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jbbugs
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2002
Posts: 2193
Location: Behind the wheel
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 Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 2:19 pm Post subject: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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Has anyone been having leaking issues with Brand New, German Stock valve cover gaskets?
I've been using the German ones that come in the 25-count bundles for the past 40 Years at my shop. I have always glued them to the Stock valve covers with 3M super weather strip adhesive, and have never had a problem with them leaking until about a year ago. Still getting them from a few different suppliers.
Now, every pair I've either installed OR sold to customers have had the same annoying leak issue.
I've tried:
*Not gluing them in
*Dry
* A skim of grease
*RTV(which I hate doing)
Nothing seems to work.
Anyone else having these issues?
I'm thinking the gaskets are being made either thinner, or possibly a different material, although they still look and feel the same to me.
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toxicavenger70
Samba Member
Joined: July 28, 2019
Posts: 883
Location: CO
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 2:38 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| The last bundle I bought of the corks them seemed to be a little larger than the cover and less dense. But after gluing them I have gotten them to seal. |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 23531
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| jbbugs wrote: |
Has anyone been having leaking issues with Brand New, German Stock valve cover gaskets?
I've been using the German ones that come in the 25-count bundles for the past 40 Years at my shop. I have always glued them to the Stock valve covers with 3M super weather strip adhesive, and have never had a problem with them leaking until about a year ago. Still getting them from a few different suppliers.
Now, every pair I've either installed OR sold to customers have had the same annoying leak issue.
I've tried:
*Not gluing them in
*Dry
* A skim of grease
*RTV(which I hate doing)
Nothing seems to work.
Anyone else having these issues?
I'm thinking the gaskets are being made either thinner, or possibly a different material, although they still look and feel the same to me. |
It's a combination of material and construction method. I cannot directly speak to our VW valve cover gaskets.....but I have clients that have been using the EXACT same rubberized cork material for different products.
Rubberized cork is made from granulated natural (and sometimes synthetic) cork. They have different size grains of cork. Different grades. They are then blended with specific rubbers ranging from natural rubber to Neoprene to nitrile and even to acetate blends that are similar to rubber cement.
What we have been seeing is a range of problems from wrong or inconsistent granule size, or what seems to be the wrong base rubber mixture or just poor mixing meaning there are voids and pores in it.
We have also found contaminants in the cork which may mean some of the cork is recycled.
There are more than a handful of manufacturers on this continent. But I do not know if everything they sell is made here. A lot of this stuff is coming from third world countries because the amount of vapors and air quality issues with making rubberized anything affects the price.
Ray |
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vwracerdave
Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2004
Posts: 15605
Location: Deep in the 405
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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I've noticed the same thing the last few years. To me it looks like the gaskets are a little thinner than they used to be, which would mean the bales do not fit as tight as they used to.
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jbbugs
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2002
Posts: 2193
Location: Behind the wheel
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 3:43 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| vwracerdave wrote: |
| I've noticed the same thing the last few years. To me it looks like the gaskets are a little thinner than they used to be, which would mean the bales do not fit as tight as they used to. |
That's what I've been thinking.
The manufacturer probably figured they could save money using less material.
_________________
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73' Super Beetle Champcar Endurance Roadracer
Patina my ass, that's a Rust Bucket! |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 23531
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 4:11 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| jbbugs wrote: |
| vwracerdave wrote: |
| I've noticed the same thing the last few years. To me it looks like the gaskets are a little thinner than they used to be, which would mean the bales do not fit as tight as they used to. |
That's what I've been thinking.
The manufacturer probably figured they could save money using less material. |
That, or depending on what rubber was used or how much.....they may simply shrink as they outgas.
Have you noticed any distortion to them?
Ray |
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modok
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009
Posts: 27754
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 4:28 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| What are we dissing? are they elring or another brand? |
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stevemariott
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2003
Posts: 1124
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 4:47 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| toxicavenger70 wrote: |
| The last bundle I bought of the corks them seemed to be a little larger than the cover and less dense. But after gluing them I have gotten them to seal. |
The Victor Reinz gaskets I bought locally were like this when I installed them - a little large, and a little thin. Glued in with Permatex Aviation they seem okay, but they don't fit the stock OE VW valve cover very well.
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oprn
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016
Posts: 15274
Location: Western Canada
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| jbbugs wrote: |
| vwracerdave wrote: |
| I've noticed the same thing the last few years. To me it looks like the gaskets are a little thinner than they used to be, which would mean the bales do not fit as tight as they used to. |
That's what I've been thinking.
The manufacturer probably figured they could save money using less material. |
| stevemariott wrote: |
| toxicavenger70 wrote: |
| The last bundle I bought of the corks them seemed to be a little larger than the cover and less dense. But after gluing them I have gotten them to seal. |
The Victor Reinz gaskets I bought locally were like this when I installed them - a little large, and a little thin. Glued in with Permatex Aviation they seem okay, but they don't fit the stock OE VW valve cover very well. |
^^^Yes! All of the above!^^^
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 80546
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 5:25 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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I've only use Elring and never had a problem.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
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עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
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mcmscott
Samba Member
Joined: March 12, 2010
Posts: 4946
Location: sanger ca
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| Glenn wrote: |
| I've only use Elring and never had a problem. |
Well, Kliff Klaven says differently, and that is also why your wife is cheating on you and your dog only craps by the kitchen pantry door.
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 80546
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| mcmscott wrote: |
| Glenn wrote: |
| I've only use Elring and never had a problem. |
Well, Kliff Klaven says differently, and that is also why your wife is cheating on you and your dog only craps by the kitchen pantry door. |
OK... huh?
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי |
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jbbugs
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2002
Posts: 2193
Location: Behind the wheel
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 6:41 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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Not sure what the name brand is on the German bundled ones.
I’ll have to look into it.
I Did just try a set of reusable, red silicone gaskets from CIP1.
I didn’t get a chance to drive the vehicle before the owner picked it up.
_________________
Drag bus! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MOVmKdhX4
69 OG paint Transporter
73' Super Beetle Champcar Endurance Roadracer
Patina my ass, that's a Rust Bucket! |
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Bryan67
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2003
Posts: 2962
Location: Fresno, Ca.
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 7:55 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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I`ve had excellent luck with the silicone gaskets that Wolfsburg West sells. Not cheap, but they have stopped leaks.
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Don Jones
Samba Member
Joined: April 09, 2020
Posts: 227
Location: Makaha, Hawaii
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 9:59 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| Using Scat ss valve covers. I glue the gasket to the cover with rtv and apply a thin coat of grease to the side that will mate with the head. Covers been off and on 6 times and still holding. |
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bsairhead
Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2008
Posts: 4569
Location: viroqua wi.
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| Posted: Tue May 02, 2023 11:57 pm Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| Try soaking your cork gaskets in your used oil before you install them. |
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madmike
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005
Posts: 5300
Location: Atlanta,Michigan
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| Posted: Thu May 04, 2023 4:15 am Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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The last stack of gaskets I picked up at a Swap meet were kind of thin too ,I can pull the bale up in place by hand  yepper they leaked too 
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Marcdeb
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2019
Posts: 3268
Location: Vermont
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| Posted: Thu May 04, 2023 5:25 am Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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I just happen to have a few old sets that date back to the 80's or so and thought I would compare them to some new elrings gaskets I just bought recently.
On the left is the 30+ year old NOS aftermarket IAPCO gasket made in Germany that I just opened. It had been sealed tight until today.
On the right is a new elring. Clearly they are very different. The old gaskets have more fine particles. The elring has a mixture of fine and large particles, very inconsistent. When comparing the edges, the NOS has a black tar like appearance where as the elring looks the same as it's flat edge. The elring is actually just .08mm thicker.
I have not tested either one but my bet is that the old stock will be better than the elring. I will be putting the old ones on later this spring and report back.
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Marc
68 Karmann Ghia Cabrio Autostick
71 Karmann Ghia Cabrio
Previously Owned:
2011 VW EOS Hard Top Conv
2008 Saab 9-3 2.0T Conv
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2001 Saab 9-3 Conv
1998 BMW 3 Series Conv
1997 Saab 900 Conv
1997 Mazda Miata
68 Ghia Vert Survivor with 22,350 miles: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=768107&highlight=
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slalombuggy
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010
Posts: 9340
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu May 04, 2023 5:27 am Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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| I have Revmaster C channel covers on 2 engines and on the engine with stock covers I glue 2 gaskets together so they fit tight. I use the SCAT brand gaskets. |
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jbbugs
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2002
Posts: 2193
Location: Behind the wheel
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| Posted: Thu May 04, 2023 7:51 am Post subject: Re: Inferior Valve cover gaskets? |
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I've had issues with Elring, and these german bundled ones.
_________________
Drag bus! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MOVmKdhX4
69 OG paint Transporter
73' Super Beetle Champcar Endurance Roadracer
Patina my ass, that's a Rust Bucket! |
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