Driver side valve cover gasket leak - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

solidONE · 09-02-2014, 06:19 AM

I don't think I've seen this one posted, although it might simply be because people don't really work on their cars enough to really spot something like this.

Short story shorter, I was working under the engine with the skid plate off and discovered that my driver side valve cover gasket has oil seeping out. A small amount. The car only has 18K miles currently. Anyone else seen this?

F1point4 · 09-02-2014, 10:14 AM

Mine is on the timing chain cover meets the block and valve cover.
This is the driver side. It comes out that one spot, but blows back and covers pretty much everything behind it.

solidONE · 09-02-2014, 01:12 PM

@F1point4 What the mileage on you car and when did you discover the leak? Have you try to warranty it?

ftc~brz · 09-02-2014, 01:30 PM

vgi · 09-02-2014, 02:21 PM

Got the same leak, although not as big as ftc~brz.

There are threads on this, one or two, search.

It was around 13k when I noticed and right after I got boosted, so no warranty

will run it as is for some time and the will just trade it in for something else (not subaru. across wrx/brz these engines seem too have issues).

solidONE · 09-02-2014, 05:00 PM

Bummer... I'm hoping solutions to the issues are just around the corner for the fa20.

I haven't heard too many di seal problems after the newer tunes came out. So that's a good thing. And we got folks working on the oil pressure issue as well. Just got to be patient.

Muaddib · 09-03-2014, 11:33 PM

Don't worry there is hope!!! the ND miata is coming.

ATL BRZ · 10-16-2014, 03:59 PM

I just found a small leak at the back/bottom of my drivers side camshaft cover.

Taking it in to the dealership on Monday.

GotBRZ1691 · 10-16-2014, 04:07 PM

Subarus seem to have a long history of leaking valve covers. My 07 impreza had this issue. Replaced the gaskets when under warranty. When they went again I said F*ck it, and drove 15k plus miles before I traded my car in. That included a trip cross country too.

When I brought it in to a mechanic out here, who owned an 05 sti, he said it wasn't leaking that bad, and if it was his car he wouldn't get them replaced. Who would have thought, a mechanic actually saying no its not bad replace it later, normally they are out for your $$$s

GotBRZ1691 · 10-16-2014, 04:12 PM

I believe the mechanic said engines that are all aluminum are more prone to this because the block heats and cools faster, and the gaskets cooling rates are different and they cannot keep up with the expansion or contraction.

Plus being horizontal, gravity has more of an effect.

Astroboy · 12-06-2014, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATL BRZ

I just found a small leak at the back/bottom of my drivers side camshaft cover.

Taking it in to the dealership on Monday.

Me to. I turbocharged mine tho .. is yours still leaking? If so, is it leaking drastically? How many miles?Any mods?

ATL BRZ · 12-06-2014, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astroboy

Me to. I turbocharged mine tho .. is yours still leaking? If so, is it leaking drastically? How many miles?Any mods?

It has actually perceivably stopped leaking. Maybe it's just really slow. 11k miles. Full bolt on n/a with Flex-fuel.

Astroboy · 12-06-2014, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATL BRZ

It has actually perceivably stopped leaking. Maybe it's just really slow. 11k miles. Full bolt on n/a with Flex-fuel.

That's good to hear, congrats.
And you have not took it to the dealership yet correct? I also changed my oil to motul's x clean 5w30

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

ATL BRZ · 12-06-2014, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astroboy

That's good to hear, congrats.
And you have not took it to the dealership yet correct? I also changed my oil to motul's x clean 5w30

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I have taken it to the dealership for it once. They couldn't find the source of the leak and just cleaned it up and sent me in my way after telling me to keep an eye on it.

09-02-2014, 06:19 AM	#1
solidONE Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Drives: FR-S Whiteout Location: California Posts: 2,863 Thanks: 1,808 Thanked 790 Times in 611 Posts Mentioned: 42 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Driver side valve cover gasket leak I don't think I've seen this one posted, although it might simply be because people don't really work on their cars enough to really spot something like this. Short story shorter, I was working under the engine with the skid plate off and discovered that my driver side valve cover gasket has oil seeping out. A small amount. The car only has 18K miles currently. Anyone else seen this?

09-02-2014, 10:14 AM	#2
F1point4 Photo Specialist Join Date: Feb 2012 Drives: 2013 Toyota 86 DGM 6MT Location: Texas Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 587 Thanked 1,802 Times in 420 Posts Mentioned: 94 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Mine is on the timing chain cover meets the block and valve cover. This is the driver side. It comes out that one spot, but blows back and covers pretty much everything behind it. Attached Images __________________ Lola - Toyota 86 6MT Dark Gray Metallic My 86 Flickr Set

09-02-2014, 02:21 PM	#5
vgi Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: frs Location: nj Posts: 723 Thanks: 237 Thanked 347 Times in 232 Posts Mentioned: 58 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Got the same leak, although not as big as ftc~brz. There are threads on this, one or two, search. It was around 13k when I noticed and right after I got boosted, so no warranty will run it as is for some time and the will just trade it in for something else (not subaru. across wrx/brz these engines seem too have issues). Last edited by vgi; 09-02-2014 at 02:34 PM.

10-16-2014, 03:59 PM	#8
ATL BRZ Driving Coach Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: BRZ Location: Atlanta Posts: 3,666 Thanks: 3,723 Thanked 4,137 Times in 1,707 Posts Mentioned: 90 Post(s) Tagged: 6 Thread(s)	I just found a small leak at the back/bottom of my drivers side camshaft cover. Taking it in to the dealership on Monday. __________________ __________________________Pure Motorsport: JDL Turbo BRZ Track Build_______________________

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09-02-2014, 01:12 PM	#3
solidONE Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Drives: FR-S Whiteout Location: California Posts: 2,863 Thanks: 1,808 Thanked 790 Times in 611 Posts Mentioned: 42 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	@F1point4 What the mileage on you car and when did you discover the leak? Have you try to warranty it?

09-02-2014, 05:00 PM	#6
solidONE Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Drives: FR-S Whiteout Location: California Posts: 2,863 Thanks: 1,808 Thanked 790 Times in 611 Posts Mentioned: 42 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Bummer... I'm hoping solutions to the issues are just around the corner for the fa20. I haven't heard too many di seal problems after the newer tunes came out. So that's a good thing. And we got folks working on the oil pressure issue as well. Just got to be patient.

09-03-2014, 11:33 PM	#7
Muaddib Mentat Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: 2013 Scion FRS 6MT Location: Vancouver Posts: 542 Thanks: 666 Thanked 358 Times in 198 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Don't worry there is hope!!! the ND miata is coming.

10-16-2014, 04:07 PM	#9
GotBRZ1691 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited 6smt Location: North Bay Posts: 810 Thanks: 478 Thanked 223 Times in 179 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Subarus seem to have a long history of leaking valve covers. My 07 impreza had this issue. Replaced the gaskets when under warranty. When they went again I said F*ck it, and drove 15k plus miles before I traded my car in. That included a trip cross country too. When I brought it in to a mechanic out here, who owned an 05 sti, he said it wasn't leaking that bad, and if it was his car he wouldn't get them replaced. Who would have thought, a mechanic actually saying no its not bad replace it later, normally they are out for your $$$s

10-16-2014, 04:12 PM	#10
GotBRZ1691 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited 6smt Location: North Bay Posts: 810 Thanks: 478 Thanked 223 Times in 179 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I believe the mechanic said engines that are all aluminum are more prone to this because the block heats and cools faster, and the gaskets cooling rates are different and they cannot keep up with the expansion or contraction. Plus being horizontal, gravity has more of an effect.

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