Valve cover gasket(s)

[Ron Mruss <rmruss@pangea.ca>]

Currently in the middle of changing the valve cover gasket on my 5 KS.  Opened the box containing the gasket ($15 cheaper at Canadian Tire than at the dealer for you Canadians on the list) and found inside two gaskets and two end pieces.  One gasket is rubber, one is cork (rubber one even has the Audi part # on it).  Here's the question:  which one should I install?  Both appear to be identical except for material.  I remember a thread last summer about crappy rubber gaskets, but I'm inclined to install the rubber one first, the thinking being that since it'll dry out whether it's on the car or not, I might as well get some use out of it first, and then I can install the cork one when the rubber one starts to leak.  Is this a good course of action, or am I going to be cursing in a few months when I have to put the cork gasket in?

Also decided to paint the valve cover, having tired of the black and rust color it used to be.  It's now silver and looks great.  Don't know if it'll make my engine as powerful as Huw's, though :)


Jeff Mruss
'84 5KS