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      09-01-2020, 07:50 PM   #1
MadGus
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Where on the E85 S54 engine is this??

Very detailed report from indie who basically did a full PPI for free before doing the alignment I paid them to do.

They are saying that I have a VCG leak on the rear of the engine, but I can't figure out where this picture is taken from!

I rebuilt the vanos this past winter and did the VCG and valve adjustment and plug replacements while she was open. I didn't RTV the rear half moons on the replacement gasket (but did on the front where vanos and block meet).

Thoughts??
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      09-01-2020, 11:03 PM   #2
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This is on the right rear side of the engine. If you did your VCG recently I would check to see if the leak is coming from your exhaust side camshaft sensor. There is an o-ring that typically fails that can be replaced.
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      09-02-2020, 06:03 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsuhandy View Post
This is on the right rear side of the engine. If you did your VCG recently I would check to see if the leak is coming from your exhaust side camshaft sensor. There is an o-ring that typically fails that can be replaced.
Thanks rsuhandy! Will check that out.
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      09-02-2020, 09:46 AM   #4
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It could also be your gasket if you use an aftermarket one. I also thought it was my camshaft sensor o-ring leaking after I had my valve adjustment done, but it turned out to be the aftermarket Elring VCG that was leaking in that right rear corner, which was on top of the camshaft sensor.
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      09-03-2020, 06:17 AM   #5
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I picked up a new o-ring for the sensor yesterday and will install that today. The leak must be very small, wherever it is coming from... will clean it up and see if it returns.

I did use the Elring aftermarket gasket set when I did the VCG work over the winter.

I am hoping to not have to open her back up to replace the VCG, but that will be my next step if this doesn't work.
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      09-03-2020, 06:37 AM   #6
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Swapped the o-ring just now and cleaned the area around it. Will update after a few hours of driving!
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      09-03-2020, 02:16 PM   #7
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Still leaks. Will replace VCG at next oil change. Grrrr...
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      09-04-2020, 05:09 PM   #8
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Could be your constant pressure valve o-ring. Is in that area. Google it, is a common source of leaks
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      09-04-2020, 06:06 PM   #9
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Thx! Will add that to the list of things to check before I pull the VC back open.
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      09-11-2020, 01:50 PM   #10
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Replaced with OEM VCG this morning and drove for ~30 miles. No leaks so far. Will monitor... probably with a nice, long weekend drive on Blueridge Pkwy in Virginia.
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      09-13-2020, 04:56 PM   #11
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Well... after another 75 miles, she still has a slight leak in the exact same place. AND after reading up some more on this, and finally consulting the online TIS (yep, I should have done this during the initial change this past winter), I realized that I only put RTV on the front seams where the block and VANOS mate. Hoping that the third time is a charm, and I will actually RTV the VANOS seams and the corners of the half moons on the rear of the gasket.

SMH.
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      09-20-2020, 03:00 PM   #12
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Third time was also a failure, despite adding RTV to the corners of the half moons. And then I found this article:

https://blog.fcpeuro.com/how-to-repl...-cover-gaskets

And for the 4th time, I pulled the valve cover gasket and followed these instructions. Will allow it to cure for the full 24 hours before taking it for a test drive tomorrow afternoon.

I really hope this fixes it!
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      09-23-2020, 04:27 PM   #13
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OK... that worked after ~150 miles, absoultely no leak whatsoever.
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