Leak down the valve cover

[COLB]

After perusing the grillion oil leak threads, I don't have a great answer.

After dropping my engine last month to fix the trinity, the oil cooler, and the cam lines, a new oil leak has emerged:



This oil is dripping down from the top of the driver's side lower valve cover, from the front (transmission side) of the engine. After driving, it drips about a quarter-sized amount.

The valve cover gaskets are new, with the silicon bead. The oil is running down the left edge of the valve cover from the top left corner (toward the from of the engine), but it is not clear if it is actually coming out of the top corner of the valve cover, or from somewhere else.

What is baffling is that there really isn't anything above the valve cover that could leak, is there?

I initially tightened the valve covers to 8 ft/lbs as recommended by Wayne's book. When I saw it was leaking, I re-torqued the driver's side cover to 18 ft/lbs as per Zimmerman's recommendation. But there is no change in the leak.

Could it be coming from the #3 cylinder? When I adjusted the valves the head studs were all good, as were the rocker seals.

I guess I can get another gasket kit, and redo the driver's side to see if that fixes it -- but I understand that is going to cause a huge mess unless I drain the oil first.

Does this look familiar? Any recommendations other than use a drip pan, and drive it until it needs its next oil change?

Thanks!

[pors1968]

I would recheck rear roker shaft.

[COLB]

Originally Posted by pors1968

I would recheck rear roker shaft.

Thanks -- I guess this is possible, but they were are well seated when I checked the valves, and weren't removed or messed with.

Also, I would think the oil would be running straight down the cylinder cooling vanes rather than running down the outside of the valve cover.

I will pull the top valve cover to check the rocker shafts at the same time I replace the lower.

[kodioneill]

Check the top cover for warping. Check the intake rocker shafts.

[bcoats]

I have something similar and checked everything like you and have been told it is more than likely leaky cam tower seal(s). . .good luck and hope you find it

[dicklague]

I found a leaking banjo fitting once causing this, but I don't think there is one one the forward end of the intake cove on the driver side. Mine was in the rear and the fitting was somehow not tight enough. Took a couple of months to figure it out!!

[COLB]

Originally Posted by bcoats

I have something similar and checked everything like you and have been told it is more than likely leaky cam tower seal(s). . .good luck and hope you find it

It's leaking from the front (transmission side) of the engine, not from the cam tower.

I am hoping it is a rocker shaft worked loose. Will pull the upper valve cover this evening and check it out.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

[COLB]

To close this out for posterity, I removed the upper valve cover, wiped it down, and re-torqued to 18 ft/lbs (from the original 8 I used). This seems to have stopped the leak.

I've heard folks say that the uppers don't leak -- well, I guess they will at 8 ft/lbs!