[bbnks2]

Originally Posted by Volasko

What colour RTV sealant are people using? I'm about to do this job and don't feel like going back again after I button up the engine.

I used RTV Ultra Black in various places. Works great for sealing up small imperfections and gluing gaskets in place for install.

[9krpmrx8]

Copper RTV is all you need.

[yupetc]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

I just finished replacement of the valvetronic motor gasket again... and I think I figured out why mine leaked and why it will probably leak again and then I can fix it once and for all.

On my valve cover when the gasket is installed where it fits naturally and likely seals the best the 2 threaded inner bolt holes for the motor are not centered in the gasket holes.



So each time I installed I have been shifting the gasket upwards to center those holes in the gasket, but now I think when I do that gasket is not nesting properly in the valve cover to seal. I need to not try and center those 2 threaded holes behind the gasket and just let it nest where it fits naturally to the valve cover.

I realized the valve cover likely has some play in how it bolts on, the head likely has a little play in all the brackets inside the valve cover and when all the tolerances stack up those holes might not center behind the gasket when the gasket is in the best spot to seal. Each time I installed including today I have been shifting the gasket to center those holes.

So the bottom line I might be doing this one more time I did smear RTV on the backside of the gasket this time so maybe that will do the trick

I had the same finding as you, so I put it on a vice and use a drill bit to grind the mounting hole in order to move the gasket for a better fit. Then I also applied the RTV sealant. Don't remember what color, but it was one of those high temp ones from advanceautomarts. So far so good, no leak for more than a year now.

[wacuna]

The design is crappy. This is the second time I do it in less than a year.

I'm thankful for this forum as I'm following the RTV advice.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by yupetc

I had the same finding as you, so I put it on a vice and use a drill bit to grind the mounting hole in order to move the gasket for a better fit. Then I also applied the RTV sealant. Don't remember what color, but it was one of those high temp ones from advanceautomarts. So far so good, no leak for more than a year now.

So guess who was leaking again... and only 4 weeks later with RTV applied lol



So I think (really hope) today will be the last time I have to do this job for a while. I ovalled out the holes on the gasket upwards where the E8 torx valvetronic motor bolts go like you did.

Before I did this I did a test fit of the gasket to the valve cover and I saw those bolt holes in the head were half covered by the gasket holes when the gasket was centered properly. After ovaling they allowed the gasket to stay centered on the valve cover when the motor was bolted up.

I also rtv’ed the gasket interface to the plastic valve cover and the motor to the gasket, and allowed time for the rtv to take a set before torquing everything.

If it leaks again I give up lol. This is the 4th time I’ve replaced that gasket in a year!

[Volasko]

That lower edge of the plastic valve cover looks hacked up, isn't that one of the surfaces the gasket needs to seal?

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by Volasko

That lower edge of the plastic valve cover looks hacked up, isn't that one of the surfaces the gasket needs to seal?

I took that pic before I cleaned off the old rtv and that’s what you are seeing there.

[kern417]

Did this end up fixing the issue for good? I'm about to replace mine for the 3rd time in 6 months. I also get some smoke from the hood, usually when I'm driving like a dick (I take a hard left turn and the pooled up oil rolls off the valve cover and onto the exhaust header). I'm considering just adding RTV to my current gasket and reinstalling it if buying another new one won't help.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by kern417

Did this end up fixing the issue for good? I'm about to replace mine for the 3rd time in 6 months. I also get some smoke from the hood, usually when I'm driving like a dick (I take a hard left turn and the pooled up oil rolls off the valve cover and onto the exhaust header). I'm considering just adding RTV to my current gasket and reinstalling it if buying another new one won't help.

Yes my gasket has been leak free since the last install. So I recommend:

Open up the motor mounting holes in the gasket with a drill bit.

RTV on the outer ridged (mating surface) of the gasket where it joins the valve cover.

Allow the gasket to center on the valve cover opening when installing regardless of if the screw holes for the motor are centered.

This worked 100% for me.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Yes my gasket has been leak free since the last install. So I recommend:

Open up the motor mounting holes in the gasket with a drill bit.

RTV on the outer ridged (mating surface) of the gasket where it joins the valve cover.

Allow the gasket to center on the valve cover opening when installing regardless of if the screw holes for the motor are centered.

This worked 100% for me.

Thanks. I think I'll need to do the valvetronic motor surface primarily because there was oil on it when i did my last replacement.

[jimngo]

I don't think you should need RTV if the Valvetronic Torx bolts are torqued properly. The correct torque for those two bolts is 10 Nm, not 8.6 as for valve cover bolts.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by jimngo

I don't think you should need RTV if the Valvetronic Torx bolts are torqued properly. The correct torque for those two bolts is 10 Nm, not 8.6 as for valve cover bolts.

If you had a leak here 3 times in less than a year you might feel differently.

Btw mine is still leak free since I last posted in this thread.

[Bufalo]

Mine has been getting progressively worse since I replaced all those gaskets in July. The valve cover no longer leaks, but I'm pretty sure the valvetronic gasket now does. I'll be tacking this and using plenty of sealer tomorrow I think.

[kern417]

Mine is leaking again. I saw a video where a guy claimed that the OEM part is more rigid than the aftermarket one I bought, so I'm going to get an OEM one from FCP Euro. At least then, if it fails again, they'll replace it for free.

[RellyP]

Mine was leaking as well, but i applied sone ultra black and just tested today after waiting 24hrs. All good so far and it feels so much better

[E90_slides]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

I replaced my valvetronic motor gasket about 10 months ago when I installed MILV’s.

I noticed it was leaking and I was getting some vacuum leak codes about 5 months ago. Turns out it was leaking again so I replaced it again.

Just now doing some work on the motor and... wtf the stupid valvetronic motor gasket is leaking again



So now I’m about to change it again for the third time in less than a year. Is there some trick to this I’m missing? I know it needs to be oriented with the black stripe facing up. I’ve done this each time.

Is there a better gasket by one company vs another? I don’t remember which gaskets I’ve been buying but they have been good name brand gaskets and I think one was oem.

Do you guys use RTV on the gasket? I haven’t so far.

Last time I even used all new screws on the motor. Don’t ask me why it just seems like it couldn’t hurt.

What could I be missing here?

I have had a rough idle since I bought the car. The main issue I found was the CCV integrated with the valve cover ruptured so I bought a new VC and replaced the whole thing. I have noticed that I keep getting oil in the same spot that you describe. Just got my car back from the shop and the video he showed me shows a HUGE vacuum leak from under the valvetronic motor. No wonder I still have a bad idle and bad fuel consumption. Gonna try to seal it all up with RTV and see how it is in the morning. IDK how to get a video to work on here. I have a streamable . com site if you want to look at it. streamable.com/19zf6s

[E90_slides]

just put her all back together. here is a picture of what my job looks like.
I will post tomorrow after it dries and let you know my findings.

[bluewater328]

Originally Posted by e90bae

just put her all back together. here is a picture of what my job looks like.
I will post tomorrow after it dries and let you know my findings.

Holy crap, is it necessary to put THAT much? I was thinking just the perimeter.

[E90_slides]

it sealed it up though, no more leak. sorry for the late reply. /:

[Ayushm]

Originally Posted by E90_slides

it sealed it up though, no more leak. sorry for the late reply. /:

Hopefully that was a joke. That is way too much silicone its going to flake off all into your engine and clog the oil channels

[Ayushm]

I had the same issue with the Elring gasket that was leaking 3 months after replacing. I bought a new gasket from the dealer which is stamped "MAHLE". Looks like Autozone and O'reilly carry the Mahle gasket which is supposedly the exact same even with the BMW logo stamped onto it for 1/2 the price

I installed with a thin layer of REINZOPLAST on the gasket and no leak so far. Will keep checking to see if anything changes

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by Ayushm

I had the same issue with the Elring gasket that was leaking 3 months after replacing. I bought a new gasket from the dealer which is stamped "MAHLE". Looks like Autozone and O'reilly carry the Mahle gasket which is supposedly the exact same even with the BMW logo stamped onto it for 1/2 the price

I installed with a thin layer of REINZOPLAST on the gasket and no leak so far. Will keep checking to see if anything changes

Could you share some photos? Whenever I look up Mahle B32654, the photos show Victor Reinz that is apparently made in China:




I'm guessing this is Mahle "aftermarket" line