Engine Gasket Replacement

The original gasket

Was barely intact when I got the van. It was a melting pot of various glues and adhesives applied throught its 30+ lifespan. Covering and uncovering the engine compartment required a great detail of attention to make sure the gasket stayed in place and formed a tight seal.

Removing & Cleaning

The original gasket came right out with a gentle tug, signaling how overdue the gasket was for replacement. The lip around the engine compartment could easily be cleaned with elbow grease, a little gas, and time.

The new gasket

from busdepot.com was close to a drop in replacement. I picked up some gasket sealant from autozone and was able to tack it into place. Unfortunately, the cooler weather prevented the sealant from really drying. A few hours later, we used a hairdryer to see if that could help things dry up, and it made the sealant much more tacky. We used some duct tape to hold down some tricky spots while the gasket dried in place. Since the original gasket was slightly wider, we filled the excess space with some silicon caulk. The sealant took about 2 weeks to fully dry in the 30-40 degree fall weather. Once dry, the engine hatch was put back in place and formed a tight seal.