Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Oil Leak at Valve Cover

[Charb]

w/my extended warrenty in hand i recently took my 99 diesel to the 5 star garage and requested they address what appeared to me to be a noteworthy seapage of oil from the rear of the valve cover... they claim you dont have an oil leak unless it drips at the rate of 6 to 8 drops a minute... has anyone ever heard of this? also looking for any information on aftermarket valve cover or any way to clean the existing pitted cover... ? tks, Roger

 

[rkressg]

You can get new valve covers from Cummins (the cool looking red and blue covers). I would just replace the gasket and see if that fixes the problem.

 

[GKinney]

red one

I just bought the red one for mine, looks great, plus I needed to adjust the valve lash anyway. Cover gaskets are over $100, make the dealer put one on if it is bad. The link below is where I bought mine, good people to deal with.



http://www.hoeslidiesel.com/specials.htm

 

[Thomas]

... they claim you dont have an oil leak unless it drips at the rate of 6 to 8 drops a minute...

Eight drops per minute is about 1/2 teaspoon per minute

or 1/12 fluid ounce per minute

or 5 fluid ounces per hour

or 120 fluid ounces per day

or one gallon every twenty-five hours thirty-six minutes.



If you're willing to accept their definition of an oil leak it's going to be your problem. The way I define oil leak is anything more than not leaking at all.



Good luck.

 

[Thomas]

... they claim you dont have an oil leak unless it drips at the rate of 6 to 8 drops a minute...

Eight drops per minute is about 1/2 teaspoon per minute

or 1/12 fluid ounce per minute

or 5 fluid ounces per hour

or 120 fluid ounces per day

or one gallon every twenty-five hours thirty-six minutes.



If you're willing to accept their definition of an oil leak it's going to be your problem. The way I define oil leak is anything more than not leaking at all.



Good luck.