I used the silicone gasket on my 216 valve cover. I also cleaned the both surfaces until there was zero oil residue. By itself the gasket is too hard for the two acorn nuts to get enough seal all the way around. In the past the leaks I had were on the corners/ ends. What an utterly stupid design this cover is. So along with the silicone gasket I used “Right stuff” Permitex on the entire bottom side of the gasket. It’s a wider gasket than the cork so it has a better chance of sealing. On the top side of the gasket I used Right Stuff only on both ends. Not enough that would squeeze past the width of the silicone gasket. There is no drying time with this product so I started the motor and let it heat up before giving the nuts their last turn. No leaks in several months driving 4 to 5 days a week.
Months before this I used RightStuff on my cork gasket on the oil pan. Block side only, good amount in the corners. No leaks yet.
At the time I did the valve cover I also did the HUGE side cover. I used a very thin amount except the two bottom corners both sides. I also used two styles of “clips” made for adding pressure on valve covers. No leaks.
Don
Can’t begin to tell you how much I hate the name Stovebolt.
