seanjordan20

Have you done a smoke test On the car yet. If not replace the VC gasket/plug seals and then do a smoke test.

audiophool

Compression test.
Leakdown test.

ericksonss10

Looking into getting what I need for the VC gasket replacement. @seanjordan20 and @audiophool any insight now how to complete those tests you mentioned. Am I able to do it one my own? special tools required? etc....

scottalexander

After looking at your video, it would appear the valve cover gasket is leaking oil on the exhaust manifold creating that smoke.



Try the obvious first. Go check the proper torque setting on the valve cover bolts in and around #3 cylinder.

Can you learn anything from the current bolt torque?



Next, clean up that area of all the oil leaks and see if more oil comes into those areas. How fast does it come into that area?



It appears there is oil leaking from the valve cover gasket near #3 cylinder, but you said you didn’t see oil on #3 spark plug or on the #3 coil pack.



If there is oil leaking from the VC gasket in that area its likely to drip on Bank 1 sensor 1 ( your first O2 sensor), as that sensor is located close to #3 cylinder. That could the problem. If that O2 sensor was malfunctioning, one experiment is to remove spark plug 1,2,3 and see if the plugs are all coated with black carbon.



Whoever you buy the new valve cover from, check to see if a new oil filler cap comes with the new cover. I see your oil filler cap is original equipment and would be a good idea to replace it.

seanjordan20

I don't see a reason to buy a valve cover. He just just need the gasket and tube seals unless the VC is warped. What would be the reason to replace the oil cap if it's getting a seal. I've never seen them go bad and I've worked on BMWs with I've 300k.

scottalexander

Yes, he could get away on the cheap and just:

- get a new gasket
- get tube seals
- get the new valvetronic gasket

If he really wanted to do it on the cheap, he could take off the valve cover, clean up the surfaces, and use the optimum Permatex valve cover sealer to make sure it never leaks again.

Next:

Last week I just replaced my oil filler cap and also my expansion tank cap after 10 years of use.

When I screwed on both new caps, the new tension and the new snug fit was very noticeable when I screwed on both caps.

Yes, my old caps were ok, but the tight fit from new caps was noteworthy. I would never have known the difference if I didn't run that trial and buy new caps.

seanjordan20

Oh ok. I've just never replaced the cover unless it's a Nissan because it's mandatory on a lot of there vehicles. I may purchase an oil cap and replace mine. I just did my VC gasket and tube seals 3 months ago. I only noticed it when I did a smoke test because my engine was running rough. Turns out it was only the battery needing to be charged since I hardly drive it but still changed the gasket since I saw smoke.

ericksonss10

UPDATE:

So I changed the VC gasket...The old one was very brittle and once I pulled the valve cover off It was easy to see that it had been leaking on the lower left side probably for some time. I just put it all back together and when I run it I looked all around for leaks and it seems to be all good.

However, I'm still getting the cylinder 3 misfires. In addition to that though I'm now getting and 02 Sensor error. Below is the exact code I'm getting on my AutoLink code reader. I'm assuming that is the next thing? Does the car have multiple sensors? From a quick google search, it seems like most people are replacing the sensor on the exhaust from underneath the car.

"P0140, O2 Sensor Circuit No
Activity Detected Bank 1
Sensor 2"

Thanks for all you help @seanjordan20 @scottalexander @audiophool

audiophool

Some thoughts:

-I wouldn't condemn the VC gasket as cause of the misfire. When you pulled the spark plugs and coils you made no meniton of there being oil on the outsides.

-Check injectors with a listening stick pressed to the fold ahead of your ear (put your thumb over the end of the stick, then press to your ear fold).

-Compression test will require a gauge and adaptor small enough to fit this engine. A threaded one is best, but a tapered rubber tip one will work if you have a helper. All sparkplugs come out for this test, then crank 5-8 strokes per hole and note the number.

-Leakdown test is similar but you need a gauge set and a compressor in addition to the adaptor for the spark plug hole.

seanjordan20

Seems like your downstream on Bank 1 (cyl 1-3) sensor is dead. Was that the only code you had? I would replace it and then address the cylinder 3 issue.