Valve seal leakage??
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K20 (09-01-2018)
08-26-2018, 02:29 AM
#12
The problem was not present before your work. The work you did was to pull the valve cover and cams and change out the retainers and reassemble, nothing else. Seems its got to be something about the seal between the valve cover and the head.
You say "I notice quite a bit of oil pooling near the exhaust side of cylinder 3 and 4." This is odd. Do you mean there is oil pooling inside the cover, or outside the cover? Are you referencing the oil in the picture that is outside the cover on the engine?
Is there any chance the normal oil under the valve cover is not draining properly? I agree though, it looks like the gasket might be leaking so I would pull the valve cover, clean it up, use new gasket, take care putting it back on following proper procedure. But, try to see if there is any explanation for the oil under the cover not draining to the oil pan properly. That part of your description is the only clue I can see to follow and I'm not crystal clear what you are seeing as far as oil accumulation.
You say "I notice quite a bit of oil pooling near the exhaust side of cylinder 3 and 4." This is odd. Do you mean there is oil pooling inside the cover, or outside the cover? Are you referencing the oil in the picture that is outside the cover on the engine?
Is there any chance the normal oil under the valve cover is not draining properly? I agree though, it looks like the gasket might be leaking so I would pull the valve cover, clean it up, use new gasket, take care putting it back on following proper procedure. But, try to see if there is any explanation for the oil under the cover not draining to the oil pan properly. That part of your description is the only clue I can see to follow and I'm not crystal clear what you are seeing as far as oil accumulation.
Last edited by rpg51; 08-26-2018 at 02:40 AM.
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K20 (09-01-2018)
08-27-2018, 05:25 PM
#14
Registered User
Thread Starter
OP, the engine is tilted towards the passenger side with the exhaust so of course it runs to that. When you took the VC off did you remove the Cam(TDC) sensors to make clearance to pull the VC off? It looks like your oil is running from the driver side Cam(TDC) sensor O-Ring down the corner of the VC onto the mating surface and running to the exhaust side.
If you did remove your TDC sensors you need new O-Rings
If you did remove your TDC sensors you need new O-Rings
New gasket...no improvement
08-27-2018, 05:30 PM
#15
Registered User
Thread Starter
The problem was not present before your work. The work you did was to pull the valve cover and cams and change out the retainers and reassemble, nothing else. Seems its got to be something about the seal between the valve cover and the head.
You say "I notice quite a bit of oil pooling near the exhaust side of cylinder 3 and 4." This is odd. Do you mean there is oil pooling inside the cover, or outside the cover? Are you referencing the oil in the picture that is outside the cover on the engine?
Is there any chance the normal oil under the valve cover is not draining properly? I agree though, it looks like the gasket might be leaking so I would pull the valve cover, clean it up, use new gasket, take care putting it back on following proper procedure. But, try to see if there is any explanation for the oil under the cover not draining to the oil pan properly. That part of your description is the only clue I can see to follow and I'm not crystal clear what you are seeing as far as oil accumulation.
You say "I notice quite a bit of oil pooling near the exhaust side of cylinder 3 and 4." This is odd. Do you mean there is oil pooling inside the cover, or outside the cover? Are you referencing the oil in the picture that is outside the cover on the engine?
Is there any chance the normal oil under the valve cover is not draining properly? I agree though, it looks like the gasket might be leaking so I would pull the valve cover, clean it up, use new gasket, take care putting it back on following proper procedure. But, try to see if there is any explanation for the oil under the cover not draining to the oil pan properly. That part of your description is the only clue I can see to follow and I'm not crystal clear what you are seeing as far as oil accumulation.
I have also noticed that my oil dip stick level drops 2 "diamonds" in terms of oil level after I start the car
This is an "after" oil level. Before starting the car oil was 1 "diamond" below full mark.
The reason I was thinking it might be the valve seals was maybe I accidentally 'pulled up' one of the seals along with the valve stem as I was decompressing the spring after placing in the AP2 keepers; however I see no abnormality visually...
Last edited by K20; 08-27-2018 at 05:52 PM.
08-27-2018, 05:49 PM
#16
Registered User
Thread Starter
Started it up again and took a video of the fumes. It actually looks to me now that the smoke is actually coming from exhaust manifold and not the valve cover. Cover is tight and flush.
08-27-2018, 06:16 PM
#17
Registered User
Thread Starter
Have you let the car sit for some hours and checked the piston top for oil through the spark hole to verify it's a valve seal? And have you considered you might need a new header gasket or retorque the header from an exhaust leak, and that it is not from the valve cover?
I wasn't trying to be smart about the orientation just the picture made it hard to see, and I wasn't sure if you removed the TDC sensors, as they leak pretty good if you do. But not enough to smoke that much. Even a bad valve cover gasket typically won't leak that much.
I wasn't trying to be smart about the orientation just the picture made it hard to see, and I wasn't sure if you removed the TDC sensors, as they leak pretty good if you do. But not enough to smoke that much. Even a bad valve cover gasket typically won't leak that much.
I visually checked the valve stem/seals after removing everything again however I don't see an issue. Granted, it is very tough to visually inspect the seals without removing the springs and retainers again (which I may have to)....... Here is a pic of the intake valvetrain right after I finished the job
Last edited by K20; 08-27-2018 at 06:21 PM.
09-01-2018, 01:33 PM
#18
Registered User
Thread Starter
Problem solved. Thank you everyone! The issue ended up being much minor than I thought. A friend who is a mechanic told me to run the car longer. The smoke was actually burning engine oil like some members said which leaked onto the exhaust manifold when I unbolted and removed the cams/cam towers; there were oil stains on the ground right underneath the header area (didn't realize I had spilt so much). I actually had to let the car run for 5-8 mins to heat the headers up enough to burn off all the oil. I just previously shut the car off too early (after ~1 min) which was not enough time to burn off the oil (I was worried as it was a ton of smoke) LOL...I guess thats where mechanics with experience shines. I drove the S2K today and runs like I remember with no issues. Thank you again everyone for your replies!
09-02-2018, 01:51 AM
#19
Great. But, you reported that you were losing oil at each start up?
09-02-2018, 03:30 PM
#20
Registered User
Thread Starter
Yeah that was the only observation left unaccounted for, and I think I might have an explaination.... When the head was disassembled, there is actually a considerable amount of oil in the channels of the cams/towers, rocker arms/pins, and pooled around the valve area.
When I restarted the car, oil needs to be pumped back into the head from the pan; hence a lower reading. I lost 2 ‘diamonds’ which really is roughly 1/4 of a quart as full to empty on the dipstick is one full quart.
I probably checked and rechecked my oil over half a dozen times before, during, and after driving it yesterday and so far no considerable change in level.
Thanks again, K20
When I restarted the car, oil needs to be pumped back into the head from the pan; hence a lower reading. I lost 2 ‘diamonds’ which really is roughly 1/4 of a quart as full to empty on the dipstick is one full quart.
I probably checked and rechecked my oil over half a dozen times before, during, and after driving it yesterday and so far no considerable change in level.
Thanks again, K20