would suggest if Lotus could have built the Lotus twin cam engine without a cam cover gasket, they would have done so and made a cost saving.
The gasket is there for good reason - to allow easy access for servicing purposes.
A useful tip - If sealant is applied to the cylinder head upper face only then the cover maybe periodically removed without damaging the gasket.
From experience many cam covers are not perfectly flat so the gasket compensates for this.
The cam cover cam be checked for flatness by placing it on top of the cylinder head without a gasket.
If the cam cover is not flat and true then it will rock when finger pressure is applied on top.
If the cam cover is badly distorted then it should be carefully machined so the contact surfaces are perfectly flat once more.
Installing a cork gasket is useful as it allows slight movement created by the temperature gradient between the cylinder head and cam cover.
As the cam cover is such an odd shape it will tend to move in different directions as it is temperature cycled.
Hence a cork gasket is the correct solution in this application.
Copyright © 2014 Lotus Marques
