Make my valve covers stop leaking.

[S4UCE]

I've had leaky valve covers/cam plugs forever. In the fall, I had a shop (owned by a friend, well versed in 2.7Ts) do my valve covers and cam seals. Get the car home, find it's still leaking. Bring it back, they find one cam seal is dumping oil and reseal it. Get the car home, it's still leaking. Bring it back, they pull the covers off and the surface seems pitted and scratched, so they put new valve covers on it. This is right around the new year. It doesn't leak for like 2 weeks and then I start catching whiffs of oil again. Fast forward to today and there's a puddle in my parking spot and for the past month the thing stinks on every drive, but I'm just kind of living with it. Help me find the will to live. Thank you.

[kingkhalilz]

Might want to do it yourself. Don't know what that shops deal is however, I have done plenty of these. Most important is rtv or silicon on the sharp corners, dont go crazy with it but a little helps. Cam caps rtv or silicon the edges when you push new ones in. Also torque the bolts down evenly and to spec. Of course if you dont have a nice smooth surface you got some problems. Make sure the gasket you receive is good and not starting to crack. The middle gasket thats 3 rings is recommended to replace as well. Oil around the spark plugs is no bueno.

[getslideways]

its not the tensioner gasket causing the mess by chance is it?

[rdcyclist]

Did they replace the cam tensioner gaskets? That's where most of the upper end leaks come from.

[rdcyclist]

its not the tensioner gasket causing the mess by chance is it?

Dang, I need to type faster...

[uponone nogaro]

good thread i have to do mines also did you use oem gaskets? is oem the best to go with or

[airjawed]

I would also check on the PCV system...if it is building up pressure then your valve covers will want to leak.

Get a quality set of VCG's... I noticed on my recent purchase from NAPA that they seem to be of much better quality. Had OEM audi part numbers on packaging...made by elring.

As stated...use sealant in corners and do not overtighten.

[ilyafil]

I would also check on the PCV system...if it is building up pressure then your valve covers will want to leak.

Get a quality set of VCG's... I noticed on my recent purchase from NAPA that they seem to be of much better quality. Had OEM audi part numbers on packaging...made by elring.

As stated...use sealant in corners and do not overtighten.

This!!!

[EMF614]

I would also check on the PCV system...if it is building up pressure then your valve covers will want to leak.

Get a quality set of VCG's... I noticed on my recent purchase from NAPA that they seem to be of much better quality. Had OEM audi part numbers on packaging...made by elring.

As stated...use sealant in corners and do not overtighten.

this may be a long shot but do you think faulty primary o2 sensors causing the car to run rich would mess with the PCV system, blowing the seals on the vcg.
I'm having this same issue. I changed my vcg, cam seals, etc and it started leaking, re did the gaskets and my spark plug holes are still filled with oil.

I just changed my primary o2 sensors and I will be redoing the gaskets this summer. Maybe this will fix it?

[james 408]

honestly i've changed out like 2 of the vcg's in 10 years of ownership. done once, never needed again. head gasket done once. the little cam chain tensioners were spewing oil pretty good... replaced those. turbos have gone twice... even had the lines on my oil cooler fall off once (shop cut the line to short and didn't click it in).


bottom line is oil leaks from just about everywhere at some point or another. but you replace them once and they should be good for 60-100k. any repeat fix is total nonsense.

[LightningLou]

Might want to do it yourself. Don't know what that shops deal is however, I have done plenty of these. Most important is rtv or silicon on the sharp corners, dont go crazy with it but a little helps. Cam caps rtv or silicon the edges when you push new ones in. Also torque the bolts down evenly and to spec. Of course if you dont have a nice smooth surface you got some problems. Make sure the gasket you receive is good and not starting to crack. The middle gasket thats 3 rings is recommended to replace as well. Oil around the spark plugs is no bueno.

+1. When I changed my valve cover gaskets right after I bought my s4, I made sure to apply rtv on the tops and bottoms of the corners and no leaks after over a year. Same with half moons and cams tensioner gaskets. (Knocks on wood) Sounds like the shop wasn't too familiar with the 2.7's and the vulnerability they have to leaking in these areas. The rtv is really key here.

[airjawed]

this may be a long shot but do you think faulty primary o2 sensors causing the car to run rich would mess with the PCV system, blowing the seals on the vcg.
I'm having this same issue. I changed my vcg, cam seals, etc and it started leaking, re did the gaskets and my spark plug holes are still filled with oil.

I just changed my primary o2 sensors and I will be redoing the gaskets this summer. Maybe this will fix it?

Depends how rich... if fuel and oil are mixing heavily due to misfire then possible(gas eating seals and sealant). Otherwise I would not look at that as a cause. How long before it leaked after fixing?

Our cars are prone to leaking....but a leak doesn't mean it is normal. Find the problem.

[DiscoPotato]

I'm pretty sure they are rtv-ing to all the people stating that. If they are a remotely professional shop, they know better.

We had a problem like this on a car at my shop. Although it wasn't cam seal. It was the crank seal. Car kept blowing them out. Turns out crank was wiped along with thrust bearings and crank was moving in and out.

What kind of shape is your cam in? Check for play etc.

[julex]

Have they replaced cam plugs/caps too? These are the hockey puck like things pressed in back of head and one in front. These age and are rarely replaced with "VCG". You don't even need to open the haeds to swap them as they are external. If you ONLY smell oil about 3-5 minutes after start up and it clears afterwards without oil smell until the car cools down (this is when they shrink and allow residual oil to seep around them) and cycle repeats, that's plugs. Unless they are completely dead in which case they might let oil through 24/7.

[DxC]

From my experience it always leaks from the camseals behind the sprockets. This is because a lot of oil rests there as its a v motor and oil pools at the bottoms. Same goes for the cam caps in the back of the motor.

Make sure u grease the inside of the cam seal so it's not dry

Like everyone said, clean well and apply rtv in corners and torque with torque wrench to 7ftlbs in an inside out bolt sequence so it's torqued evenly.

Also make sure green check valves are working and also the check valve on the pcv

[S4UCE]

The shop has a ton of experience with 2.7Ts which is why I'm thinking there's something wrong with my car rather than something wrong with their work. I will check the PCV system before the next attempted re-seal.

[ilyafil]

The shop has a ton of experience with 2.7Ts which is why I'm thinking there's something wrong with my car rather than something wrong with their work. I will check the PCV system before the next attempted re-seal.

How much boost are you running? Anything higher than stock requires upgraded PCV.

[Fourplay]

How much boost are you running? Anything higher than stock requires upgraded PCV.

Tell that to 90% of stage 3 owners who are running the stock PCV system...

[gottaBdope]

Didn't read the whole thread, but just a plug: the shop I worked at wouldn't touch victor reinz for any reason, and from what I saw there, rightfully so. Unfortunately that seems to be the most common option. 034 stands by that brand and I bought them for my build. Just something to think about. Rtv seems to be the answer.

[AudiSportB5S4]

He has a vented oil cap... He has the updated intake manifold running the newer style PCV which he took apart and replaced the hoses.. Possibly the pancake valve? I would think that if your PCV is shot you would be puffing the oil out of the exhaust as it would be returned to the intake to be burnt off rather than seeping out of the engine.

I guess the one way valves could be updated, but do you really think a stuck one way valve is going to cause oil to seep out of the valve covers?

[S4UCE]

How much boost are you running? Anything higher than stock requires upgraded PCV.

I was running up to 25 pounds on F4Hs when my MBC started to run away

Didn't read the whole thread, but just a plug: the shop I worked at wouldn't touch victor reinz for any reason, and from what I saw there, rightfully so. Unfortunately that seems to be the most common option. 034 stands by that brand and I bought them for my build. Just something to think about. Rtv seems to be the answer.

I'm pretty sure they used Victor Reinz. I had those on the car years ago with no issue.

[AudiSportB5S4]

Here's the self study guide.. Can someone explain how stuck one way valves would cause seepage? Srs question lol

http://www.ibiblio.org/tkan/audi/2.7...-SelfStudy.pdf

[GramCracker]

NVM. I didn't read good

[Monty23]

Here's the self study guide.. Can someone explain how stuck one way valves would cause seepage? Srs question lol

http://www.ibiblio.org/tkan/audi/2.7...-SelfStudy.pdf

If crankcase pressure (due to blow by) is unable to be released via the breather/pvc system, the pressure will get out in other more creative ways... like through your seals...

[zillarob]

If you are talking about the smaller check valve to the intake, it dont do that. Many people run with it capped.
The pancake prv valve can though.

[mightemouce]

Next time you park, take the filler cap off and see if you get a sound of pressure relief.
If its leaking when hes parked I can't see the PCV system being an issue unless its holding pressure still.
I should have the "pancake" valve at home if you want to give a different one a shot.

Leaning towards your Cam Chain Tensioner seals possibly leaking.. I don't remember if these have been changed on the car.

[julex]

Next time you park, take the filler cap off and see if you get a sound of pressure relief.
If its leaking when hes parked I can't see the PCV system being an issue unless its holding pressure still.
I should have the "pancake" valve at home if you want to give a different one a shot.

Leaning towards your Cam Chain Tensioner seals possibly leaking.. I don't remember if these have been changed on the car.

Severe PCV problems like this would cause excessive smoking from exhaust and oil in intercoolers as oil would be forced from both side of shaft. Also, the crankcase would probably pressrizeat at idle too, easily detectable with a sheet or paper put flat against oil filler hole, if it bows out, there is pressure in crankcase.

[S4UCE]

I'm coming out of "ignore the problem" mode and transitioning to "throw parts at it" mode. Hopefully we can get it sorted before I decide it's a good idea to do rods and bigger turbos because of an oil leak.


My exhaust is free of blue smoke. My oil comes exclusively from the top end of the motor.

[Monty23]

When I originally installed my new half moon CCT gaskets, I did not put any sealant around this piece and it caused a major oil leak like you are describing. I only use Audi gasket maker BTW from GAP ($20/tube, this stuff is awesome and sets up quick!)

[mightemouce]

Severe PCV problems like this would cause excessive smoking from exhaust and oil in intercoolers as oil would be forced from both side of shaft. Also, the crankcase would probably pressrizeat at idle too, easily detectable with a sheet or paper put flat against oil filler hole, if it bows out, there is pressure in crankcase.

I don't see the car in mention having severe PCV problems, there is no smoking from the exhaust. If I recall correctly his intake tract is pretty dry as well (have not seen it in awhile though).

[AudiSportB5S4]

Right.. That's why I really don't think it's PCV related but more of an issue that something is being overlooked or skipped. Like the tensioners. No one does those.. Mine were done during timing belt job.

[airjawed]

It is possible that your PCV is working correctly at most boost levels but at full boost it is getting overwhelmed...especially if your N75 is dumping everything into the valve covers(I see you mention MBC getting overwhelmed).

Might be time to put a vacuum gauge on and see what the pressures are like under the valve covers.... might also be time for a catch can? Seems your PCV is not stock so not sure if problem is gaskets themselves or something else.

[GramCracker]

Hopefully we can get it sorted before I decide it's a good idea to do rods and bigger turbos because of an oil leak.

I like where this is headed

[Fourplay]

He has a vented oil cap... He has the updated intake manifold running the newer style PCV which he took apart and replaced the hoses.. Possibly the pancake valve? I would think that if your PCV is shot you would be puffing the oil out of the exhaust as it would be returned to the intake to be burnt off rather than seeping out of the engine.

I guess the one way valves could be updated, but do you really think a stuck one way valve is going to cause oil to seep out of the valve covers?

If the PCV system is clogged anywhere, oil will come pouring out of the vented cap before it will blow out any of the top end seals. Just my experience.

[jpurre]

Many ignore the half moons. I ran Victor Reintz VCG for 18 months before replacing with OEM when my engine was pulled for turbos. At that time, I had every bloody seal and gasket changed. No more oil leaks.