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Severe (?) Valve cover gasket leak

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    Severe (?) Valve cover gasket leak

    I know, I know, it's an M20, the valve cover gasket seeps.

    I've had a steadily worsening leak at the front lower corner of the valve cover over the past year or so, no matter how new or which gasket brand I use.

    It's bad enough that the front header heat shield is soaked in oil, and the #1 plug gets a little fouled from the seepage down the threads.


    My question is this: is a head-coating, heat-shield-soaking size leak "normal" amounts of leakage? If not, what would be the fix?


    I've actually begun to wonder if the oil spray tube over the cams might have a loose or backed out nut on that side, which might explain the localized heavy seepage.


    Any advice?
    I wash BMWs all day at a dealership. Do you have any idea how much i8's suck to do anything but look at?

    #2
    Are you sure it's the valve cover ?

    Check that the valve cover isn't getting hung up on the rocker shaft lock plate. Don't over tighten the nuts and I use permatex non hardening tacky sealant to help
    89 E30 325is Lachs Silber - currently M20B31, M20B33 in the works, stroked to the hilt...

    new build thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=317505

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      #3
      I wouldn't say any substantial leak is "normal". You could have a warped valve cover (lay it on a plate of glass to check) or one of your rocker shaft plugs is either rock hard or not in position.
      Seat Shocks....I have passed the baton to John Christy from Ninestitch. Email John or Garrett at ninestitch1@gmail.com

      https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...86#post4944786
      Alice the Time Capsule
      http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=360504
      87 Zinno Cabrio barn find 98k and still smells like a barn. Build thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...20#post3455220

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        #4
        My money is on the shaft plugs too.

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          #5
          Shaft plugs were replaced about 3 months ago with the gasket for a Inspection II service. I always put new plugs in when I do a gasket.

          I’m going to check the cover for warpage next time I have it off, and I also plan to use a coat of RTV equivalent on the new gasket, rather than just where the plug/head/gasket meet as I have been.
          I wash BMWs all day at a dealership. Do you have any idea how much i8's suck to do anything but look at?

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