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Oil leak - Valve Cover Gasket
- Thread starter StephenM
- Start date
StephenM said:
If you can trace the source of the leak (around the vcg mating surfaces perhaps) then you may have installed the gasket incorrectly.
If the leak is not from the vcg mating surfaces then it could be oil filter housing gasket, main seal between engine/gearbox (worst case).
Where else can you see oil on/around the engine block?
It is definitely coming from the vcg I shall try and get a picture tomorrow - but was wondering what to try next as I have checked up the bolts to make sure none were loose but all okay - I guess it’s take it all out again, but should I get another gasket ? Or is there something else to try?
Did you thoroughly clean the mating surfaces before re-applying the gasket?
Also, a few light smearings of gasketmaker can augment the sealing integrity of all mating surfaces.
Not sure what the config of the N52 vcg has compared to the M54 but if it has corners and half-moon shapes then I would strongly suggest applying gasketmaker around those areas.
I used this stuff:
https://www.permatex.com/products/gasketing/gasket-sealants/permatex-form-a-gasket-no-2-sealant/
Also, a few light smearings of gasketmaker can augment the sealing integrity of all mating surfaces.
Not sure what the config of the N52 vcg has compared to the M54 but if it has corners and half-moon shapes then I would strongly suggest applying gasketmaker around those areas.
I used this stuff:
https://www.permatex.com/products/gasketing/gasket-sealants/permatex-form-a-gasket-no-2-sealant/
Bit more of a faff on the N52 than the M54 I'd suggest but if I was in your position I'd be biting the bullet in realisation that somethings gone awry and reassembling.
The new gasket should theoretically be ok to use again but if it were mine I'd shell out for a new one and perhaps from a different supplier.
What brand did you use?
Did you use any sort of gasket sealer? Permatex etc? If not, then a very light smearing in strategic areas would be a good idea.
And by cleaning you really have to go over every mating surface very carefully to make sure there are no foreign objects, specs of dirt/dust as these can influence a leak point. A final rub with cleaning alcohol is a good idea.
Pattern-torquing on reassembly is also quite important if you didn't do that first time round.
Good luck
The new gasket should theoretically be ok to use again but if it were mine I'd shell out for a new one and perhaps from a different supplier.
What brand did you use?
Did you use any sort of gasket sealer? Permatex etc? If not, then a very light smearing in strategic areas would be a good idea.
And by cleaning you really have to go over every mating surface very carefully to make sure there are no foreign objects, specs of dirt/dust as these can influence a leak point. A final rub with cleaning alcohol is a good idea.
Pattern-torquing on reassembly is also quite important if you didn't do that first time round.
Good luck
Hi All
Yes I did torque cold to 8.5 NM and then again but it was after about 300 miles. I had used a BMW gasket
I think your right I shall take it all off again and try a different make of gasket, Febi Bilstein make one that I was thinking of using together with some Permatex sealer. Good tip about the rubbing achol which I will use too.
Fingers crossed for the next go !!
Yes I did torque cold to 8.5 NM and then again but it was after about 300 miles. I had used a BMW gasket
I think your right I shall take it all off again and try a different make of gasket, Febi Bilstein make one that I was thinking of using together with some Permatex sealer. Good tip about the rubbing achol which I will use too.
Fingers crossed for the next go !!
Thanks all for your help and suggestions - I decided to bite the bulit and start over again. I bought new gaskets new bolts for the rocker cover and a sealant as well, I even bought a new low range torque wrench to make sure the torque was accurate. Stripping the rocker cover off was quicker this time as I was used to the procedure now. Once I had the cover off I gave it a thorough degrease and washed inside and out, removed all gaskets and then cleaned all the mating surfaces on the engine and rocker cover. I left the whole thing to dry properly over night before removing all the bolts from the rocker cover giving the whole thing a final brush down before installing the new gasket set. Then new bolts and sealant before putting the rocker cover back on the engine and torquing the bolts in the correct order starting in the centre and spriling out.
All went back together very well and I then cleaned any remaining oil from the engine bay so that after a run I would be able to see if there was a leak any where.
So this was it, I had left the rocker cover for a couple of hours while the sealant was still tacky and put everything else back, the acid test would be to take it for a run. Which I did for about 6 miles gently at first building the revs as the engine reached normal operating temperature.
I got back and opened the bonnet to discover a clean dry engine
so I left it for a couple of hours to cool down then checked the torques and took it for another spin - all still looks good so fingers crossed this time it’s going to stay that way.
All went back together very well and I then cleaned any remaining oil from the engine bay so that after a run I would be able to see if there was a leak any where.
So this was it, I had left the rocker cover for a couple of hours while the sealant was still tacky and put everything else back, the acid test would be to take it for a run. Which I did for about 6 miles gently at first building the revs as the engine reached normal operating temperature.
I got back and opened the bonnet to discover a clean dry engine
so I left it for a couple of hours to cool down then checked the torques and took it for another spin - all still looks good so fingers crossed this time it’s going to stay that way.Result
Like me, you will probably want to keep an eye on it in the coming weeks to make sure everything's bedded in.
I still give the engine bay a good check every weekend and not only for oil leaks - found a cat in there one winter morning. Little beast was probably trying to keep warm from the heat of the engine after I had come home late one evening.
It skulked off like a busted teenager caught having a sneaky sherman :lol: not for the first time I imagine. ahh :roll:
Like me, you will probably want to keep an eye on it in the coming weeks to make sure everything's bedded in.
I still give the engine bay a good check every weekend and not only for oil leaks - found a cat in there one winter morning. Little beast was probably trying to keep warm from the heat of the engine after I had come home late one evening.
It skulked off like a busted teenager caught having a sneaky sherman :lol: not for the first time I imagine. ahh :roll:
