Any input on the absolut need to purchase OEM? I'm looking to check and adjust my valves if needed and will be replacing the valve cover gasket, grommets, and spark plug tube seals, I can get this set from rock auto for $20.00 or purchase individual OEM gaskets for like $0.00, obvi I don't want to spend 60 on rubbers if I don't have too.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...&jsn=12&jsn=12

Same with the Vtec solenoid gasket.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...=1432635&jsn=9

 

Those parts are cheaper but OEM lasts longer. The valve cover gasket kit is like $50, but will last years. I reused the same OEM seals for 3 valve adjustments before it started seeping. I doubt those cheap kits will do the same.

 

For the VTEC solenoid gasket get the Kraken set. They actually include both gaskets. Even Honda just sells one of them (I am thinking the other comes with a new solenoid but am not sure). Most everyone goes with this route for the VTEC solenoid.

 

Mahle and Reinz make decent quality gaskets. Maybe not as good as OEM, but 95% as good. Is use them, no problems so far.
The Kraken gaskets are unavailable...

 

The Kraken VTEC gasket set is available at the link I posted. Can be shipped today.

 

It shows as unavailable if you have shipping adress outside of US.

 

Well that would explain it! That kind of sucks. I guess someone could order it and ship it to the guy, but that may be more expensive overall than just ordering the other one. Just sucks that a lot of the other options only include one of the 2 gaskets.

 

That explains it. Thanks. I was never thinking about this possibilty...

 

The first time at around 40K (I think) when I performed my first valve inspection/adjust (I have a 2009) I re-used the all the seals. The second time at about 60K I purchased new tube seals and cover gasket from a Honda dealer. Turns out the tube seals were in such good shape I did not bother replacing those but I did swap out the cover seal to feel better about things. The old one was in decent shape but not as plump as the new one.

 

This will be the first time I have inspected the valves, the car has 105k miles and I'm low key stressed. Part of me says if anything catastrophic was going to happen it already would have, fingers crossed. That being said, now that I discovered the need for these to be monitored throughout the life of the car I'm 110% going to check!