Engine Gasket Leak (maybe?)
#1
Engine Gasket Leak (maybe?)
I just took my 2005 Scion tC in for a quick oil change, and the mechanic pointed out that i may have an engine gasket leak based on the residue on the outside of the engine.
He recommended that I replace the gasket.
I have included two photos:
a. close up of the engine at the engine cover
b. engine at the engine cover after i wiped away a small section of residue.
IIRC, my engine has always been this dirty. My car is old. Also, I check my engine oil level every 6 weeks. I have never had an issue of low engine oil liquid level.
My questions are these:
1. Do you all think i really have a leak, and if so, is this a major issue warranting an engine gasket replacement operation?
2. If you think there is a leak, can I just remove the plastic engine cover, and tighten the eight bolts that secures the metal engine cover to the main engine?
Thanks.
PS. I had previous posted a question about engine noise (https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sci...2/#post4284914). Now that it is in the summer time, the noise went away. IIRC, this pretty much happens annually. Thanks for everyone's help on this, too.
He recommended that I replace the gasket.
I have included two photos:
a. close up of the engine at the engine cover
b. engine at the engine cover after i wiped away a small section of residue.
IIRC, my engine has always been this dirty. My car is old. Also, I check my engine oil level every 6 weeks. I have never had an issue of low engine oil liquid level.
My questions are these:
1. Do you all think i really have a leak, and if so, is this a major issue warranting an engine gasket replacement operation?
2. If you think there is a leak, can I just remove the plastic engine cover, and tighten the eight bolts that secures the metal engine cover to the main engine?
Thanks.
PS. I had previous posted a question about engine noise (https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sci...2/#post4284914). Now that it is in the summer time, the noise went away. IIRC, this pretty much happens annually. Thanks for everyone's help on this, too.
Last edited by MR_LUV; 07-25-2018 at 08:36 AM.
#3
FYI, online research seems to indicate that this issue is real and can potentially be bad. Some people recommend tightening the bolts on the cylinder head cover. So, i will clean up the engine exterior, tighten up the bolts slightly, and then see if the leak persists.
#4
A valve cover gasket isn't a strenuous job, just a few bolts and the valve cover comes off, you then pop in the new vc seal with some black silicone in a few places and you're good to go. Usually with that type of leak you can see a clear trail of oil coming from the leaking area. That looks like a fine mist so I'm not convinced the vc seal needs replacing from those pics. Pull the plastic engine cover off and see if anything looks leaky up there - might just be extra residue from oil changes and topping off.
#6
Valve cover gasket can be found online for ~$20. It's an easy job. That kind of leaking is pretty common, especially considering your car is 13+ years old. Not a major issue, but leaving it alone can get messy. When you reinstall the new gasket, put 2 dabs of RTV where the head and timing cover meet. Also, make sure to torque everything to spec so you don't overtighten. I would retighten everything after a few hundred miles, as the bolts sometimes start to loosen as the gasket heat cycles.
#8
It's a simple job my dude. Just don't go crazy with the RTV and only apply it where the gasket makes their bends. Plus it's a cheap way to figure and good maintenance upkeep to see where oil is leaking and preventing. It's like swapping out new tires. These have to get replaced over time.
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