Rocker cover & oil filter housing leaks - thoughts on what to address?

[1536Z4]

1. Switch the ignition onto position 2
2. Within a space of 15 seconds depress the accelerator pedal down to full throttle 10 times

This is the one I did and it worked fine but have read that that just turning ignition on and waiting works also . Mine is an 08 so much the same as yours . If you follow the procedure of using the allen key to wind the valvetronic in then it should reset without problem . Honestly once you have done it you will wonder what you were worrying about

[j24]

Should FINALLY get time to install the new rocker cover tomorrow, and think I have everything I need...

Just one more schoolboy question to ask…How best to properly clean the valve cover seal making surfaces?

Thinking a lint free cloth… but not sure about brake cleaner in that part of the engine?

[1536Z4]

brake cleaner in that part of the engine?

I used brake cleaner sprayed onto a cloth and then wiped over . I had a couple of small areas on the cylinder head that were stubborn so I used a fine grade wet and dry paper and then wiped over again with brake cleaner .

[j24]

brake cleaner in that part of the engine?

I used brake cleaner sprayed onto a cloth and then wiped over . I had a couple of small areas on the cylinder head that were stubborn so I used a fine grade wet and dry paper and then wiped over again with brake cleaner .

Cheers!

[j24]

Update - success, finished installing the rocker cover!

Half way through:





And, finished!



Huge thanks for all the help from everyone, it was super useful - by far the most complex job I’ve done on a car to date, and not sure I could have done it without the all the tips and guidance

Running great and no signs of leaks after a quick 30 min blast!

Next up, oil housing filter gasket and oil cooler gasket… plus probably replace the ‘mickey mouse’ coolant flange, drive belt and tensioner whilst in there… no idea how I’m going to do that all yet!

[Brouse]

Nice one mate! You'll feel like an N52 ninja after those other jobs

[colb]

If your cover retaining bolts have the round rubber seals under them its reccomended to replace all 15 of them when doing a new gasket.
The seals do provide an air and oil tight seal and these do go hard with age and heat cycles which if used dont compress enough to provide a good seal. These engines require a good sealed vaccum system otherwise you will get fuel trim issues with unmetered air getting in and being picked up in the exhaust fooling the car into thinking its running lean. Computer then demands more fuel at the injectors to richen the mixture and will add up to 20% more fuel until it gives up and sets the EML to draw attention to the issue.

[TOMGREEN413]

I think you've done an awesome job lot, it's given me the confidence to attempt the same. We'll done

[j24]

I think you've done an awesome job lot, it's given me the confidence to attempt the same. We'll done

Cheers Tom! Yeah pretty happy with how it went all in all - took longer than I expected, but I was definitely taking my time got caught out lacking tools at a couple of steps!

If I can do it, I’m sure you definitely can take it on

[j24]

Nice one mate! You'll feel like an N52 ninja after those other jobs

Haha thanks - very much still learning as I go!! I’m sure I’ll chuck out a few stupid questions along the way…

The first one will be ‘how the hell do I remove the plastic cover for the oil cooler?’ Doesn’t look like I’ve got space to manoeuvre it off.

Answers on a postcard!

[TOMGREEN413]

Please can I ask what special tools you needed? It would be great to know, although l checked my engine yesterday as I too hadn't removed the engine cover since purchasing and found it all looked okay with nothing major leaking, but as preventative maintenance I'll replace the whole cover this summer, for now I've got my local garage replacing just the water pump and tank , stat housing etc. I have major plans for my car but I need to see what my friendly garage think of it before spending ££££.

[Brouse]

Nice one mate! You'll feel like an N52 ninja after those other jobs

Haha thanks - very much still learning as I go!! I’m sure I’ll chuck out a few stupid questions along the way…

The first one will be ‘how the hell do I remove the plastic cover for the oil cooler?’ Doesn’t look like I’ve got space to manoeuvre it off.

Answers on a postcard!

I fluked getting my cover off.

Swearing at it helps!

[Brouse]

Please can I ask what special tools you needed? It would be great to know, although l checked my engine yesterday as I too hadn't removed the engine cover since purchasing and found it all looked okay with nothing major leaking, but as preventative maintenance I'll replace the whole cover this summer, for now I've got my local garage replacing just the water pump and tank , stat housing etc. I have major plans for my car but I need to see what my friendly garage think of it before spending ££££.

Tools-wise pretty normal the only thing i didnt have was torx spanners oh and a light duty torque wrench for the rocker cover bolts (4nm +90°) and similar.

[skelters]

Any signs of the new rocker cover fixing the problem?

[j24]

Please can I ask what special tools you needed? It would be great to know, although l checked my engine yesterday as I too hadn't removed the engine cover since purchasing and found it all looked okay with nothing major leaking, but as preventative maintenance I'll replace the whole cover this summer, for now I've got my local garage replacing just the water pump and tank , stat housing etc. I have major plans for my car but I need to see what my friendly garage think of it before spending ££££.

As Brouse says, nothing too out of the ordinary - I just got caught short tool-wise a couple of times when going through the job!

I had normal 1/4 and 3/8 socket sets, but ended up needing to buy:

- 1/4" Torque Wrench 5-25Nm (to torque the valve cover bolts)
- Torx Socket Set (think I only needed an E8 and E10 for the job)
- 1/4" drive deep socket set (needed a deep 10mm socket for the two ground bolts)
- A 1/4" female - 3/8" male socket adapter. My torque wrench is a 1/4" but the E10 torx socket I needed to use for most the valve cover bolts is a 3/8"... difficult to find an adapter going that way around!! Amazon sells one for £4
- Some bent ring pliers to remove the metal spark plug tubes

So I did spend a little bit on tools (haven't added it up, but must be around the £50ish mark) - but I wasn't starting from a huge collection anyway!

And still very much quids in compared to asking a garage to do the work for me. The previous owner was quoted £410 just to replace the valve cover gasket!! Admittedly it was a main dealer, but pretty pleased I managed to install an entire good quality OEM Elring Valve cover for a hell of a lot less than that (around £145 for the cover including all new gaskets etc).