<VV> Pan Gasket Question - Age?

[chieftam at aol.com]

Hey, quick question.  I was looking through some of my boxes of parts,  and 
I found a pan gasket from NAPA, still in the plastic.  It looks like  cork, 
it isn't real think though.  It is old however, probably at least 10  years 
or more, as I think it came in a box of parts I got with one of my  cars.  
Since I have a pan leak, I am going to helicoil a couple of holes  and try 
to fix the leak.  I need a gasket.  Will this old one work? Do  they go bad 
with age?  Thanks.
 
Todd in TX