I purchased new V/C gaskets a while back and just put them on today.
I did a search for torque specs and found a thread that says NOT to use the gray ones. Well that's the ones that I have and since I already had the valve covers back on the truck before I decided to search for torque specs I left them on.
What's the reason for not using the gray gaskets?
Also I read that over torqueing the bolts will cause the gaskets to leak as bad as not to being tight enough.
The V/C bolts have a sleeve that bottoms out at the head, would the torque specs be more concern for twisting off the bolt and not so much concern for the gasket?
Just wondering out loud now.

 

The shop I paid to do my valve adjustment and timing (disclaimer: this was a LONG time ago ), replaced my old ones with the grey ones. I never had a problem, until I had to clearance my valve covers for the new head studs, and I over tightened #1 and it tore the gasket. I probably had 30,000 miles on them. I say run them. Worst case scenario, NAPA sells the black ones individually.

MIke

 

IIRC, the torque is 18 ft/lbs.

I've noticed on my truck, that the grey gaskets are a single use gasket. Any time I've tried to reuse them, they leaked. They get hard where they touch the head, and don't seal properly.

The grey ones are marine grade, IIRC.

 

That's all Cummins sells now are the grey valve cover gaskets. They are silicone and reuseable. Torque to 18ftlbs.

 

I'm with Bill on this one, I've also seen that Cummins is only selling the gray silicone gaskets, and eliminating the black rubber ones.

Rick

 

I've had grey on for 10,000k no problems. My mechanic says these are better than the blacks, and though he is not the final say on everything, he is right so much of the time I trust him. He only works on these things 50hrs. a week.

 

Well Kewl!!!
I feel better now.
Mine came from Cummins.

 

The engine on my 95 was recently completely resealed and they used grey ones on it. No leaks. My 96 has the black ones on it and they are leaking. So I'll proly be putting the grey ones on it soon.

 

Use the grey ones! The problem when reusing them is they tend to expand some and are hard to get back on the valve cover. Just pop them in the frezer for an hour and presto, they are back to size and ready for reuse.

The grey gaskets are the better part, just a bit more picky to install after they have been used.

Don~

 

I have the Grey too. I was told these are the updated/revised ones. Black ones are done.

 

i have the grey one's too, and have put prolly 5,000 miles on them, they still look new, just went to florida and back... seem to be good... no cracks or tears or nothin

 

The grey ones is all that Cummins has, even Napa's gaskets are made by Cummins and they are dark grey but same silicone gaskets too.
They work fine, as long as you're not like me where I'm always taking off my valve covers tweaking things, then they become a PITA to reuse, and I don't care for them.

DiPaco is the only company still making the old black rubber gaskets. I like the black ones, the way I see it neither one lasts me forever anyway, but the black ones hold their shape and are easier to reuse.

 

Greys from Cummins Bridgeway here

 

cummins bridgeway rocks... mostly cause they are so close to home

 

Grey from cummins here as well and mine had been on for a year and a half with no leaks, ijust replaced them when i replaced my head. There are O rings around the vc bolts as well and the bolts bottom out on a shoulder.