The other week I had to replace my Valve cover gasket because oil was getting into the sparkplugs. With the new gasket I don't have oil going into the sparkplugs anymore.. But now I have developed a leak at the rear of the valve cover. I have left it as I just had to replace the water pump (no leaks so far) so I am about to be back to this damn valve cover. Any suggestions?

 

Did you use a small amount of sealant at the corners where the gasket rides up and over the cam chain tensioner? Did you properly torque the nuts?

It is also possible the half moon seal or cam chain tensioner seal are leaking.

 

OP didn't specify which engine he has too. The 1.8T VCGs fit nicely but the 2.8 gaskets seem "long" at install, in that if you're not careful at the corners, you can end up with the gasket out of the channel and protruding, causing a leak.

 

I have a 1.8t AEB engine. I did place a small amount of sealant where specified in the haynes manual, and all nuts are torqued spec. And where would a cam tensioner seal leak?

Thanks for the quick replies I appreciate it

 

CCT and half-moon seals are on the back side of the head. With the valve cover removed, you'll see where part of the tensioner sits on the head. The seal is under that. The half-moon seal sits in a semicircular notch in the head, also on the back. Both can leak and cause the headaches you describe. They're available in a kit for less than $20.

 

It wasnt leking before I replaced the valve cover gasket it was only getting into the spark plugs, that's why I'm a little confused. I'll definitely take a look in the DIY section for this! Thank you

 

+1

I was just looking at that lower rear seal on my car yesterday - while the tranny was out and my mechanic said that he always sees people replacing their valve cover gaskets over and over, because they don't know that (relatively small) seal even exists.

It's a bitch to get to, but he said that usually ends up going bad sooner and more often the valve cover gasket.

 

Did you clean the old gasket residue off the head and valve cover? I've seen gasket leaks made worse after "fixing" because the residue wasn't cleaned off. It also helps to torque the bolts in a star pattern in 2-3 stages.