 What is the best adhesive to secure cork gaskets to the valve covers? |
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| Geezer914 |
 Nov 26 2025, 05:34 PM
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#1
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Geezer914  Group: Members Posts: 2,138 Joined: 18-March 09 From: Salem, NJ Member No.: 10,179 Region Association: North East States 
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Looking for the best adhesive to glue the cork gaskets to the valve covers? What is everyone using? Thanks.
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| rjames |
Nov 26 2025, 05:40 PM
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#2
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I'm made of metal Group: Members Posts: 4,408 Joined: 24-July 05 From: Shoreline, WA Member No.: 4,467 Region Association: Pacific Northwest
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I go the opposite route. I just make sure the surface is clean and the gasket is where it should be. I've never had leaks and I've been using the same gaskets for a while now, too.
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| brant |
Nov 26 2025, 06:09 PM
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#3
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 12,098 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Colorado Member No.: 47 Region Association: Rocky Mountains 
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I don’t like to use glue either
And haven’t tried see it for 40 years If you must use glue Gasket-Cinch would be the best product |
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| Ninja |
Nov 26 2025, 06:17 PM
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#4
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 27 Joined: 25-September 25 From: Granbury Texas Member No.: 29,004 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I use 3M yellow trim adhesive (Gorilla snot) between the VC and gasket and Smurf grease (Sta-lube marine) between the gasket and head. I'll reuse a cork gasket multiple times this way.
The Gorilla snot is a PIA to clean up/remove if you have to do it again. This is overkill for most, but I've seldom had issues with leaks this way. The type 4 VCG are pretty good by themselves. Wait till you have a cork gasket on an American straight 6 with few hold down bolts; that is when the Gorilla snot shines... The new-fangled aluminum cored silicone gaskets solved lots of issues IMO. I haven't seen that type of gasket for VW air-cooled stuff yet. |
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| Root_Werks |
Nov 26 2025, 06:45 PM
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#5
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Village Idiot Group: Members Posts: 8,853 Joined: 25-May 04 From: About 5NM from Canada Member No.: 2,105 Region Association: Pacific Northwest
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QUOTE(rjames @ Nov 26 2025, 03:40 PM)  I go the opposite route. I just make sure the surface is clean and the gasket is where it should be. I've never had leaks and I've been using the same gaskets for a while now, too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Shouldn't need anything with cork. If the gaskets don't fit, probably not a decent brand. |
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| IronHillRestorations |
Nov 26 2025, 06:46 PM
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#6
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I. I. R. C. Group: Members Posts: 6,891 Joined: 18-March 03 From: West TN Member No.: 439 Region Association: None
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Be sure to inspect the valve covers and the sealing surface for flatness, gouges, dings, or pitting; all that could cause leaks. I’ve had to resort to adhesive and/or RTV for last resort for leakers, but I don’t like to do it. If you use RTV you don’t want to over do it and get it inside the engine.
I’ve also added extra gaskets tabs to hold the gasket in place. 914Rubber sells gaskets that are just a little thicker, which are nice. |
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| JamesM |
Nov 26 2025, 07:32 PM
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#7
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,156 Joined: 6-April 06 From: Kearns, UT Member No.: 5,834 Region Association: Intermountain Region |
QUOTE(brant @ Nov 26 2025, 05:09 PM) I don’t like to use glue either And haven’t tried see it for 40 years If you must use glue Gasket-Cinch would be the best product (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) That^ Also define "best", I mean you could technically epoxy your valve covers on for the best seal, you would just never be adjusting your valves again. Problems I have with a lot of the silicone based RTV/whatever sealants people tend to throw on there are 1. It works fine until it doesn't and when the seal breaks its worse than not having used anything in the first place. 2. cleanup and reapplication is a nightmare. Gasgacinch (and I usually only put it on the valve cover side) or nothing. |
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| bkrantz |
Nov 26 2025, 08:33 PM
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#8
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 8,535 Joined: 3-August 19 From: SW Colorado Member No.: 23,343 Region Association: Rocky Mountains
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A million years ago I used 3M green "elephant snot" adhesive. So far my 21st century 914 experience uses no glue.
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| emerygt350 |
Nov 26 2025, 08:38 PM
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#9
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 3,398 Joined: 20-July 21 From: Upstate, NY Member No.: 25,740 Region Association: North East States |
I think getting the gasket to sit still while you put the valve cover on is the problem for me with leaks. I use that red stuff as a glue, not a sealant. On my car I find the thick cork leaks, the cheap renz works better. I also suspect with the steel valve covers each car is going to behave a little differently.
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| FlacaProductions |
Nov 26 2025, 09:19 PM
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#10
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,093 Joined: 24-November 17 From: LA Member No.: 21,628 Region Association: Southern California
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The extra thick cork from 914rubber are fine but they were actually too thick for me.
Standard Victor Reinz with Gaskacinch between the gasket and the valve cover only. https://a.co/d/4g9wN7m |
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