Reuse valve cover gaskets

[Jersey_M3]

Might be a dumb question but can I reuse my current valve cover gasket if doing a valve adjustment or do I need to rebuy another one. Current one (OEM) is 2 years old and only has 18,000 miles on it. I seem to remember they are good for 100,000 miles. Could be wrong

[Cubieman]

If it isn't leaking go ahead a re-use it.

[Tbonem3]

You can reuse once or twice. Just put some red rtv on the half moons and seam on the right side (driver, looking at it).

[Cubieman]

You can reuse once or twice. Just put some red rtv on the half moons and seam on the right side (driver, looking at it).

Let's say you take it off 3 times in a one month, maybe 100 miles driven total, would you run the risk of a leak re-using it then?
I may have to go back in and replace parts individually on my vanos in an effort to pinpoint root cause of my issue so its possible I will be taking the valve cover off more than twice in a short time frame.
Also, I should have done the RTV in the half moons but didn't, just some Toyota FIPG in the vanos/head seams.

[eacmen]

If it feels hard and rigid change it. If it still feels pliable then safe to reuse,

[M3Bob]

If it feels hard and rigid change it. If it still feels pliable then safe to reuse,

This. It’s not how many times you take it off, it’s how degraded the material gets after prolonged exposure to (heat I would guess....)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tbonem3]

Right, would def reuse, Cubie. When I said once or twice, that's for <60k valve insp. So new gasket, 60k (or less) later, valve insp or vanos work, don't need to buy a new one yet. Though if you have fcpeuro, may as well.

[TexaZ3]

Just clean it well, the gasket and the groove on the cover.

[MathewM3]

I have reused OEM gaskets multiple times. Doesn't seem to be a problem at all.

Aftermarket gaskets seems to start leaking after a few thousand miles.

[sapote]

If it feels hard and rigid change it. If it still feels pliable then safe to reuse,

+1. Make sure to add a thin sealant over the seams of VANOS/head and the half moon. but don't use too thick or this cause uneven surfaces and leak.