N54 valve cover gasket

[titium]

So it looks like my valve cover is leaking

Probably just the gasket but i have a few questions.

How common is it that the covers are cracked should I do the gasket only or the whole lot? (Probably going to DIY)

Where is the cheapest place to buy the cover - if required - so far schmiedmann looks like the cheapest at around $420 au delivered.

Can i leave it and wait till it gets worse will it cause other issues?

Thanks in advance!

[DR-JEKL]

FWIW do the cover also, as whilst its an extra $300 or so you would be kicking yourself if after all the work to change the gasket and to find its still leaking due to a cracked cover.

I would tend to attempt to fix in a short time frame, oil leaks have been known to weaken the serpentine belt and cause it to shred and snap. Also it can leak down in the spark plug wells, and could cause misfire issues etc...

[bm49]

I also found Schmeidmann to be the cheapest when I ordered one earlier this year from them. An added bonus when it arrived was the inclusion of a new gasket - my BMW technician could not source one locally under about $46.
It is disappointing that a relatively new part is so flimsy that my tech said it is about a 70% chance that a cover will break when they tried to fix the leak. My 2008/85000km car also had oil leaks from the vanos solenoids which had already caused deterioration of coolant hoses.

[titium]

bm49 what did they charge you in labor to do the valve cover?

[Scooby2]

I just got quoted $500 to do mine in Perth. Just the gasket tho.

[questionable]

I've done the valve cover and gasket, you can buy the whole lot for $500 give or take online i think it was from ECS Tuning at the time, labour is the same weather you change the valve cover or not. note they do crack eventually and mine cracked at 20,000ks, you will not notice them being cracked they are hairline cracks that leak an oil mist. eventually filling up where your coils and plugs are.

I also did the job myself it was a big pain in the ass, and i would not be wanting to change the gasket then have to do the cover.

if your purchasing the valve cover you get the gasket free with bolts.

[titium]

Originally Posted by questionable

I've done the valve cover and gasket, you can buy the whole lot for $500 give or take online i think it was from ECS Tuning at the time, labour is the same weather you change the valve cover or not. note they do crack eventually and mine cracked at 20,000ks, you will not notice them being cracked they are hairline cracks that leak an oil mist. eventually filling up where your coils and plugs are.

I also did the job myself it was a big pain in the ass, and i would not be wanting to change the gasket then have to do the cover.

if your purchasing the valve cover you get the gasket free with bolts.

thanks. so it's a bit of a PITA job? I am trying to decide whether to do it myself or send it to a shop.

I guess I'm lacking abit of confidence only having done simple stuff on the car so far but I want to learn/gain exp.

[Dackelone]

Get a new valve cover too... bc its only a matter of time(not IF but WHEN) when the pvc will fail. The pvc is built into the valve cover.

[titium]

cheers guys new VC it is! what's the verdict on the rb pcv valve does it do anything noticeable?

[questionable]

The whole catch can debate is a whole separate issue.

[titium]

Originally Posted by questionable

The whole catch can debate is a whole separate issue.

not bothering with a catch can don't think they add much value. ended up ordering the pcv valve not sure if I wasted my money though it was only 50usd.

[questionable]

Id install a catch can, after you do a walnut blast.

[titium]

Originally Posted by questionable

Id install a catch can, after you do a walnut blast.

does yours catch much?

[titium]

guess i'll be doing this soon rather than later smoking like a car with dodgy RB's execpt from out of the bonnet and not the exhaust (alright maybe that's a slight exaggeration - its not that bad).

weird thing is seems to be fine if i keep the revs below 3.5k . Pretty sure that points to a cracked cover (rather than gasket leak).

sigh keeping below 3.5k is harder than i initially thought.....

[froop]

I'd do a catch can. They don't exactly catch a ton of oil but there definitely is some in there that would otherwise be floating around and settling in your intake tract.

[titium]

Originally Posted by DR-JEKL

FWIW do the cover also, as whilst its an extra $300 or so you would be kicking yourself if after all the work to change the gasket and to find its still leaking due to a cracked cover.

I would tend to attempt to fix in a short time frame, oil leaks have been known to weaken the serpentine belt and cause it to shred and snap. Also it can leak down in the spark plug wells, and could cause misfire issues etc...

So little update. the majority of the leak i would say 95% was down to the OFHG (which was given the all clear 1000km ago at the last service - not at Advan) - i specifically asked them to check as i suspected it was leaking.

The boys at advan sorted that out earlier in the week but couldn't confirm if the VCG was leaking as there was so much oil everywhere from the OFHG. While I was there I got them to swap out my coil packs - kept the old ones and finally got a chance to have a look and what do you know, the end of one of them is coated in oil. Guess this means i got the double whammy and will be doing the VC very soon.