Would you reuse this valve cover gasket

[fizeus]

I replaced my old valve cover gaskets and after this job I found oil leaks, probably because a partially bent valve cover that the previous mechanic glued with liquidgasket (or similar product) and also because a non-perfect cleaning of the surfaces.
Today I resurfaced the valve covers and extensively cleaned the valve tower lips.

Now can I reuse those gaskets ? (see photo below)
They are basically new: they have just 4 hours of normal driving and about 100 KMs.

I'd like to avoid new leaks, so if necessary I'll replace those gaskets with new ones.

[fizeus]

Sorry, I forgot to insert image of the gaskets :-)

[db_cooper]

I would replace them..after all the work why take a chance? If the covers were warped..the gaskets may not seal very well anyways.

[DRACO A5OG]

If silicon, just clean ( do not use heavy solvent ) and reuse unless you torqued them over 45 INCH lbs.

[Trackrash]

IF you could get them clean and IF they are not compressed, you MIGHT be OK.

For the money, probably not worth it, IMO.

[T77911S]

4hrs and 100km of driving on those gaskets??
you have bigger issues than gaskets if that's 4hrs of driving.

DO NOT over tighten the nuts with these gaskets,. if the gasket squeezes out then they are too tight. if you think the nuts are too lose they are not,
you can always snug them a little more if it leaks.

[911pcars]

The silicone gaskets are known to be reusable. Don't overtighten. Same with factory type gaskets.

I'm not good in predicting things like this. Install valve cover, add oil, run engine, then observe.

[MBAtarga]

After the use of the gasket sealer by your mechanic - I'd ditch them. They look as if they were overtorqued since the material shows compression around the stud locations especially since they are "fresh."

[blpetry]

The esteemed Mr John Walker doesn't use them, so neither do I... The stock gaskets work fine for me when properly torqued.

[esample]

No. I never reuse gaskets. Why risk it for a few dollars? They'll have to be replaced sometime, why not now? YMMV.

-e.

[Neilk]

On that note, what is the difference between the $34 Wrightwood Racing gasket set and the $50 one on this page on Pelican?

[fizeus]

Ok... thank you all for your replies.... I opted to replace them hoping to not see anymore oil leaks from the valve cover... as told cover surfaces was bent and this was really visible only when the surface was put on glass.... also there where a big mess with the gasket glue paste used by previous mechanic.
Resurfacing the valve covers took me about 5 hours of hand work (started with 180 wet sanding finished with 800 grit sandpaper).
So after all this work I placed new gasket... and also new washers and new nylocks....
Torqued by hand and checked with a small torque wrench at about 6n/m.
Let's hope oil will stop to leak...

Originally Posted by T77911S

4hrs and 100km of driving on those gaskets??
you have bigger issues than gaskets if that's 4hrs of driving.
.

I think you're right... my big problem has a name: job and family.
I haven't found a specific chapter in Wayne 101 projects book to fix it ! :-D
Hope to see soon a new version maybe called 102 projects

[T77911S]

did you get the reusable ones again?

NO squeeze of the gasket. I don't use a torque wrench. I cant express how light the nuts are tightened. once on, if it leaks just snug them a little more.

do you have the turbo valve covers? if not, they would be a good investment.

[fizeus]

Truly I do not know if the standard original porsche gaskets are reusable or not ...
Anyway I oiled both sides of the gaskets before installing and I hope they will not broke in pieces the next time I'll open valve covers.

I'm still using original valve covers, I suppose they are magnesium made and not the turbo valve covers ... I know that are a good upgrade but I prefer to keep them as they are the original "period correct" covers of the 73 T euro model ...

You can blame me but I chose to prefer originality above functionality.

[juanbenae]

they's cheap. why fiddle around? stone flat the valve covers some every time they's come off in my garage.

[manbridge 74]

I went back to the mag covers after seeing a real RSR with them up close. They are lighter and once flat they don't leak with new gaskets. Maybe not a good idea if still using thermal reactors/heavy traffic etc.

But I'm seriously a Porsche contrarian when it comes to some of the hive think around here and have been baselining my car back to near stock or period factory mods for some time.

[Guardsred911]

put new gaskets on (Wrightwood Racing from our host), and getting a good amount of leaks... is it possible/feasible to loosen and then retorque to less? used a torque wrench but still dripping good... tried to slightly torque more, but no real noticeable difference....

[fizeus]

Originally Posted by Guardsred911

put new gaskets on (Wrightwood Racing from our host), and getting a good amount of leaks... is it possible/feasible to loosen and then retorque to less? used a torque wrench but still dripping good... tried to slightly torque more, but no real noticeable difference....

I had to resurface my valve covers, and with a new set of original gasket torqued to spec (10N/M) i have no more leaks... And ths car has been parked 2 weeks ago.

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by fizeus

Truly I do not know if the standard original porsche gaskets are reusable or not ...
Anyway I oiled both sides of the gaskets before installing and I hope they will not broke in pieces the next time I'll open valve covers.

I'm still using original valve covers, I suppose they are magnesium made and not the turbo valve covers ... I know that are a good upgrade but I prefer to keep them as they are the original "period correct" covers of the 73 T euro model ...

You can blame me but I chose to prefer originality above functionality.

nothing wrong with keeping original parts while upgrading, such as valve covers.
my brother still has all the OE from his 930 even though he has done some upgrades/removed junk. (smog junk).
box up the old ones and get new ones.

[Flojo]

never reuse seals. no matter if your a plumper, mechanic or whatever job needs use of gaskets/seals.