[filhotran]

I replaced my valve cover and gasket over the weekend, but I checked under the hood and there's still a small leak towards the front of the tray on the left side of my engine. Could this be any other leak or did is this more likely from an installation error?

[tcphoto]

Did you clean the aluminum shelf thoroughly after installing it? I remember how amazed I was when I finished the DIY and cleaned the shelf. I do check it from time to time and it still looks great nearly four years later. You may have a little residual but did you tighten and then torque in the correct order, inward bolts first and then outward on opposite sides till you go all around if I remember correctly.

[E93Dude]

Done this repair before. It almost certainly has to do with an installation error. I am not saying that to be mean, just honest. And to be fair, it can be hard to properly seat the gasket given how large the VCG is, and how far back in the engine bay it is. As far as I can see, you should probably remove the valve cover again, and double check your work. If you crimped the gasket, you might also want to have a fresh, new one on hand just on case. I did a VCG replacement by first seating the gasket on the engine head, locking it in place with a few beads of Ultra Black gasket gel along the periphery, and then gingerly placing the valve cover by feel on top of the seated gasket.

I also sacrificed one of my dog’s stuffed racoons, lit a candle and drank some sacremental bourbon at the end of the job, which I think really sealed the deal…

[filhotran]

Thanks for the responses, as much as I am dreading to take it apart to double check, I was hoping that an installation error was the issue because if it was something else then it might be an even more expensive repair haha