Oil Leak On Oil Cover [Merged 9-7] cap gasket dipstick leaking pool

[RawrImAMonster]

Will check the turbo and cam sprockets when I get time. However, I don't understand how either of these could be getting oil on top of the valvecover. The upper timing belt cover is still on and If I remember correctly when I had it off the other day the inside of it looked really clean. However, I will also check this.

Note that when I was doing the compression test I found that there was oil setting on top of two of the spark plugs in the spark plug holes before I took them out. I assumed that the previous owner had just spilled oil on the valvecover when he was changing it.

 

[dsmpat95]

Like VTEC THIS said you valvle cover gasket is leaking, around your spark plugs, it will end up a miss fire, but the oil should not come to the top of the valve cover.

 

[turboglenn]

That happens to mine when the PCV valve goes bad and the gasket on the oil filler cap isn't brand new. Get another oil cap gasket but first go get a new PCV valve from O'reilly, they are only like 4 buks tops, but the oil is coming most likely from the cap when the motor is under boost because the bad PCV is letting boost into the VC and helping things leak.

 

[VTEC_THIS]

Will check the turbo and cam sprockets when I get time. However, I don't understand how either of these could be getting oil on top of the valvecover. The upper timing belt cover is still on and If I remember correctly when I had it off the other day the inside of it looked really clean. However, I will also check this.

I agree with you. You said your upper timing belt cover is on, so even if they were leaking, it still shouldn't have sprayed oil onto your valve cover. I've seen a lot of people leave the upper timing belt cover off, so I could see why they suggested that to you. Turbo though WTF - I have no clue how that could put oil on top of your valve cover.

 

[AW4G63]

Do some closer inspection to see if you can see where the oil is coming from. You should be able to get some idea. In addition to the things mentioned above, I would especially check the oil cap gasket. If there is any possibility that it is leaking, get a new one. They run about $2 from the dealership. MD311638 is the part number for 2g oil cap gasket.

Seriously, this is the first step. I almost had a stroke reading this thread.


Check the turbo for shaft play, check the cam gaskets. No one mentioned an oil cap gasket. Very simple reason why there would be smoke on the valve cover. Now why is your car burning white smoke.....good luck with that one. I don't think MD311638 is going to cure that one.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

Yep, the oil cap gasket does that from time to time. I got a after market valve cap with a seated O-ring for like $10. And the O-ring just pops off and on when it comes time to replace it. The O-ring itself, costs about $0.80.

Diamond Star Motosports sells them, but its seems thier site is down.

 

[98GSXtreme07]

I say go ahead and replace your valve cover gasket. Get the whole kit with the main gasket, half-moon plug, and the 4 spark plug well gaskets. As well as change the oil cap gasket. I can see it possible that you have oil on the lettering if you do not use a spark plug cover and you have a crack on your valve cover.

I wasted 3 hours of my time at the Mitsu"shity" dealership to look why I had oil on my valve cover and they said they couldn't find anything. I get home and spent 2 minutes looking at my valve cover and found exactly where its coming from. Some JB weld and 21 hours later, no more oil leak. So go ahead and take a very good look at your valve cover when you remove it and get any leaks fixed or a new valve cover. I hope this help you.

 

[RawrImAMonster]

I will look into all of these soon. However, do any of these explain why there was smoke coming out of the exhaust? There is a hole in the flex portion could that just be sucking up the smoke from the engine bay somehow... That wouldn't seem possible to me, but I guess one step at a time for now.

If the engine is actually burning oil it would seem to me like it would have to come from the turbo since the engine has such good compression.

Mods feel free to move this anytime

 

[DSMvroom]

This is sort of a simple suggestion . . . did you change your oil recently? Is your dipstick on there securely? Last year I failed to make sure the dipstick was on there tight and it shot up when I hit boost, spraying oil on the valve cover.

 

[turboglenn]

I'll say it again, before replacing ANY gaskets GET A NEW PCV valve. If you don't, when you go into boost it's just going to help blow the new gaskets out just as fast.

I've had this issue for the entire 11 years i've owned my DSM.. it happens about once every 2-3 years and no matter what it always comes down to needing a new PCV valve before the leak stops.

 

[Bubbs Malone]

I have no experience with the Turbo end of things, but have a couple things to add about the smoke/Oil situation.

I had oil on the valve cover, tightened it down a bit and the leak greatly reduced. In hindsite it was probably bad gaskets but it helped for a time.

Also, I had the white smoke from the tailpipe for maybe ten seconds, it was just after I had replaced the spark plugs so I figured a small amount of that oil got down in there. This is just a guess, but I did read somewhere the oil can take a bit to burn off. If there are other issues then I may not be helping any. Good luck with this.

 

[crimsondragon]

I will look into all of these soon. However, do any of these explain why there was smoke coming out of the exhaust? There is a hole in the flex portion could that just be sucking up the smoke from the engine bay somehow... That wouldn't seem possible to me, but I guess one step at a time for now.

If the engine is actually burning oil it would seem to me like it would have to come from the turbo since the engine has such good compression.

Mods feel free to move this anytime

Did you check your turbo for shaftplay yet? If your turbo is blown, it'll make a nice smoke screen. And no, a hole in the flex piping will not suck in. If anything you have a giant exhaust leak.

 

[laserspeeddemon]

First, this really should be moved to the "Problem Diagnosis" forum, I'll inform the moderators. Second, turboglenn is absolutely correct. A problem lots of shady tree mechanics have (like us DSMers) is that we fix the sympton and not the underlying cause. If the PCV is shot, then you will only ruin more gaskets. It is a $5-8 part at most parts store, but I ALWAYS go OEM with PCV.

 

[talonstalon]

i have oil pudding on my valve cover... were the spark plug are...what could this be from???
thanks

 

[Gstclipse69]

The lovely oil cap. You can either: get a new cap, replace the gasket on the cap, get another gasket and put both gaskets on, or take some needle nose pliers and bend the tabs up on the oil cap that hold it to the valve cover to make it seal better.

 

[2bclutch]

Go to the dealer and get PN: MD311638 Oil Cap Gasket.

I think they're a couple bucks.

 

[JFatch1890]

gstclipse69 could be correct you might just have bad gaskets but there could be a few other reasons for it also.Have you asked why your gkt's went?The crank case pressure has to escape somewhere why not threw your gkt's if your pcv valve isn't working correctly?I know someones going to question my opinion but i learned awhile ago if you replace a part and that part was not the problem you will only destroy the new part you just bought.Check all possibility and see if anything other then old gkt's could of caused the problem before assuming its one thing and one thing only.

(Edit) and no guys I'm not questioning your knowledge I tried to make it clear that you guys could be correct but he should look into all possibility's.That post could be misunderstood so i just wanted to make that clear so no one gets mad.

 

[turbo_punk]

I would not try and modify the oil cap because it was letting oil seep out. I made that mistake and it broke the middle and fell in and shot oil all over and I had to take the valve cover off and get it out and I was lucky it didn't damage anything. Not fun! Luckily I had all the tools on me to do it too!

 

[JFatch1890]

(Explanation) A pcv valve can become clogged with sludge and varnish deposits and trap blow by gases in the crankcase. This degrades the oil, promoting additional formation of deposit material. If left uncorrected, the result is plugged oil rings, oil consumption, rapid ring wear due to sludge buildup, (ruptured gaskets and seals due to crankcase pressurization, oil thrown out around the filler cap and consequent rough engine operation.)

 

[AWD93TSi]

Make sure your valve cover isnt cracked. They like to crack down in the "spark plug valley" as I call it, closest to the cam gears, right on the 90* transition. I have the same problem and I think thats why my car idles all kinds of crazy.

 

[tsi1991awd]

I changed my VC gaskets and that didn't help me. Oil in still around the spark plug area...I'm thinking it's cracked somewhere, I just can't see it.

 

[timsturbotalon]

maybe a crack valve cover. reason i say that is because i just ran in to the same prob.

 

[jayiszraw]

these dsms are funny i have the exact same problem. i might just change my gaskets, cover, and cap.

 

[99 GST-R]

Also check and see if you tightened the bolts down tight enough. I didn't tighten mine down enough after I painted my VC, and I had oil in the same place. Be careful not to get it too tight, or it will crack for sure.

 

[Gstclipse69]

Definitely dont overtighten. Chiltons says 4-5 ft lbs. Thats a bit more than finger tight.