Valve cover gasket alternatives to cork

[dcdoug]

I know that we have had a bunch of threads on this, but still want to get your advice. I currently have the Fel-Pro Performance Z1632 Blue Stripe Valve Cover Gaskets, Cork/Rubber, .172" thick. They are sealed to the covers with Right Stuff and I put a thin film of grease on the head side of the gasket (ERAChas's advice). They are torqued properly, not over torqued, etc. They seem to be made of more cork than rubber and they leak.

I have pentroof valve covers. I mostly drive my car on the street, with some autocrossing, although I'd like to get it out on the track some next year. I also pull the covers at least once a year to adjust my lash (SFT), so being able to reuse them would be a bonus (I don't reuse the cork ones).

I want to move to either composite or rubber. So my questions:

What is the right thickness ?

Opinions on these gaskets?

Edelbrock 7568 Valve Cover Gaskets, .310" thick, CRC (core-reinforced-composite, "multi-layer construction consists of two highly compressible, high-rubber content, fiber-reinforced outside layers chemically bonded to a high-strength composite core")

SCE Gaskets 234175 - SCE AccuSeal Pro Valve Cover Gaskets, .125", laminated high-temperature silicone/Cork

SCE Gaskets 234175 - SCE AccuSeal Pro Valve Cover Gaskets, .250", laminated high-temperature silicone/Cork

Fel-Pro QVS13049R Valve Cover Gaskets, rubber, not sure of thickness

I am open to others too, these just happen to be the ones that Summit sells, so I started there.

I don't really care about price difference, I care about them not leaking.

Thanks!