Bizarre problem
 

Last week, I had the valves done on my 85 944 N/A (burnt valve, no compression on #2 cylinder). Everything went fine and the car ran great after.

So, I am driving along and I smell oil. I park and open the hood. There is oil all over the engine. The camshaft cover has a 3-4" hole in it at the back (the 'P' in PORSCHE is gone!). I can see the cam through it.

The mechanic checks it out. Can't figure it out. Nothing mechanically wrong, no pieces breaking loose, engine still running smooth and strong. He removes the cover, welds the hole shut, replaces the gaskets and puts it back together, Everything running fine again.

What gives? Metal fatigue? Anyone had this happen to them? It is common for the cover to crack? Anything to do with the aluminum alloy used? Should I be concerned that something else will crack?

Actually I have never heard of this kind of thing in all the years I've own the 944 (though cracked valve covers on 911 are not unheard of). Any feedback would be welcome.

never heard of that happening before! And I'm pretty sure that kind of thing is never suppose to happen. I'm stumpted to how a metal chunk could blow off like that given that the housing wall is fairly thick! Geeze, good thing the car is still alive after oil blowing out of the thing.

Have never seen that happen. I've seen them warp, but never have seen chunks fly off of them when driving. As wannabe stated, they are rather thick. I am more inclined to believe someone dropped it or cracked it some other way. Unless.... when it was being replaced, someone overtorqued one of the camshaft cover plugs and cracked it that way.

I would check all the other nuts/bolts/plugs for proper torque. Would also get one of those kits used to find cracks in metal. Many auto stores carry them - it is a red spray - you spray it on and let it sit for a few monutes, then you spray it again with a solvent - the red washes off - except in any cracks.

If you need to replace it, http://www.20thstreetauto.com has good used parts that are fairly inexpensive.

AFJuvat

Me thinks something "extra" was left in the cover and the cam lobe picked it up only to find the outter casting in the way. What ever it was just may still be in the cam galley. Waiting.

SoCal ... you are horrible!!!!

Whats funny is that I almost left a bolt inside the last time I was playing in there! It sure is possible.

:eek:

I'm thinking one of the valves only has one of the two keepers in it.

Would be interesting should the remaining one "migrate".

Waiting.

*Ques "Jaws" theme*