I have always cleaned the cover and used a very light smear of black permatex just to hold it in place (not needed to prevent leaking) on the inside of the cover.   
  

  
Jim
  

  
  

  

  
On Aug 14, 2020 at 11:32 AM,  <Dave Weaver (mailto:busboy-nh@comcast.net)>  wrote:
  
>   
>
>   
>   
>  Have a minor oil leak around the valve cover on my 1988 2.1 GL vanagon 2wd. It’s on the driver’s side so not a lot of space to work around the stock exhaust  
>
> Have new cork gaskets, but am looking for tips and suggestions to be sure I get it right the first time.  
>
> Thanks!  
>
> Dave  
> 1988 Vanagon GL 2.1  
> 1990 Westy TIICO 2.0  
> 2014 Tiguan R-line  
> 2015 GTI Autobahn  
>
> Suggestions?  
>
> Sent from my iPhone  
>