All set to change out both inner and outer valve cover gasket on the DOHC engine today. Got the parts earlier in the week - I ordered the Elring 271393, which is alleged to be the OEM gasket.

Opened up the boxes last night, and dicovered that the online source I used advertised Elring, but sent - you guessed it - Scan Tech. Okay, I thought, I give it a try.

After I got the cover and the old gaskets off, I found out that the "comparable" Scan Tech does not work. I was expecting an outer gasket with a couple of rounded up sections at the ends, to go over the cam carriers. What I got was a completely flat gasket. Okay, I thought, maybe the flat gasket will adapt and curve nicely over the cam ends. Nope. Even a slight bend cracks and breaks the gasket.

I called the local Volvo dealer parts department, and was told, yeah, we have it in stock. Of course, when I got there, they didn't have it in stock. (Nor does any Volvo dealer or parts store withing 50 miles.) The parts guy did have the exploded print, though, and the picture of the gasket definitely had the humps where the cam ends are.

Am I missing something? Is it a flat gasket that supposed to curve/adapt to fit, or does the proper gasket have the curves already? The nature of the material on the Scan Tech seems to suggest that it's not meant to be bent or even slightly curved.

Is this what you got?

http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exec/product_id/15342/nm/1989_1990_Volvo_740_16_Valve_Valve_Cover_Gasket_Kit/category_id/125
--
Post Back. That's whats makes this forum work.

Same picture, but from here.

http://www.eeuroparts.com/Main/PartDetail.aspx?id=271393

I know the 8 valve gasket comes flat and it does curve to fit. Not sure of the quality of scan tech. It is recommended to use some gasket sealer at those points where it curves.
--
Post Back. That's whats makes this forum work.

I tried to very gently mold the gasket into the cover, and as soon as I began to push it into the recess for the cam end, it snapped. There is absolutely no pliability. If indeed it is a flat piece meant to be molded into shape, then this gasket must be old and dried out.

So, this simple twenty minute job just turned into a three day rest for the car - the earliest I can get the gasket from the dealer is Tuesday. As I mentioned, the exploded view print the dealer has shows definite curves in the gasket.

Thanks for your input.

I have replaced this gasket several times, as I was repalceing the head. Gasket always came flat and bent easily. Last one was an Elring from FCP Groton.
Maybe it was old or got overheated in storage?
--
84 242Ti IPD bars&springs, 89 745 16v M46 IPD bars, 89 744 16v M46 IPD bars, 90 745 AW70, 91 245SE AW70 IPD bars, 93 245 CLassic M47

That's my guess - thing split and borke with even mild bending pressure.

I had to get the car back on the road, and I couldn't find the gasket locally last weekend, so I took a shot and used the old gasket outer gasket. A little RTV where the old gasket looked suspect, and it works fine for now, no leaks.