Valve Cover Gasket Replacement

[Paul]

O.k., I've searched but not found a post on this: my valve covers (both) seem to be seeping oil at the rear of the engine, more so on passenger side. I've tightened the bolts and degreased, but it's back now. Car has 84,000 on the clock and is 5 years old. I'm going SC in a month or so (centrifugal).
Should I replace the gaskets with new?
When I put on new gaskets, should I use gasket sealer/silicone, or just place the new gasket on a clean dry surface?
I've seen a Fel-Pro rubber gasket with steel core set on Rockauto and Summit racing which includes spark plug tube grommets. Is this the best, or is there something better?
Thanks all.

[Zack]

There is an allen plug on the back of the heads that buttons up an oil galley.
Check that first.

[Blackmobile]

O.k., I've searched but not found a post on this: my valve covers (both) seem to be seeping oil at the rear of the engine, more so on passenger side. I've tightened the bolts and degreased, but it's back now. Car has 84,000 on the clock and is 5 years old. I'm going SC in a month or so (centrifugal).

Should I replace the gaskets with new?
When I put on new gaskets, should I use gasket sealer/silicone, or just place the new gasket on a clean dry surface?
I've seen a Fel-Pro rubber gasket with steel core set on Rockauto and Summit racing which includes spark plug tube grommets. Is this the best, or is there something better?Thanks all.

I'm going to go through the same process, but I'm going to clear coat the covers to make them worthy enough for the pretty SC components.

[BigCars4Ever]

Also a clogged pcv valve can force oil out of an otherwise good gasket. At 80K miles I would replace it anyways.

[Paul]

Thanks guys. I'll check the allen plug and the PCV valve first. Any opinions on the gasket set brand? Any "best in class" high performance options to prefer?

[fastblackmerc]

The original "gasket" is actually an O ring. Reuse the old one if it's in good shape or get new ones from a Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer or a FLAPS.

[larryo340]

Also a clogged pcv valve can force oil out of an otherwise good gasket. At 80K miles I would replace it anyways.
That's just what I was thinking.

That happened alot on the 5.0L back in the '80s and very early '90s. FORD used those **** screens under the PCV, and if you didn't replace it those leaks will come back pretty quicly.

[Zack]

I doubt its the gasket.
If it is, get it at the Ford parts counter

[BigCars4Ever]

That's just what I was thinking.

That happened alot on the 5.0L back in the '80s and very early '90s. FORD used those **** screens under the PCV, and if you didn't replace it those leaks will come back pretty quicly.

I still have a couple somewhere in my garage from my 87 Grand Marquis! Had to drill a hole into the carbon and use a slide hammer to extract the original one. It was only after that did I realize that the back gasket section had been blown clean off the engine and had to remove the intake anyways.