Liquid gasket on the valve cover?

I noticed that the manual says to use liquid gasket on the rubber plugs but doesn't mention using it on the valve cover gasket itself.

Is there any reason NOT to use it all the way around before putting the cover back on?

You could use gasket sealer, except that every time you pulled the valve cover, you'd have to clean (= scrape) both the head and cover. The engine cover that comes off the most is the valve cover...so, by using sealer, you may be making work for yourself.

Well that makes sense. Will the gasket alone keep the oil from leaking out there?

Use three bond same as honda and yamaha bond ,, works great and comes off easy if you should need to do that ,, it is the best for motorcycles , I have tried them all .. Really

The gasket alone should prevent leaks...but, as Shoe48 suggested, if you still have a leak, Threebond will greatly aid in cutting down that leak (I also use the product, but on other engine covers). The key is to use a new valve cover gasket every time (rephrased, don't reuse old gaskets)

cool, thanks.

Which one of these is recommended?

www.threebond.com/LGasket.html

No need to ever use sealer on a gasket if you clean the surfaces good. The way I do it is put Yamabond #4 on the cam end plugs and just a little on top of each cam end plug out a little ways each way on the head. Bolt the cover on then next time it's removed all 4 corners are held in place and the gasket stays on the head. Never leaks even after many times off/on.

Little B wrote:

Well that makes sense. Will the gasket alone keep the oil from leaking out there?

Theoretically, it will if both surfaces are clean and smooth.

On mine, I always use a thin line of black Ultra High temp RTV across the areas where the plugs are because they used to always leak oil if I didn't. On the flat metal-to-metal surfaces, gasket alone will usually work.

RonKZ650 wrote:

No need to ever use sealer on a gasket if you clean the surfaces good.

Depends. On mine, the problem is that across the plugs, the rubber surface the gasket is pushing down on is much softer than the aluminum so where the plugs are the gasket would develop a "step" down there.... and the edge of the step would always leak oil.

lately, I make my own gaskets out of thinner material (1/32") which reduces the step effect. I still use RTV across the tops of the plugs to keep them from leaking just in case.