I have a rear main seal, a valve cover gasket, and a oil pan gasket that I am going to have to seal up when I get the job done. The valve cover gasket is a cork one, and the other two are the felpro rubber looking ones. Is there a sealant that will work on both types?

 

Dont bother with a cork valve cover gasket. Get the Felpro. No sealant needed.

 

I already bought it so I was just going to use it instead of waiting another 2 weeks for another one to come in :P

 

Any other suggestions?

 

Wait for the FelPro. Throw the cork in the trash.

Oil pan? RTV is fine.

 

^^ bingo.... as others have said, it's worth your wait and the little extra expense to use the right one. Not just because no use of sealer... it's a much better gasket. And as mentioned, RTV. just get the right one.

 

The oil pan gasket uses no RTV except at the 90* corners and it's a dab.

 

figured you'd pop in on this one too Cruiser

Is the oil pan one on the XJ's similar to the "good" quality valve cover one? so that it seals without really needing to use anything else? (except where you mentioned at the 90* corners)? Just curious

 

Yes it is. I actually reused one with 175K on it and it's gone another 70K!!!!

 

Another vote for the above advice: use the felpro gaskets. Ditch the cork. (even though my FelPro "all the gaskets" kit came with a couple…)


Also, not to open a can of worms, OP, but how's your rear main seal holding up? If you're already dropping the pan, you'd be mad to not at least inspect it.

Again (if needed), the FelPro brand seal kit is your friend. You'll need some anaerobic RTV for a few critical spots on the seal—expensive, yet, but necessary. Here's a ready-made write-up on the WHOLE procedure (oil pan and rear main seal)— for a TJ, but mostly still applicable to the XJ. He's showing a lot more rtv on the pan, but I'd listen to Cruiser and use just a touch of it on the spots he mentioned.

Checking the main seal will also give you a picture on how your main bearings are doing.

 

Thank you guys! I will ditch the cork and wait for the felpro!