Valve cover oil leak

max2000jp · Jul 19, 2017

I have an oil leak and the likely culprit seems to be the driver side valve cover gasket as I see oil on the power steering pump below it. The oil is then making it's way down the power steering hose and leaking on the ground. Anyone ever run into an issue with leaking valve cover gaskets? I searched and didn't find much. I figured I'd ask before heading to Ford to buy a new gasket. Thanks!

06monera96 · Jul 19, 2017

Never heard about 3v leaking from valve covers... Do you have excessive crank pressure?

skwerl · Jul 19, 2017

The factory valve cover gaskets are reusable, so if the valve cover is leaking then it's either loose or bent.

MADGT · Jul 20, 2017

What ^ said, plus changing them out is not that difficult.

86GT351 · Jul 20, 2017

Have you taken out some tools and attempted to tighten the bolts? Maybe they backed off slightly. Not that difficult to do.

Phil1098 · Jul 20, 2017

It is required to put a dab of black RTV at the joint between the head and the front cover. That may have given up. It is super easy to pull it and redo the RTV. As has been said, the gasket itself is rubber and can be reused. If that is where the leak is it HAS to be redone, once oil gets past RTV there is no amount of tightening that will seal it. The front cover, head, and valve cover need to be 100% free of oil where that RTV goes when installing or it won't seal either. Don't ask me how I know.

max2000jp · Jul 20, 2017

06monera96 said:
Never heard about 3v leaking from valve covers... Do you have excessive crank pressure?

I tested the PCV and it's working, plus I have breathers on both valve covers.

max2000jp · Jul 20, 2017

Phil1098 said:
It is required to put a dab of black RTV at the joint between the head and the front cover. That may have given up. It is super easy to pull it and redo the RTV. As has been said, the gasket itself is rubber and can be reused. If that is where the leak is it HAS to be redone, once oil gets past RTV there is no amount of tightening that will seal it. The front cover, head, and valve cover need to be 100% free of oil where that RTV goes when installing or it won't seal either. Don't ask me how I know.

I'm thinking that the RTV has given way and is leaking. The car is 12 years old, so factory RTV probably is leaking. The car sits in the winter and I haven't been driving it much the last couple of years. I am going to pull the valve cover, put a new OEM gasket on, and add black RTV in the two locations . Did you use Permatex Ultra Black or the factory specified Motorcraft TA-30 sealant?

Phil1098 · Jul 20, 2017

Permatex Ultra Black

max2000jp · Jul 20, 2017

Phil1098 said:
Permatex Ultra Black

Thanks! That's what I will use.

I am just curious. When yours was leaking, was it dripping down onto the power steering pump? My pump has oil on it.

Phil1098 · Jul 20, 2017

Can't help there, mine never leaked. I had mine off when I put in cams and replaced them with new FRPP blue covers at the same time. The leak I know about needing a dry surface for RTV was my daughters VW Beetle oil pan that I had off.

86GT351 · Jul 21, 2017

Again. Have we verified all the bolts are tight?

max2000jp · Jul 21, 2017

86GT351 said:
Again. Have we verified all the bolts are tight?

Yes, I verified that first.

07 Boss · Jul 21, 2017

max2000jp said:
I tested the PCV and it's working, plus I have breathers on both valve covers.

Ding ding ding ding.

im a ding-a-ling. Deleted my text about the wrong side of the engine. Lol

Have you looked at the cam position sensor to see if that might be it. It's I kinda in the right spot.

Valve cover oil leak

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