Here is why your valve cover still "leaks" after replacing the N54 valve cover gasket

feuer · 12-02-2021, 11:55 PM

Wait? Is it December 2021? We seriously discovered now that the shield is double sided and holds oil trapped?

cstavaru · 12-14-2021, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feuer

Wait? Is it December 2021? We seriously discovered now that the shield is double sided and holds oil trapped?

No. The discovery is that it cannot be cleaned in any way except removing and heating the shield. Any other way to clean it will not work and will actually create unnecessary panic.

feuer · 12-14-2021, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cstavaru

No. The discovery is that it cannot be cleaned in any way except removing and heating the shield. Any other way to clean it will not work and will actually create unnecessary panic.

Unnecessary panic? Oh no my friend! Unnecessary was removing the shield and writing about it.

DrivingPassion · 12-14-2021, 10:44 PM

C'mon guys/
This forum is about sharing info & helping others.

sonicnofadz · 03-29-2022, 09:09 PM

Just wanted to thank you for posting this. Just recently bought a 335i, and replaced the valve cover gasket (was leaking profusely). I'm a pretty experienced mechanic (have wrenched on everything from 2 strokes, turbo common rail diesels, tractors, motorcycles, etc.) and I could not figure out why the f*** my n54 was still dripping after the valve cover was replaced. I know for sure I didn't twist or pinch the gasket, and I meticulously checked for cracks. I can definitely see oil pooling on my shield, even after wiping/spraying it clean, so this makes sense. I think if I had taken this vehicle on a long trip it would probably burn most of this oil off eventually, but it just gets small trips around town so never gets super hot to burn off most of it. Anyways, thanks man, this gives me some peace of mind.

dmcclan · 11-25-2024, 10:45 PM

Thanks for posting this. You saved the day for me. To the nay-sayers in this post you are not understanding the issue. After meticulously replacing my valve cover gasket I was still getting burning oil smell inside the cabin. After a drive or two. I opened the hood, and saw oil pooled on the heat shield tray. I wiped it clean, restarted the engine, and slowly watched a small oil pool form on the heat shield. What the heck! It’was just appearing out of nowhere! I repeated this half a dozen times until I started doing some Google searches on this. This oil trapped between the shield pieces bubbles up out of nowhere and spills over onto the exhaust. So I suspect after several more cycles it will burn off eventually, but THANK YOU for posting this and saving me from tearing my engine down again thinking the gasket was leaking.

12-02-2021, 11:55 PM	#23
feuer Major General 4307 Rep 9,230 Posts Drives: wife crazy! Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (5)	Wait? Is it December 2021? We seriously discovered now that the shield is double sided and holds oil trapped?
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12-14-2021, 10:44 PM	#26
DrivingPassion Lieutenant 146 Rep 485 Posts Drives: '15 M235xi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	C'mon guys/ This forum is about sharing info & helping others. __________________ 2015 M235i xDrive 8AT
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03-29-2022, 09:09 PM	#27
sonicnofadz New Member 14 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 2009 335i 2018 M3 Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Baltimore iTrader: (0)	Just wanted to thank you for posting this. Just recently bought a 335i, and replaced the valve cover gasket (was leaking profusely). I'm a pretty experienced mechanic (have wrenched on everything from 2 strokes, turbo common rail diesels, tractors, motorcycles, etc.) and I could not figure out why the f*** my n54 was still dripping after the valve cover was replaced. I know for sure I didn't twist or pinch the gasket, and I meticulously checked for cracks. I can definitely see oil pooling on my shield, even after wiping/spraying it clean, so this makes sense. I think if I had taken this vehicle on a long trip it would probably burn most of this oil off eventually, but it just gets small trips around town so never gets super hot to burn off most of it. Anyways, thanks man, this gives me some peace of mind.
	Appreciate 1 JC_AD335i29.00 Quote

11-25-2024, 10:45 PM	#28
dmcclan New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (0)	Thanks for posting this. You saved the day for me. To the nay-sayers in this post you are not understanding the issue. After meticulously replacing my valve cover gasket I was still getting burning oil smell inside the cabin. After a drive or two. I opened the hood, and saw oil pooled on the heat shield tray. I wiped it clean, restarted the engine, and slowly watched a small oil pool form on the heat shield. What the heck! It’was just appearing out of nowhere! I repeated this half a dozen times until I started doing some Google searches on this. This oil trapped between the shield pieces bubbles up out of nowhere and spills over onto the exhaust. So I suspect after several more cycles it will burn off eventually, but THANK YOU for posting this and saving me from tearing my engine down again thinking the gasket was leaking.
	Appreciate 0 Quote