Valve Cover Gasket Failure

[shibainu]

Engine started running very irregularly (mis-firing); quite noticeable on a 4 banger when one cylinder misses. Subaru dealer said that valve cover gasket was allowing oil to seep into cylinder and that this was not unusual in a car with approx 90K miles. What say you all.

[rc0032]

year, model of the car, engine?

[fweasel]

wouldn't a leaking valve cover gasket let oil leak out of the engine, not into the cylinders?

[rao]

I say your dealer is full of crap

[pillboy]

I thinking communication breakdown between tech, service writer and customer.

[SuperCleanLGT]

Just pour some brake light fluid in there

[Bdubs]

What year and engine?

It does make sense though, because its not the valve cover gaskets themselves, rather the spark plug tube gaskets. (everything should be replaced if you replace those anyways.)

[Opie]

What year and engine?

It does make sense though, because its not the valve cover gaskets themselves, rather the spark plug tube gaskets. (everything should be replaced if you replace those anyways.)

 

+1 I've seen the spark plugs tubes completely filled with oil on some cars, causes the plug wire (or coil, depending on car) misfire.

[rao]

No doubt; I suppose it is just a communication mix-up, the oil is not getting into the cylinder from the valve cover gasket.

[ehsnils]

Engine started running very irregularly (mis-firing); quite noticeable on a 4 banger when one cylinder misses. Subaru dealer said that valve cover gasket was allowing oil to seep into cylinder and that this was not unusual in a car with approx 90K miles. What say you all.

 

It's possible that he meant that the oil leaked into the spark plug well. This is a known sickness for some Renaults which has the bad side-effect that the spark plug dies. But that's a death that makes you wonder if the engine is coming apart - or at least that the exhaust system has left the engine...

 

Any other oil leak will certainly be visible on the outside.

 

So just pull your spark plugs and check them. That may give you a further clue. Check for oil on both cylinder side and cable side.

 

Injector, spark plug and high tension wires are the first things to check.

 

And claiming that that's usual in a car with that few number of miles is outright stupid. They didn't want to do the job and sell you a new car instead. (and then fix and sell your car for a good price too...)