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Sat Aug 03, 2024 4:37 pm

Seriously CIP1!
What is up?
Response from customer service when ordered gaskets all buckled due to them being oversized...I guess
" I have spoken with my engine tech and he told me that all the gaskets tend to do that. You can apply a small amount of rtv adhesive to hold the gasket in place, let it dry and then install."

Pair from local auto parts store.

Some things I just don't get like why my valve covers keep leaking!

Sat Aug 03, 2024 6:09 pm

I bought a 10 pack of Elring brand valve cover gaskets from CIP1 a few years ago and they too were oversized and buckled like yours. Their response to my complaint was also “use glue or RTV”. However, I just bought a 25 pack of Elring valve cover gaskets from them last week and they fit perfectly.

Sat Aug 03, 2024 10:01 pm

I've always used the elring valve cover gaskets and they tend to do that just a bit. There's kind of a magic science to putting on valve cover gaskets from what I've gathered!! The pair I just put on this week were Elring; I used Hylomar universal blue to make them tacky enough to stay put on the valve cover.

Sun Aug 04, 2024 5:53 pm

Or ... just get the reusable silicone gaskets. My experience has been that they fit well, seal well and save time (no cleaning, scraping, prepping with sealer ... just install them dry). Yes, yes ... they are quite a bit more expensive than the cork and neoprene gaskets, but they can be used over and over and over again. Just another option to consider.

Sun Aug 04, 2024 8:17 pm

I've bought nice fitting top brand valve cover gaskets that fit well over the years. I had never glued them to the valve covers over the past 40 years. I then had one move up while driving down the freeway causing a decent leak despite the bails being tight.
Now? I just glue them to the valve covers as insurance that that doesn't happen again. A few extra minutes to glue them in or to remove the old gasket and re-glue in a new one is worth it to me. :wink:

Sun Aug 04, 2024 9:22 pm

I’ve been using the VS 26062 C Blue Striped FelPro gaskets, as posted above. They have been working just fine for me. I get them from my local Autozone for $8/pair. I use Permatex Aviation to adhere them to the covers.

Mon Aug 05, 2024 7:49 am

Just curious, are your valve covers original vw stamped?
When I bought my car, a previous owner had replaced only one of the valve covers with an aftermarket reproduction. Gasket set fit fine on the genuine VW side, and buckled same as yours on the aftermarket.
Issue may be with the covers, and not the gaskets. Just a thought.
That being said, it looks like there are gaskets being made which fit better with aftermarket covers, which I was unaware of.

Mon Aug 05, 2024 11:53 am

Poor storage will render cork gaskets misshapen or crumbly dry and useless. The cork gaskets should be glued in to prevent gasket creep. Some genuine VW valve covers have a short raised ridge inside to prevent gasket sag at the top center, a desirable feature.
The silicone gaskets seemed like a great idea but are more slippery and can also shift and leak. BTDT, had a mess. Too slippery to glue. A better solution would be a reusable silicone gasket with an embedded thin metal reinforcement to maintain the shape and prevent gasket creep. But if that existed, would people pony up for it?

Mon Aug 05, 2024 2:19 pm

I bought a set of silicone gaskets, I don't remember where from. And the swelled so bad oil was dripping all over of the maybe second drive.
Replaced with a pair of neoprene from jbugs and so far so good, only a few drives but a lot more hours!

I'm not a fan of cork, they should be glued and sealed, then replaced every time

Mon Aug 05, 2024 2:20 pm

Awesome powdercoat has the gaskets with steel center glued to cork

https://www.awesomepowdercoat.com/vw-sandwich-gaskets

Mon Aug 05, 2024 4:59 pm

chrisflstf wrote: Awesome powdercoat has the gaskets with steel center glued to cork

https://www.awesomepowdercoat.com/vw-sandwich-gaskets
Awsome! Thanks for posting that link. :D
When ACN closed operations down. I thought that was the end of the supply chain for those metal/cork sandwich valve cover gaskets.

Tue Aug 06, 2024 4:53 pm

Thanks for the link. Checking on international shipping.
Still leaking out the bottom. Based on the indentation I’m guessing the bung is not tight enough….