All gaskets are not created equal.
I’ve been battling an oil leak of the left bank of the 2.7 twin-turbo. It took me a while to track it down as there were a few oil leaks in the vicinity (one was coming from a stress crack in the valve cover itself from a thrown cam chain – but that’s another story) and it was dripping oil directly on to a downpipe which was no bueno.
I replaced the valve cover gasket gasket once already, and then pulled it track-side and put sealant on it (and branded my wrist on a turbo), but it still leaked. I’d bought the gasket I could find at the time as I was in a rush, but it is crap. So out it came, and in went an OE Elring gasket.
The differences in the old and new gasket are subtle, but important.
Notice how much thicker the new gasket is on the right – it’s more substantive.
Also, the ridges on the new gasket are slightly different, and yes I know I ran the old one in the cover so its probably a little compressed, but the design is still slightly different in the old one (and worse).
These little differences add up.
Don’t skimp on gaskets – I shall take my own advice next time. Oh, and don’t put your wrist on a hot turbo, it hurts, and your 2 year old will think it’s funny to poke it.