What is leaking?
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
What is leaking?
Need some help here guys. I was changing my engine air filters when I noticed the leak. It's probably very slow since I didn't appreciate any active dripping.
-it is on the passenger side
Any clues to what I'm dealing with?
Thanks!
Background
-2016 cayenne turbo s
-have a good independent mechanic and the fidelity platinum warranty
Pictures below
I think this is the windwash fluid probably...
-it is on the passenger side
Any clues to what I'm dealing with?
Thanks!
Background
-2016 cayenne turbo s
-have a good independent mechanic and the fidelity platinum warranty
Pictures below
I think this is the windwash fluid probably...
Last edited by Shadows89; 10-10-2022 at 10:05 PM.
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Shadows89 (10-12-2022)
#3
Instructor
Thread Starter
Haha. That washer fluid was probably me. Guess I overfilled it a couple of weeks ago
How serious is this valve cover thing? Is it routine maintenance, or should I get the warranty to cover this?
How serious is this valve cover thing? Is it routine maintenance, or should I get the warranty to cover this?
#4
your last picture is washer fluid. The first 2 is a leaking valve cover gasket. It will only get worse and your driver side gasket probably isnt far behind. Need to be replaced. Not a terrible job but labor intensive. Not sure if a warranty would cover the cost as its a wear item but worth trying for sure.
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Shadows89 (10-12-2022)
#5
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Thread Starter
your last picture is washer fluid. The first 2 is a leaking valve cover gasket. It will only get worse and your driver side gasket probably isnt far behind. Need to be replaced. Not a terrible job but labor intensive. Not sure if a warranty would cover the cost as its a wear item but worth trying for sure.
And just out of curiosity, when you say that the driver side will go bad too, what's the reason behind that? And would it be wise to do the vacuum pump as well during this change since it's nearby?
#6
Valve cover gaskets just get brittle and leak over time. Just one of those things. Sometimes they last longer, sometimes shorter - I just did my own on my 2012 CS at ~140k miles. Regular oil changes help but wont prevent it completely.
I wouldn't consider a leaking valve cover as a super urgent repair. A leaking valve cover gasket will make a mess and may cause a burning smell every so often as oil drops onto your exhaust manifold but that's about it (At least, at the levels that i can see in your pic)
They aren't really done as routine maintenance either - Just replace when they start leaking. In your situation they'll probably be OK for another few months so don't stress too much, but get them done when you can.
Finally - If your vacuum pump is working ok and isn't leaking - then there's no need to replace it...
I wouldn't consider a leaking valve cover as a super urgent repair. A leaking valve cover gasket will make a mess and may cause a burning smell every so often as oil drops onto your exhaust manifold but that's about it (At least, at the levels that i can see in your pic)
They aren't really done as routine maintenance either - Just replace when they start leaking. In your situation they'll probably be OK for another few months so don't stress too much, but get them done when you can.
Finally - If your vacuum pump is working ok and isn't leaking - then there's no need to replace it...
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Shadows89 (10-12-2022)
#7
Instructor
Thread Starter
Valve cover gaskets just get brittle and leak over time. Just one of those things. Sometimes they last longer, sometimes shorter - I just did my own on my 2012 CS at ~140k miles. Regular oil changes help but wont prevent it completely.
I wouldn't consider a leaking valve cover as a super urgent repair. A leaking valve cover gasket will make a mess and may cause a burning smell every so often as oil drops onto your exhaust manifold but that's about it (At least, at the levels that i can see in your pic)
They aren't really done as routine maintenance either - Just replace when they start leaking. In your situation they'll probably be OK for another few months so don't stress too much, but get them done when you can.
Finally - If your vacuum pump is working ok and isn't leaking - then there's no need to replace it...
I wouldn't consider a leaking valve cover as a super urgent repair. A leaking valve cover gasket will make a mess and may cause a burning smell every so often as oil drops onto your exhaust manifold but that's about it (At least, at the levels that i can see in your pic)
They aren't really done as routine maintenance either - Just replace when they start leaking. In your situation they'll probably be OK for another few months so don't stress too much, but get them done when you can.
Finally - If your vacuum pump is working ok and isn't leaking - then there's no need to replace it...
I assume this is different than the variocam bolt failure thing I heard about right?
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#8
your original ones lasted 7 years. that's not bad. I used MAHLE gaskets when I did mine which I believe are OE.
I wouldn't stress too much about getting "Better ones" more so than just doing more regular oil changes. That is about the only factor in keeping the gaskets softer for longer. (P.S. I strongly recommend 5-6k oil changes!)
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Shadows89 (10-12-2022)
#9
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Thread Starter
Entirely different to the variocam failure. The variocam failure is a series of bolts that back out / break inside the engine and usually means the engine is destroyed. (Also, it only affected 2010-2011 engines).
your original ones lasted 7 years. that's not bad. I used MAHLE gaskets when I did mine which I believe are OE.
I wouldn't stress too much about getting "Better ones" more so than just doing more regular oil changes. That is about the only factor in keeping the gaskets softer for longer. (P.S. I strongly recommend 5-6k oil changes!)
your original ones lasted 7 years. that's not bad. I used MAHLE gaskets when I did mine which I believe are OE.
I wouldn't stress too much about getting "Better ones" more so than just doing more regular oil changes. That is about the only factor in keeping the gaskets softer for longer. (P.S. I strongly recommend 5-6k oil changes!)
Good to know. Definitely doing the 5-6k interval for sure. Ever since ~3 years ago, I have been doing 5-6k changing intervals.
I can't believe how I recently had my serpentine belt changed (like ~1wk ago) by my mechanic and I told him to take a look around and see if anything needs attention but he didn't bring this up...esp as this looks like it's been there a while now
I am going to try my luck with the local dealership and see if it'll get covered by my fidelity plat warranty
#10
Don't worry about it. It's not even a leak. I don't see how a shorter oil change interval would help. In my experience, driving the car more often (avoid let it sit for too long) would definitely help keeping the gaskets in good shape.
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Shadows89 (10-12-2022)
#11
In addition to the valve cover gasket leaking, also look down a little further under the valve cover. That rubber hose to hard line (in the OP's photo, just beside/below the leak residue...hardline runs back along the underside/outside edge of the VC) has a bracket that bolts to an aluminum timing cover bolt that can break. Oil can start to seep out and will run down past the timing chain tensioner.
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Shadows89 (10-13-2022)
#12
If you aren't tackling the valve cover gasket anytime soon you can try Liqui Moli 2020 Motor Oil Saver. I've had really good success with this on a few vehicles with leaky valve covers (BMW especially). Takes a few months to work itself in - the logic is it rejuvenates the brittle seals to give them a bit more elasticity and swell.
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Shadows89 (10-15-2022)
#13
Instructor
Thread Starter
If you aren't tackling the valve cover gasket anytime soon you can try Liqui Moli 2020 Motor Oil Saver. I've had really good success with this on a few vehicles with leaky valve covers (BMW especially). Takes a few months to work itself in - the logic is it rejuvenates the brittle seals to give them a bit more elasticity and swell.
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Shadows89 (10-22-2022)
#15
For my S, I used two bottles in roughly 10L of oil. Took about 7 months to work magic - but I no longer have any noticeable leaks if any (used to smell it burning on the exhaust).
I recommend putting in on your next oil change.
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Shadows89 (10-22-2022)