Valve Cover Gaskets

[alphaVR]

I had my local VW/Audi shop do a top-end reseal including valve cover gaskets, half moon seals, and tensioner gaskets after the ones I installed a couple years ago decided to start leaking. Again. This was about 6 months and about 4,000 miles ago. Lately I've noticed yet again there is oil that finds its way onto my passenger exhaust manifold that burns off when I start the car. It doesn't seem like it's leaking much and really only becomes apparent when the car sits for a while. I've talked to my buddy, the mechanic at the shop who did the work and he vouches for installing them right (he works on a lot of older Audi's and has a wealth of experience that I can't find elsewhere) and said that while normally he opts for OEM gaskets, he instead prefers the Victor Reinz gaskets which makes complete sense to me.

Really though it seems weird to be having the same problem again after such a short period of time given that I opted to pay someone with far more experience than I did to install them. Could I have had a bad gasket? Sure... I suppose that's possible, but at a high level it seems rather unlikely. All that said what else besides a possibly cause a valve cover gasket to leak when parked? Could it be a PCV pressure issue? Install error? Signs of something more concerning?

For reference, I have an 034 spider hose on the car now but have a catch can system going on soon. The car is also running a 25# tune on my FT21s with upgraded everything to go with it. Any input is appreciated.

[zatch_303]

I'm in the same boat. Had them installed at a shop while doing motor mounts and after <5K miles and less than 6 months they are leaking again. Absolutely should not happen in such a short time frame and with such little miles put on it since install. I was also told that Victor Reinz was the way to go. I will be going with a different brand the next time around. Just annoying when you think it is one less thing you will need to worry about for a few years at least, but then it turns out to be a waste of time and money and the problem persists.

[CELison]

You sure your valve covers aren't warped at all?

[Alex1188]

I had a similar problem, decided to throw on the newest revised oil cap(vented) and have never had a problem since and my leaking has stopped. I also have the 034 spider hose.

[alphaVR]

You sure your valve covers aren't warped at all?

Honestly couldn't tell you unless there was an easy way to check without taking them off.

I had a similar problem, decided to throw on the newest revised oil cap(vented) and have never had a problem since and my leaking has stopped. I also have the 034 spider hose.

What's the P/N on that? I'll check it against what I have installed. Brief check online at least visually matches what I have

[CELison]

Can't tell with them on the car.

And this is the cap. I have it on my car as well. https://www.ecstuning.com/b-vemo-par...oaAkyCEALw_wcB

[alphaVR]

Looks similar to what I have. I'll check the P/N to be sure. Is it worth replacing with how cheap they are?

[Alex1188]

What's the P/N on that? I'll check it against what I have installed. Brief check online at least visually matches what I have

OEM part# 078103485F

I bought the OEM Audi part, I don't know if there are any difference vs the part that was posted above.

[PwrWgn]

Vented oil cap is a good thing to have but I don't see how this would make a difference if your car leaks while parked.

Elring and VR are both fine gasket-wise. My experience favors Elring.

[cjt671]

You could ask him if he used the Audi spec RTV in the corners of the valve covers or you could use a mirror to see if there is any RTV squeezed out of the back bottom corner.. I would normally not use RTV in combination with a gasket.. but that is the way the factory service manual says to do it and I was able to seal up my valve covers using that method


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[cjt671]

Also, I personally would not use the 034 spider hose or a catch can on these cars with a standard stage 3 setup.. I believe the 034 spider hose is known to kink and that can prevent CCG from venting as they should. The standard spider hose with the updated vented oil cap is what I use on my water injected K04 car.


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[waveblaster200]

I just put a order in for a 034 spider hose, would I be better off going with a new Oem one?

[cjt671]

I just put a order in for a 034 spider hose, would I be better off going with a new Oem one?

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...her-Hose-Issue

That's up to you.. Just stating my preference as I've used both silicone spider hose set up and brand new OEM. Brand new OEM will function and fit perfectly for stage 3 cars, just gotta be careful when doing maintenance and it should last over 50k before becoming brittle like they normally are on these cars..


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[alphaVR]

The whole reason I got the catch can was almost due entirely to not liking how the 034 breather hose had a kink coming up off the check valve into the manifold. I actually see I commented in that thread a couple years ago, too... crazy. Personally I am not a fan of the OEM breather only because the plastic will, invariably, fail as its heat cycled over and over.

IF the PCV hose is the culprit here, would fixing that potentially stop the leak, or is it one of those situations where the gasket is already failed and the only fix is replacing it?

[vavJETTAw36]

I’d go back to oem pcv system with a vented cap. Just make a new one with new fittings. You can get the fittings for like 3 or 4 bucks a piece. Then reuse or buy a new pancake. Or just larger hose and hose clamps instead of the quick release fittings.

Oh and just a word to the wise, the oem vented cap likes to purge oil every now and again. I made my own from an r8 cap that’s baffled with a filter to catch any oil (rag inside). No more oil pissing out.


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[Timtheguru]

Just put a reminder every 6 months (or sooner) to swap VCGs.

[MacDaddy]

Using VR gaskets is the problem, you gotta go with elring, you will get 2-3 years out of them as opposed to 1 year or less with other brands.

Ive used VR, Febi, some off brand, none of them last as long as elring.

[cjt671]

The whole reason I got the catch can was almost due entirely to not liking how the 034 breather hose had a kink coming up off the check valve into the manifold. I actually see I commented in that thread a couple years ago, too... crazy. Personally I am not a fan of the OEM breather only because the plastic will, invariably, fail as its heat cycled over and over.

IF the PCV hose is the culprit here, would fixing that potentially stop the leak, or is it one of those situations where the gasket is already failed and the only fix is replacing it?

Did you find out if the mechanic used RTV in the corners of the gasket?


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[alphaVR]

Using VR gaskets is the problem, you gotta go with elring, you will get 2-3 years out of them as opposed to 1 year or less with other brands.

Ive used VR, Febi, some off brand, none of them last as long as elring.

Good to know. Last VC kit I bought was from Blauparts but I am not sure what brand those were. I'll look at getting Elring gaskets from FCP euro

Did you find out if the mechanic used RTV in the corners of the gasket?

Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to check, but I will later this week.

[landfill]

There could be a few factors at play.

1. Warping or damage to valve cover or
head mating surface.

2. Defective or improperly installed gasket.
Yes it happens on occasion even with
experience. Shit happens!

3. Bad Pcv valve/positive crankcase pressure
will cause oil leaks

4. I was taught to always use RTV on sharp
edges, half moons, or humps. A lot of times
I’ll just put a very thin coat on everything.

5. Improper bolt torque over and under or
broken/stripped hardware.