Symptom of bad valve cover gasket (or cover)?

Phil G · 11-12-2018, 04:39 PM

I recently pulled off the engine cover and noticed oil sitting in the little metal dimple next to the wires for the #2 injector (picture attached). Is this the sign of a valve cover gasket (or valve cover) that needs to be replaced?

FYI - Car has 164k miles, and the valve cover gasket was last replaced around 130k miles by an indy mechanic. Thanks for the help!

SnailBums · 11-12-2018, 05:09 PM

with leaks you always want to look for the highest point of saturation. also if it was recently replaced it might be residual/ not cleaned.

if i was you i would take a few cans of brake clean, spray it down and re-check after a few days.

mike

Phil G · 11-13-2018, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnailBums

with leaks you always want to look for the highest point of saturation. also if it was recently replaced it might be residual/ not cleaned.

if i was you i would take a few cans of brake clean, spray it down and re-check after a few days.

mike

Great point, I didn't even think about the fact that the oil may have been left over from the last VCG change. I'll do just that - spray down the engine and better pinpoint the leak (if there is one). Thanks for your help, Mike!

Wolf 335 · 11-13-2018, 03:26 PM

That is not what 'previously not cleaned oil' looks like especially after 34K miles.

You have a leak. Either gasket or cracked cover.

SnailBums · 11-13-2018, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf 335

That is not what 'previously not cleaned oil' looks like especially after 34K miles.

You have a leak. Either gasket or cracked cover.

so instead of spending $5 bucks for brake clean and cleaning it off to recheck you would rather just throw parts at it. great logic! forget diagnosis/actually looking into something. just throw the common shit at it.

Mike

Wolf 335 · 11-13-2018, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnailBums

so instead of spending $5 bucks for brake clean and cleaning it off to recheck you would rather just throw parts at it. great logic! forget diagnosis/actually looking into something. just throw the common shit at it.

Mike

No Mike. Obviously common sense is to clean it off first, simply to see the rate at which is leaking.

Are you seriously saying that oil that leaked 34,000 miles will look that fresh on a part that goes through numerous heat cycles?

I hope that I am wrong, for the sake of OP.

11-12-2018, 04:39 PM	#1
Phil G Dominator of Deep South curvy roads 51 Rep 340 Posts Drives: '07 335i Coupe Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	Symptom of bad valve cover gasket (or cover)? I recently pulled off the engine cover and noticed oil sitting in the little metal dimple next to the wires for the #2 injector (picture attached). Is this the sign of a valve cover gasket (or valve cover) that needs to be replaced? FYI - Car has 164k miles, and the valve cover gasket was last replaced around 130k miles by an indy mechanic. Thanks for the help! Attached Images __________________ -'07 335i coupe (build date 02/2007) - Space Grey/Black Dakota/Dark Burl - 6MT/ZPP/ZSP/Nav/CA/Heated Seats. Acquired in Munich 3/2007 via European Delivery. 16 years and almost 220k miles of pure joy! -'06 911 Carrera S - Black/Black - Full Leather/Sport Chrono/Porsche Sport Exhaust/Nav - 80k miles. Acquired 1/2021. One needy old German car just wasn't enough!
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11-13-2018, 03:26 PM	#4
Wolf 335 Brigadier General 2341 Rep 3,539 Posts Drives: 2007 E92 335i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: GTA - Greater Toronto Area iTrader: (0)	That is not what 'previously not cleaned oil' looks like especially after 34K miles. You have a leak. Either gasket or cracked cover.
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11-12-2018, 05:09 PM	#2
SnailBums Banned 34 Rep 186 Posts Drives: e60 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	with leaks you always want to look for the highest point of saturation. also if it was recently replaced it might be residual/ not cleaned. if i was you i would take a few cans of brake clean, spray it down and re-check after a few days. mike
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