Oil leak from Rocker Cover

I've also got a minor oil leak which I think originates from the left side tappit cover. The oil is running down close to the spark plugs and down to the sump below. Its only dripping about a teaspoon a day, but is it worth fixing? cheap/expensive/ easy to do?

A teaspoon a day is a bit too much to leave it like that.
Although a teaspoon is 5 ml and it will take 200 days to lose 1 litre which might not look so bad to some people ...
IMO you should fix it, it's cheap and easy to do.

Rocker cover gaskets aren't to expensive and is well worth doing. Last thing you want is smoke belching out from under the bonnet when the oil burns off.

stevopaul1 said:

I've also got a minor oil leak which I think originates from the left side tappit cover. The oil is running down close to the spark plugs and down to the sump below. Its only dripping about a teaspoon a day, but is it worth fixing? cheap/expensive/ easy to do?

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Just replace it bud, they're cheap and easy to fit although it's important not to over torque as this can damage the gasket, let me know what engine you have and i'll tell you the corrct settings.

Riggaz

Just did the ones on my classic - didn't take too long. I got 5 gaskets from Paddock for about £3...not sure why 5 came in a sealed bag - surely they'd sell 'em in 2's or 4's?

Hi I had a leaky rocker cover gasket and I changed it myself. Took about 20 mins for me to do and I have no mechanical experience whatsoever.
If I remember correctly you take that foamy type cover off and undo 3 bolts, unplug the pipes that are plugged in lift the rocker cover of, remove the old gasket and put the new one in. Give the area the gasket sits a good clean to remove the grime and put it back together.

I did use my finger to apply some clean oil around the area I cleaned as a seal. I dont know if your supposed to do this but I havent had any problems since I changed it.

All in all a very simple job that anyone with common sense could undertake. you dont even need a haynes manual its that simple.Go on, get your hands dirty

Just read riggaz post. i wasnt aware of a torque setting to use when i did mine. I just guess-ti-mated it.

Ash_mk said:

Just read riggaz post. i wasnt aware of a torque setting to use when i did mine. I just guess-ti-mated it.

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Just as long as you didn't do them up "tight" you should be ok e.g. 300TDi rocker cover tighten to 10NM which is not a lot. Which engine do you have?

Riggaz

Its a 300tdi. I didnt do them up really tight. just enougth for a good seal which it seems worked as it was a couple of months ago and 1000 miles.

Ash_mk said:

I did use my finger to apply some clean oil around the area I cleaned as a seal. I dont know if your supposed to do this but I havent had any problems since I changed it

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Nowt wrong with that mate, its good practice really. As long as its clean engine oil then all it can is help the seal (as long as you dont put loads on!).

Ash_mk said:

Its a 300tdi. I didnt do them up really tight. just enougth for a good seal which it seems worked as it was a couple of months ago and 1000 miles.

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Might be worth you getting a small torque wrench it'll cost you about 25 quid as the valve cover has to come off every 24000 miles for valve clearances. 10nm is enough for a good seal chap if you go too much it greatly reduces the life of the gasket.

Regards

Riggaz

hi guys - all the above comments seem to be related to series I Disco's - i have a 2000 plate series II TD5 - is the job just as simple?

also - where are you supposed to smear the oil to help the seal - is it on the underside of the rocker cover where the gasket sits?

(excuse the ignorance, but i am learning - ........slowly...!)

cheers

Wilf

The initiator of this topic has a D II also but it has a V8 petrol engine (u can notice words like "left side tappit cover" and "spark plugs" in his 1st post in the thread).
On Td5s the job is even easier to do 'cause you have better access.
Just unscrew the bolts progressively, replace gasket and tighten the bolts to 10 Nm in 2 stages starting from the center going outwards in a spiral or cross.

You don't have to smear anything with oil. Your nose maybe ... just a touch ... enough to look proper