Vacuum pump cover plate gasket QUESTION??

So I have/had had this pesky oil leak and found the factory shipped the vac cover plate installed without a gasket. It was leaking.

Should I clip the gasket to allow the cavity to drain to the hole on the bottom? Or just install the gasket that covers that drain-back hole?

I am thinking to clip it, so any weeping can drain back to the crankcase.

Why not put the cover directly on the accessory housing? BTW, there is a high pressure oil port on that interface, so it needs a non-cork gasket. I can't speak to all variants of accessory housings...

That?s not a drainback hole. It?s the pressurized source for wet vacuum pumps. Just use a gasket as is and bolt on the plate. The splined shaft has a seal, so no worries about having to drain that cavity.

Thanks, I'll just replace my clipped gasket. It's a wonder it did not leak more with the gasket missing.