Oil is leaking around the valve cover... only 13,000 miles. PICS!

[Andrew A4]

So today a friend wanted to check out my engine, so I pop the hood and to my horror, I immediately noticed oil all around both the left and right sides of the valve cover in my 2007 B7 2.0T's engine. Oil was also pooled up in many of the areas where the bolts hold down the valve cover. To top it off, it seems it's also coming from behind the timing belt cover area.

As you can imagine, I'm thoroughly pissed and have to take the car into Audi this morning (Thursday) @ 8am for them to fix it. I'm sure they'll need the car for the full day as well.... so they better give me a decent rental off their own lot. None of this "enterprise rent-a-POS".

The oil level isn't actually that low. Probably 1/2 way between min and max.

What do you guys think about my diagnosis of this problem? I also noticed that many of the bolts which secure the valve cover to the head also seemed less tight than they definitely should be.

Here are a few shots i took after wiping down some of the oil....

[CX-7&A4]

Oh don't worry, it might be a Hertz.

Your Hyundai Sonata is waiting for you.

Seriously, I think the rentals they provide are absolutely terrible, at LEAST put me in something comparable, not some Korean tin can, that's all that they've given me, Hyundai Sonatas.

But I'd like to hear what exactly is the cause for the excess of oil.

[Forfour]

Thats rough, but hit up the dealership and give them grief about it. Its not catastrophic but still something isnt right.. As for the rentals. I've always gotten brand new A4s... Last time it was an Avant fresh out of PDI with 6 miles on it...

[Andrew A4]

Well i'm just about to run down to the dealer, but i decided to cancel my appt at Circle Imports due to them always being TOO BUSY. I'm going to run it over to Penske Audi of West Covina. At least i can test drive cars and maybe get something nice if I get a rental for the day. If not.... i'll just work from their lounge on my laptop.

"Hey Brendan.... so want to hook me up with the R8 for my daily rental? hahh!" (i drove it once before.... nice machine.)

[Sanjman]

Penske is the only place you should be going to.

[AudiWxGuy]

Your chipped, which you didn't mention. It's most likely your PCV valve. If it's not, I'd be very surprised. Take it to the dealer, they should replace it under warranty.

[A4 S-Line]

It's most likely your PCV valve. If it's not, I'd be very surprised. Take it to the dealer, they should replace it under warranty.

x2

[4-tified]

It looks more like a PCV rather than you valve cover leaking.
Towards the back you see splatter which is coming out under high pressure.
Generally speaking, a valve cover leak doesn't spray out under pressure, unless there is also something wrong with the PCV.

You didn't show a pic, but was there substantial oil seepage/leakage around your oil cap?

[audiflyer]

Ya looked like your oil cap is missing

[nSun]

it's your valve cover gasket

[INTEGRATION]

Most likely it's the PCV- just take it to the dealer and get warranty work done to it.

[Phrost]

PCV valve. Covered under warranty. Don't sweat it.

[rlopez]

I had a leak in the same areas, dealer covered under warranty. Problem? crankcase valve went bad. Also update to engine management system. No problem since

[07audi4]

its a bad PCV for sure. mine looked the exact same way. just get a new pcv and clean up your motor and you'll be good as new

[AudiWxGuy]

I had a leak in the same areas, dealer covered under warranty. Problem? crankcase valve went bad. Also update to engine management system. No problem since

Synonymous with PCV I believe.

[Andrew A4]

It looks more like a PCV rather than you valve cover leaking.
Towards the back you see splatter which is coming out under high pressure.
Generally speaking, a valve cover leak doesn't spray out under pressure, unless there is also something wrong with the PCV.

You didn't show a pic, but was there substantial oil seepage/leakage around your oil cap?

Yeah. A good amount of pooled up oil around the cap.

[autoverruckt]

So there is not an aftermarket version of this PCV, correct? Sounds like it will go bad every 10k chipped miles. Just asking because my secret 'chip' fund has almost reached maturity. Just gotta choose between GIAC and APR now.

[4-tified]

Yeah. A good amount of pooled up oil around the cap.

Take it in. It looks very much like a VERY bad PCV.
Modern valve cover gaskets are very good at sealing.
Of course, that doesn't mean that some don't fail.
It just doesn't look like a valve gasket problem though.

If you've got quite a bit, or even some, oil spatter/pooling/splash around your oil filler cap, that's a classic symptom of PCV.

BTW, for those who may not know, PCV=positive crankcase ventilation.

[nSun]

Take it in. It looks very much like a VERY bad PCV.
Modern valve cover gaskets are very good at sealing.
Of course, that doesn't mean that some don't fail.
It just doesn't look like a valve gasket problem though.

If you've got quite a bit, or even some, oil spatter/pooling/splash around your oil filler cap, that's a classic symptom of PCV.

BTW, for those who may not know, PCV=positive crankcase ventilation.

my valve cover gasket has failed twice already, the second time was caused by shitty work done by the dealership. i think it's becoming a common problem these days since general mileage of the b7's are stacking up.

[Andrew A4]

Well I took it into Penske Audi of West Covina and the problem was indeed the PCV valve. The fix was extremely quick and the team at Penske (Jason) did a great job helping me out.

I talked with a couple mechanics while back in the service area checking out an R8 that was being serviced and they said the PCV valve is not a common problem and they didn't believe the chip i'm running was part of the failure.

Anyways... props to Penske Audi for another great experience.

(btw.... I love how they have Wi-Fi internet to help pass the time. :) )

[autoverruckt]

vote to make this thread a sticky due to pics and info. combined with this thread http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...hlight=PCV+DIY
(Andrew, upload pics onto your audizine gallery if this thing becomes a sticky!)

[4-tified]

my valve cover gasket has failed twice already, the second time was caused by shitty work done by the dealership. i think it's becoming a common problem these days since general mileage of the b7's are stacking up.

"Of course that doesn't mean that some won't fail."

It's not very common at all as most B7's don't have high mileage.

Also, some seepage is common in higher mileage cars, but's that's a far cry from an actual leak.

Bad workmanship doesn't make the problem any better.
That sucks.