Took off valve cover - See daylight over tubes

[kach22i]

Can someone explain what going on here, might I be missing a gasket or something at my oil return tubes?

I power-washed my engine prior to starting a valve adjustment, and I swear some water came out with a few drops of oil when I took the lower covers off.

[cgarr]

Thats open between the cylinder heads. or do you see light inside the return tube?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by cgarr

Thats open between the cylinder heads. or do you see light inside the return tube?

No light in the tube.

That's what I'm talking about, thank you for the picture.


If you drive in the rain, doesn't water get into the heads and then into your oil?

[cgarr]

You had water laying in the lower cover in that open cavity. The lower cover it tilted inward at the bottom and you will collect water in that open area.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by cgarr

You had water laying in the lower cover in that open cavity. The lower cover it tilted inward at the bottom and you will collect water in that open area.

That sounds correct, but why is it done this way?

Isn't water in the engine bad?

On a hard turn I'm pretty sure that water can get mixed into the main oil flow.

[cgarr]

The valve cover seals between that open area and the oil, When you twin plug an engine this is where you bore the hole for the lower plugs, its open to free air, or water but sealed from the oil. The upper covers are the same way.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by cgarr

The valve cover seals between that open area and the oil, When you twin plug an engine this is where you bore the hole for the lower plugs, its open to free air, or water but sealed from the oil. The upper covers are the same way.

I trust with time I will understand the design better.

For now, I thank you for all the information you have provided, and hope some of it sinks in.

I have been doing a lot of work on the car before I insure it for the road. The "to-do" list is slowly shrinking.

It took me almost two days in +90 degree weather just to switch the wipe blades, it was just one little mechanic man in the 101 Projects book.

[Flieger]

Basically, Porsche did not bother to cut that bit of the valve cover out.

[James Brown]

LOL, love this stuff, lots pf people freak out at there first valve adjustment!! Think of the engine as 6 individual cylinders arranged in two banks. The space between the cylinders was left open so air (remember air cools this thing) can circulate around the very hot heads/exhaust. Porsche could have used 12 small valve covers instead of the 4 valve covers. Look at your first picture and see how the gasket snakes around the rocker arm pocket. You see oil on the inside of the gasket and air/oil/crap/light on the outside of the gasket.
How many miles on the engine? and your just noticing it now? sorry, couldn't resist.