Topic: Leaking valve cover - fixed

[Vanguard]

Great news...they have found that the turbo is leaking and will replace it free of charge.  They say that the parts are all over the country so it will take a week to get the parts in.

Does anyone think that the car is drivable in the meantime, as long as I baby it?

[chuckdoc]

Ok to drive as long as no pinging.  Leaking turbo seals allow oil to go into combustion chamber and it lowers the octane thereby causing detention problems.  Sounds like rattling metal.  If u don't have that, your good to go

[Brazen17]

Backed the wife's car out of the garage yesterday and low and behold I spot some oil drips.     I says to myself "this looks awfully familiar!" Took it to the dealer this morning thinking they may not have got all the lines on tight. Turns out the new turbo is leaking in the same place as the old one! The wife has only put a few hundred miles on it. Service rep thinks it might have been a bad batch of turbo's from the factory (new one not the old one).      The (next) new one should be in and installed Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning.   

[Gentleman Jack]

That's not good.  Was the oil drip visible on the turbo anywhere or just below it?  You may have posted info previous.  Appologies if you did.

GJ

[Brazen17]

That's not good.  Was the oil drip visible on the turbo anywhere or just below it?  You may have posted info previous.  Appologies if you did.

GJ

I couldn't see it from above and they saw it after it was lifted.

[Critterman]

They should be getting good at this replacement now

[NormSky]

Sounds like something a vendor might keep in inventory the way you guys are going through seals! 

[Brazen17]

Udate #1: Service guy made some calls to GM and they said to replace the hose from the crank to the turbo? then drive it around a bit and see if the leak stops.

Update #2: Well, it's still leaking (maybe even worse than before) so looks like back to the shop! Will drop off sometime this week and see what happens next. Hope it isn't anything internal.

[Brazen17]

Got a call from the service rep and he said they replaced the valve cover. They suspect that something has plugged up an orifice causing excess crank case pressure forcing oil out the turbo seals.  He said they have seen it do this on some trucks before.  Does this make sense to anyone? Any other ideas?

[Arabas]

Brazen17, have u checked the check valve on the intake to see if there is any oil?
could this pressure thing and oil thing just be from the check valve? if yes, an OCC would help.
also, if oil comes out of the turbo form the seals, maybe they should consider a seal repair kit for your turbo, or even replace it.

[G8TR]

Brazen17, have u checked the check valve on the intake to see if there is any oil?
could this pressure thing and oil thing just be from the check valve? if yes, an OCC would help.
also, if oil comes out of the turbo form the seals, maybe they should consider a seal repair kit for your turbo, or even replace it.

I was thinking along the same line. I would have them do some more checking.

[Brazen17]

They have already replaced the turbo once and the new one started leaking in the same place almost immediately. I guess that is what took them in a different direction for repair. It's not likely to get two bad turbos with the same issue although I know it could happen.

[Arabas]

can you check the check valve and see if you find any oil in it?

[Brazen17]

can you check the check valve and see if you find any oil in it?

I will when I pick the car up on Monday morning.

[1LILNDN]

They have already replaced the turbo once and the new one started leaking in the same place almost immediately. I guess that is what took them in a different direction for repair. It's not likely to get two bad turbos with the same issue although I know it could happen.

 Is or was it leaking at the hose connection also , they replaced mine also said it had a crack in it .I was getting oil around the oil fill and the HP fuel pump.

[Brazen17]

Is or was it leaking at the hose connection also , they replaced mine also said it had a crack in it .I was getting oil around the oil fill and the HP fuel pump.

I have not taken a close look at it yet but did notice there is oil splatters on the hood just above the oil fill location. Did you notice these splatters on your hood too?

[1LILNDN]

 Brazen17  To tell the truth I never even looked up at the hood . I didn't checked it . The last time I Drove it was last Wednesday will have to check it on Monday.          but will  find out

[Brazen17]

1 Lil Indian - Thanks! Curious to know if it is the same issue.

[spider]

After getting a used turbo & while waiting on a new pcv valve & assorted gskts to arrive My oil consumption took a giant nose dive  which lost pressure to the timing chain tensioner turning it into an aluminum eating chainsaw. Pulling the spark plugs, all looked fine with the exception of #4 (thick with black muck) Compression check --40 lbs. Not the turbo after all. (oh joy) All the intake valves & their stems have doubled in size with baked on crud.
 
 Blow by from cracked piston or broken ring & leaking turbo seals look the same since the vent from the valve cover dumps right at the compressor intake. Oil around the oil fill or oily high pressure fuel pump area may be an indicator of blow by since the fill cap is also vented. remove the oil fill cap while idling & feel for excessive pressure.

Whatever the fix is for your car I would suggest removing the intake manifold & soaking the intake valves about an hour one hole at a time on compression stroke, also remove & flush your intercooler.  

[Brazen17]

Went and picked up the wife's redline tonight. Should know pretty quick if they fixed it or not. Last time it was in he said they did a compression check and it was fine. He also mentioned it seemed to be venting excess pressure at the oil filler location but he wasn't sure since my wifes redline and my GXP are the only kappa's they have worked on to date. Went up there twice (while the wifes car was still in their shop) with my GXP so he could compare the two but he wasn't in. Go figure.

Told me if this didn't fix it then the next thing to do is order a new engine!    

[Brazen17]

Update:

Have had the car back for 6 days now and so far so good! Looks like the new valve cover has fixed the leak.

[Arabas]

Update:

Have had the car back for 6 days now and so far so good! Looks like the new valve cover has fixed the leak.

Great news Brazen 17!!

[Kelu]

Good to hear a fixed Kappa

[Critterman]

Excellent

[G8TR]

Glad to hear it.