Leaking valve covers

[Mrbill]

What’s the trick to stopping valve covers from leaking?

[leshoman]

I used 3/16” thick cork gasket material and siliconed gasket to valve cover and wiped clean engine head side then applied light coat oil and put them in place.  make sure surfaces are flat and smooth

[Mrbill]

Thanks Les!

[Mrbill]

What kind of Silicone do you use?  Mine are still leaking.

[Mrbill]

I purchased cork gaskets from Jbugs, cut to size, and used 411 glue and accelerator.  (Search YouTube videos for how to make a 1/2 VW gasket).  I used gray gasket maker, clothes pins and pinned it in place to the valve cover and left to dry 24 hrs.  I then used gray gasket maker on the engine side, replaced the valve cover and reattached the bale, and let dry for 24 hrs.  Turns out the main issue was back pressure in my catch can.  I didn't have enough holes drilled so it would build up pressure and leak. Simple solution, drill more holes.