Cam cover gasket replacement

[wilfster]

My LCR has had a slight oil weep from the gearbox end of the cam cover for two or three years. It's only very slight, no drips on the drive, but it leaves things a bit messy round that end of the engine. So I'm planning to replace the gasket.

Here's the question. I know where you should put blobs of gasket sealant at each end of the head before replacing the cam cover according to the SEAT manual. Do you think it's necessary/desirable to go a bit further and put sealant right along the two short ends of the head where the cover fits on? I want to make sure it doesn't leak again, but there could be reasons why this is a bad idea. I usually use Blue Hylomar for this sort of thing. Advice appreciated.

 

[Bigjohn84]

Well I just did mine few months back and I put not one drop of sealent on the 4 ends, all seems good, pluss when I took the old one of it just pulled right off.

 

[sockpuppet]

My local VAG specialist told me they generally get away with moving the rocker cover once and it will go back with no oil leaks, but if it's removed a second time, it will always leak reagardless of how much sealer they used.
I had a leak last year after removing the cover a second time and had the choice of the genuine gasket which only comes with a new rocker cover at £150 or a rubber gasket from GSF and Reinz grey gasket sealer at £12.50.
I went for the cheap option and havent had any leaks. There is a specific order to do up the bolts and the EGR valve is in the way of one of the bolts on the diesel engine.

 

[Bigjohn84]

Yeh mines is like rubber I've not had any leaks since changing it, just mind and torque the nuts up to spec