[BashShah]

Can anyone provide photos or anything to positively identify a Valve Cover Gasket leak?

Symptoms?
Photos.
How do I know I need to do it.
And approx milage when it goes.

Just trying to keep my car running strong, and handle issues before it happens.

Also gives me a day to spend with my Baby....hehehe with a good DIY.

DN

[tc535i]

Oil near the plugs is the usual sign

[Meeni]

greasy sooty surface on the exposed part of the gasket (it is red-brown in color, it turns black with particles). Take a flash light, look at the mating surfaces, should be clean. A small amount of dirtyness is unavoidable after a certain mileage, if you don't see any other symptoms, you can postpone it for now.

Oil level decreases faster than expected (you may want to start considering fixing it, at this point).

Oil in the spark plug wells (needs to be adressed quickly, this will destroy the coils or the timing sensor).

Recurring bad smell under acceleration/braking. Some smoke may appear from the hood when the smell comes; white "dried liquid" marks on the exhaust. This is a fire hazard and needs to be taken care of asap.

Note: all these symptoms also appear with the much common oil filter housing gasket leak. An inspection of the oil filter area should tell easily if this is the issue.

You will never see oil drips in the garage, they are captured in the plastic pan under the engine.

I would not touch it as long as it is not leaking in significant amounts. This is DIY material, but there is some work.

[tc535i]

Changing oil religiously at 5-6k helps extend the life of these gaskets

[ken1137]

+1 as tc535i said. That is how I determined my valve cover gasket was bad. There have been pics recently in this forum so search. I would but it's not easy with this iPad.

[BashShah]

Ok, I have the smell, but only under WOT.... Nothing less.
Like RPM has to hit really high and driving then I can smell it.

Done the OFH gasket already 2 months ago.

DN

[NGEE]

If you DIY'd the OFHG, you shouldn't have problems with the VCG.

Like others have said, pop the engine cover and do a visual. Too bad this means removing your PITA cowl with those wire harness clips. That's why I replaced mine with the M3 cowl



I knew my VCG was bad when, after parking in the garage, there was always that burnt oil smell. Also, when changing plugs I discovered oil puddled in the sleeve. In my case it turned out to be a hairline crack in the VC, not the gasket itself. These cracks are very common. It's a little over $100 more to just replace the VC - since a new VC comes with gasket, bolts and PCV.

[Blackhawk36]

Originally Posted by NGEE

If you DIY'd the OFHG, you shouldn't have problems with the VCG.

Like others have said, pop the engine cover and do a visual. Too bad this means removing your PITA cowl with those wire harness clips. That's why I replaced mine with the M3 cowl



I knew my VCG was bad when, after parking in the garage, there was always that burnt oil smell. Also, when changing plugs I discovered oil puddled in the sleeve. In my case it turned out to be a hairline crack in the VC, not the gasket itself. These cracks are very common. It's a little over $100 more to just replace the VC - since a new VC comes with gasket, bolts and PCV.

Thanks NGEE! I have read hundreds of posts about the valve cover gasket and not a single one mentioned that a new valve cover comes with the gasket and bolts and is only about $100 more than just the gasket and the bolts. That seems like a no brainer if you have have a high mileage car when you VCG goes. Mine has 103k and still not leaks. When it goes I will take your advice.

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by Blackhawk36

Thanks NGEE! I have read hundreds of posts about the valve cover gasket and not a single one mentioned that a new valve cover comes with the gasket and bolts and is only about $100 more than just the gasket and the bolts. That seems like a no brainer if you have have a high mileage car when you VCG goes. Mine has 103k and still not leaks. When it goes I will take your advice.

~$100 more if you also replace the PCV (which is always a good idea anyway). The new cover comes with the PCV installed.

Getbmwparts.com - Tischer counter pickup: PN11-12-7-565-284 $342.71. That's for my 2007 N54, YMMV.

[Austin 1439]

Originally Posted by DarkNemesis

Can anyone provide photos or anything to positively identify a Valve Cover Gasket leak?

Symptoms?
Photos.
How do I know I need to do it.
And approx milage when it goes.

Just trying to keep my car running strong, and handle issues before it happens.

Also gives me a day to spend with my Baby....hehehe with a good DIY.

DN

look along the sides of the top engine cover on the left side. You sould see a line going all the way back around the block. IF that line is brownish or wet you have a leak thats how i found mine, besides the oil all in my plugs

[DF]

Originally Posted by tc535i

Changing oil religiously at 5-6k helps extend the life of these gaskets

I always were a great Pope hat when change mine and I can say my gaskets are in fine shape.

I also top up the radiator with holy water. I thought I had turned the brake fluid to red wine. But I tasted it and it was still just brake fluid.

[tc535i]

Originally Posted by DF

I thought I had turned the brake fluid to red wine. But I tasted it and it was still just brake fluid.

that explains so much...