Help! Valve Cover oil leak!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Help! Valve Cover oil leak!
I noticed a small drop of oil under the left rear side of my engine. After the shock and disbelief, I crawled under and found that about three of the bolts on the valve cover had a little bit of oil on them. Not a whole bunch, but enough to see and get my finger dirty.
Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, do you know the time and expense involved? Is it just a gasket or and I looking at something more?
thanks,
Chris
Has anyone else had this problem, and if so, do you know the time and expense involved? Is it just a gasket or and I looking at something more?
thanks,
Chris
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay, California
Gasket. Cheap fix. Tight spot though.
You have an early car? They have magnesium covers that mismatch in CTE with the heads. If you change to later aluminum covers, it will help prevent leaks. I have seen this referred to as the 'turbo valve cover conversion' before, I think in Dempsey's 101 project book.
Cheers, George
You have an early car? They have magnesium covers that mismatch in CTE with the heads. If you change to later aluminum covers, it will help prevent leaks. I have seen this referred to as the 'turbo valve cover conversion' before, I think in Dempsey's 101 project book.
Cheers, George
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area
Chris - this is very normal. Just about any 80s 911 will have a little oil leak through at the lower valve cover studs. Usually it bakes off or blows off, but if you let the car sit in the same spot at idle for a while some oil may hit the ground. Usually you can fix this by replacing the valve cover gaskets and nylock nuts. A new gasket and nut kit is about $25 (including the upper cover pieces as well). You can change the gaskets without draining the oil but be preapared to have some spill out. I would first get a torque wrench and check that the nuts are all correctly torqued. I Believe you want 6 ft. lbs. or so.
Trending Topics
Rennlist Stories
The Best Porsche Posts for Porsche Enthusiasts
Every Era of 911 Owner Explained in One Sentence
Verdad Gallardo
Thinking of Buying a Porsche? Do These 10 Things First
Joe Kucinski
Pixar Pals Turned Into 1-of-1 Porsches!
Michael S. Palmer
Theon Goes Full Carbon Fiber With Stunning New Build
Verdad Gallardo
Genius Porsche-Themed Gifts That'll Make Any Dad or Grad Smile
Joe Kucinski
10 Used Porsches Are Selling for Way Too Cheap
Joe Kucinski
Tuner Is Converting Porsche 911s Into Shooting Brakes
Verdad Gallardo
This Coachbuilt Creation Is A Modern Take on the Legendary Porsche 917
Verdad Gallardo
Is This Convertible Cayenne A Steal, Or A Returnless Investment?
Verdad Gallardo
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Austin TX
I've got this same problem. Leakage at the nut/stud on the lower valve covers. Even when I replaced with new nylocks and the silicone gaskets w/ bead.
Sealing edges look good, no nicks, scratches, etc. Proper torque and tightening sequence.
Any other advice out there?
Sealing edges look good, no nicks, scratches, etc. Proper torque and tightening sequence.
Any other advice out there?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 3
From: Land of Milfs and honey (SoCal)
you can hold them together, mating surfaces together and hold at one end to see if they are slightly warped. also paint the mating surface before you block sand. if you have any low spots they will show up, or spend $40 at a machine shop and have them decked. but they all seem to leak at the studs regardless even with new nylocks, last one i did was a 930 that had persistent leaks on both lowers and I had resealed them a couple times before, this time I tried a little silicone gasket goop on the studs and havent seen it come back yet.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: bridgewater, NJ
I have an 80 SC. When the valve cover gasket leaks oil, it winds up on the cat, and make s bad smoke!
Now when I bought car it has a test pipe, I put on a cat, it there a shield betwween the cat and the valvecover??
Thanks
Bruce
Now when I bought car it has a test pipe, I put on a cat, it there a shield betwween the cat and the valvecover??
Thanks
Bruce