Leaky valve cover

[maupineda]

Guys!

i am struggling with a leaky valve cover and I have done it two times already and still leaking

here is the background

1 after valve adjustment and VANOS i installed a new elring gasket, i followed the TIS procedure and. Added rtv to the vanos joint and the half moons . It was fine for almost 9 months and started sipping, so I decided to redo it.

2. after removing the gasket I could not remove the leftovers or f RTV, so bought a new elring again. I decided to not put anything on the half moons and it leaked during the first drive

3 i took it apart and decided to put rtv but after a few miles i noticed it leaked again.

on all cases I have followed the recommended tightening procedure by starting from the center and outboard.

before opening her up it was bone dry. Any ideas or suggestions?

the leak is right above the camshaft sensor.

[Cubieman]

I bought the elring gasket set but did not use anything from it but the "bolt gaskets" (wrong term) after I read on here that anything other than an OE VCG was junk.b

I know that is not a very technical explanation, but from what I understand the VCG (and spark plug gaskets) are something you want genuine BMW parts for.
I would think the elring if would at least seal right out of the box though.

On a side note, after my vanos install I noted the PO never had any RTV applied to half moon areas, so I did not apply RTV to the half moon areas either on my VCG install and it has been driven over 300miles since and not leaking yet.

I did however buy a new valve cover thinking my original was warped, but that was not the case. If you put a staight edge to the side of the valve cover with the oil return port you will see a small gap in the middle area. I perceived this as "warped", however the brand new valve cover has the same issue in the same spot. The opposite side of the valve was dead nuts flat with a staight edge on it.

[BlAikenstein]

You might try replacing the exhaust cam sensor gasket. I was chasing a leak onto my headers and that gasket ended up being pretty flattened out

[Titaniu//M]

I second Cubieman and suggest redoing the job with an OEM gasket. Also, RTV is actually the wrong stuff. Drei Bond 1209 from BMW is what the official procedure calls for.

[Cubieman]

I used Toyota FIPG as I was out of drei bond, but that Drei Bond is some good stuff. Same thing used on diff. cover iirc.

[maupineda]

You might try replacing the exhaust cam sensor gasket. I was chasing a leak onto my headers and that gasket ended up being pretty flattened out

already done it, it was not that though, but changed it anyway as they are very inexpensive.

[maupineda]

Well, it seems I am off to buy new OE gasket and grommets. I checked my cover and as Cubieman pointed, is not perfectly flat, but I also dont have a perfect flat surface to assess this right. Is warping a common issue on these covers? my car is low miles and before I put elring stuff it was perfectly dry. just asking as the cover is pretty expensive new.

[Cubieman]

Well, it seems I am off to buy new OE gasket and grommets. I checked my cover and as Cubieman pointed, is not perfectly flat, but I also dont have a perfect flat surface to assess this right. Is warping a common issue on these covers? my car is low miles and before I put elring stuff it was perfectly dry. just asking as the cover is pretty expensive new.

My 67K (PO could have warped it) cover I felt was warped although has never leaked under my 3 year ownership.
I felt it was warped as the oil return banjo bolt would not line up until a few of the center most bolts were slightly tightened.
I then put a straight edge to it and found that side to not be perfectly flat, on that basis I ordered a new ($780) valve cover. This new valve cover has the same "issue" with the banjo bolt and same thing happens with staight edge.
A BMW VCG/Spark plug gaskets will likely solve your problem.

[sapote]

Well, it seems I am off to buy new OE gasket and grommets. I checked my cover and as Cubieman pointed, is not perfectly flat, but I also dont have a perfect flat surface to assess this right. Is warping a common issue on these covers? my car is low miles and before I put elring stuff it was perfectly dry. just asking as the cover is pretty expensive new.

I don't expect the cover to be perfect flat -- this is why it need the 2mm rubber gasket.

Q: did you wait too long and the sealant firmed up before bolting down the cover? do this fast before it starts to set, and don't use too much.

[eacmen]

Guys!

i am struggling with a leaky valve cover and I have done it two times already and still leaking

here is the background

1 after valve adjustment and VANOS i installed a new elring gasket, i followed the TIS procedure and. Added rtv to the vanos joint and the half moons . It was fine for almost 9 months and started sipping, so I decided to redo it.

2. after removing the gasket I could not remove the leftovers or f RTV, so bought a new elring again. I decided to not put anything on the half moons and it leaked during the first drive

3 i took it apart and decided to put rtv but after a few miles i noticed it leaked again.

on all cases I have followed the recommended tightening procedure by starting from the center and outboard.

before opening her up it was bone dry. Any ideas or suggestions?

the leak is right above the camshaft sensor.

Which camshaft sensor?

It is easy to get part of the o2 sensor wires stuck in between the gasket and the head. You need to make sure both surfaces are clean and free of debris. I use a red 3M pad to clean the surfaces.