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The market for composite engine oil sealing components, such as valve covers and oil pans, continues to expand, replacing traditional metal stamping and die casting materials. As the market for these composite components grows, so must the understanding of the material performance characteristics and the relationship of these characteristics to the design of the part. Unlike metals, composites are viscoelastic in nature, exhibiting time-temperature dependant properties. Therefore, the traditional design approach utilizing static property data to predict long-term performance under load and over a wide temperature range will not sufficiently characterize the nonlinear property response of polymeric-based composites. A robust composite sealing design requires complete materials characterization, including long-term creep performance as a function of temperature, loading, and cycling.