2005 Aveo Valve Cover Gasket

Had some oil leakage coming from the valve cover. Got a new gasket put it in only to have a small leak the next day. Opened it up to reseat the gasket and it was in pieces. Anyone have any idea how or why the rubber would split into several pieces. It went in with little to no effort.

What brand?

Fel-Pro

Had some oil leakage coming from the valve cover. Got a new gasket put it in only to have a small leak the next day. Opened it up to reseat the gasket and it was in pieces. Anyone have any idea how or why the rubber would split into several pieces. It went in with little to no effort.
You can't tighten valve cover gaskets to tight. The same way with hose clamps.
Compress the rubber some but not to much.

There is a specific torque spec in INCH-POUNDS, for the bolts for the valve cover.......I have sometimes coated the top and bottom of the gasket with RTV before installing......put it together right away, don't want the RTV to "skin".....