leaking valve cover - IDI Engine - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• leaking valve cover by bigJ on 13 Apr, 2008 10:35
• I purchased an aftermarket head two years ago from a vendor who had found a batch in a wharehouse in Germany. I finally got around to installing it after doing some port and polishing. Once installed I could not get the valve cover to stop leaking. It turns out that the valve cover gasket sealing surface is too wide allowing the cover to sit on top.
  http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=45461199/PictureID=4783954770/a=55513749_55513749/t_=555137499675/a=55513749_55513749/t_=55513749[/url]
• #1 by burn_your_money on 13 Apr, 2008 15:23
• try switching to a cork gasket
• #2 by subsonic on 13 Apr, 2008 18:55
• Was this from a vendor in CA, who also sells on ebay?  Who is the maker of the head?
• #3 by bigJ on 13 Apr, 2008 22:11
• Yes this was from california and also sells on e-bay. I could not find a single stamping or casting on who made this head. I do not blame the vendor as the fault was at the manufacturing level.
• #4 by mufflerbearing on 14 Apr, 2008 01:03
• i dont see how a cork gasket will help as it sounds like the edge of the valve cover is hitting the head.
  
  i would try machining down the edge of the head or switching out to a valve cover that does not have a lip coming down over the edge of the head. g60 valve cover for example.
  
  -j
• #5 by myke_w on 14 Apr, 2008 02:32
• could you snap a pic of the head and post it?
• #6 by subsonic on 14 Apr, 2008 05:49
• Quote from: "bigJ"

  Yes this was from california and also sells on e-bay. I could not find a single stamping or casting on who made this head. I do not blame the vendor as the fault was at the manufacturing level.

  
  
  Was it ecstyln or something close to that?
• #7 by bigJ on 14 Apr, 2008 21:14
• I was able to use a Dermel and a hacksaw blade to remove the excess material while still on the vehicle and presto no more leaks. Before discovering the problem I was ready to retrofit a 1.6 valve cover which would require drilling and tapping for studs. Thank God it didn't come down to that!