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      04-02-2020, 02:02 AM   #1
BashShah
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Valve Cover Leak Help please

OK, replaced VC about a week ago.
wife said she saw smoke, and I saw very little trace of oil on the exhaust.

Today she went for a 20 min drive and sure enough, now there is a stream of Oil on the exhaust. SH&T, SH&T, SH&T.

Can anyone chime in as where where are the possible places that it could be leaking from?
passenger side, front and driver's side all look good and dry.
most common areas to check?

VC and Gaskets were purchased from ECS Tunning.
Hamberg Tech VC, came with Gaskets and they shipped addition ELRING Gasket set also by mistake.

I torqued VC Bolts to 6LB-FT.
engine started with no errors after job.

So what are the common areas to check.
I honestly thought I nailed it down perfectly and took my time also.
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      04-02-2020, 08:04 AM   #2
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UV dye is the easiest way to trace leaks that aren't obvious.
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      04-02-2020, 09:06 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BashShah View Post
OK, replaced VC about a week ago.
wife said she saw smoke, and I saw very little trace of oil on the exhaust.

Today she went for a 20 min drive and sure enough, now there is a stream of Oil on the exhaust. SH&T, SH&T, SH&T.

Can anyone chime in as where where are the possible places that it could be leaking from?
passenger side, front and driver's side all look good and dry.
most common areas to check?

VC and Gaskets were purchased from ECS Tunning.
Hamberg Tech VC, came with Gaskets and they shipped addition ELRING Gasket set also by mistake.

I torqued VC Bolts to 6LB-FT.
engine started with no errors after job.

So what are the common areas to check.
I honestly thought I nailed it down perfectly and took my time also.

With the engine angled towards the passenger side the exhaust manifold heatshield can hold a lot of previously leaked oil. Mine took a few weeks to finally burn off, but after the first few drives it was a very minimal burning smell that I had to stick my nose into the hood opening to smell. I never had smoke even when mine was actively leaking since I think I caught it early and the leak was in the middle of the block which I believe is unusual. If you look down the passenger side of the block with the engine cover off and see no oil on the machined metal(which you should have cleaned before installing new valve cover) you are likely good. You might see some underneath, but in my case that was residual and just needed to burn off or drip down the block.

I don't see how leaks on any other parts of the valve cover could case the smoke as they should be clear of the exhaust.
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      04-02-2020, 01:15 PM   #4
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If it's an active leak and not residual oil burn off as previous posted suggested, all I can think of is maybe the gasket didn't seat properly when you replaced the VC.
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      04-02-2020, 08:42 PM   #5
BashShah
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I just checked with the camera on the back side.
no leak.
I am leaking towards residual oil that has accumulated in the heat shield of the right side of the engine.
so, am going to try to clean with brake cleaner as much as possible.

but from the mating surface there is no leak at all.
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      04-03-2020, 03:08 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BashShah View Post
I just checked with the camera on the back side.
no leak.
I am leaking towards residual oil that has accumulated in the heat shield of the right side of the engine.
so, am going to try to clean with brake cleaner as much as possible.

but from the mating surface there is no leak at all.
Sounds like a good idea.
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      04-06-2020, 12:48 AM   #7
BashShah
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today there was no burning smell,
Lets see how the next weeks plays out.
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      04-24-2020, 05:28 PM   #8
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Update:
No more burning smell, or very little, as compared to first Post.
and Now I have to lean into the engine compartment to smell it.
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      04-29-2020, 09:25 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by khj24 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by BashShah View Post
OK, replaced VC about a week ago.
wife said she saw smoke, and I saw very little trace of oil on the exhaust.

Today she went for a 20 min drive and sure enough, now there is a stream of Oil on the exhaust. SH&T, SH&T, SH&T.

Can anyone chime in as where where are the possible places that it could be leaking from?
passenger side, front and driver's side all look good and dry.
most common areas to check?

VC and Gaskets were purchased from ECS Tunning.
Hamberg Tech VC, came with Gaskets and they shipped addition ELRING Gasket set also by mistake.

I torqued VC Bolts to 6LB-FT.
engine started with no errors after job.

So what are the common areas to check.
I honestly thought I nailed it down perfectly and took my time also.

With the engine angled towards the passenger side the exhaust manifold heatshield can hold a lot of previously leaked oil. Mine took a few weeks to finally burn off, but after the first few drives it was a very minimal burning smell that I had to stick my nose into the hood opening to smell. I never had smoke even when mine was actively leaking since I think I caught it early and the leak was in the middle of the block which I believe is unusual. If you look down the passenger side of the block with the engine cover off and see no oil on the machined metal(which you should have cleaned before installing new valve cover) you are likely good. You might see some underneath, but in my case that was residual and just needed to burn off or drip down the block.

I don't see how leaks on any other parts of the valve cover could case the smoke as they should be clear of the exhaust.
^^This^^
Basically exactly what I experienced after my VC replacement. I still smelled a little bit of burning oil, and periodically saw oil on the aluminum shield above the exhaust. After about a week and a couple hundred miles the smell and residual oil disappeared. Note: a can of Brake Kleen should be your friend. Every other day pop the hood, and do a good inspection and cleaning.
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