Hi,

Gene Berg ( vw guru ) recommended gluing the gasket to the valve cover with
gasket cement.

I believe it's to hold the gasket in place. They are pretty flimsy and if
they slip it's major oil leak time.

His story was that when he had his auto repair shop he would have a few
extra sets of valve covers. When it came time to replace the valve cover
gaskets in a customers car, he would have a set of valve covers ready with
the new gasket cemented in place.   The set of valve covers he took off  he
would later scrape the old gasket off and cement the new gasket in. That way
they could sit for a while until the cement cured.

my $.02,

Mark Ingalls
85 GL
75 Beetle