rubber gasket, why change out studs?

[Rat407]

I just got my rubber gasket and 8 of one size studs and 4 longer ones. My question is why do you need to change out the original studs?  It seems to sit well on the head and the cover looks like it torqued down properly.  I don't see the need to replace the studs that are already there.  Please enlighten me on this. I don't want to have any problems if for some reason not replaceing the original studs will cause problems. If I do need to change them out, any suggestions on how to remove the old ones and install the new ones?

Thanks

[QuickTD]

Do the new studs have a shoulder on them to prevent you from overtorquing and sqeezing out the rubber gasket?

[Rat407]

Yes they do. They have thread up to a point then stop.  Small section not threaded.  I didn't torque the rubber down very much, just used a socket on the end of a nut driver handle. Wouldn't that be good enough?

[andy2]

I'm assuming this is the 1.6td ,In which case the old cork gasket is being replaced by the new style rubber gasket.The reason the studs need to be replaced is that the new gasket already has inserts in it so the new studs don't need the shoulder that the old studs have. If you leave the old ones in the gasket won't be even touching the head ,so there would be an oil leak. To get them in and out thread two nuts on and lock them aganist eachother then just get a wrench on and back them out.