Cam cover gasket leaking onto exhaust

[colb]

Seems I have a leak from the cam cover gasket, oil finding its way onto the exhaust and burning off, suspected as much when I bought the car and have a gasket set in the garage waiting fitment. It did seem to have sealed itself at one point but today whilst tinkering had the car idling for some time and noticed some smoke and fumes comming up off the exhaust at the side of the cam cover. Can't see where its comming from so strip down and fit a new gasket set is the way to go. Did this on a mates 2.2 Z3 so should be a straightforward job.

 

[colb]

Rubber cover bolt cushion washers ordered from Sophers this morning as the main gasket set I have on hand only has the main gasket and plug well gaskets included. 15 needed and that with forum 10% discount came to £16.04. Cheaper options on ebay but doubtful Chinese quality. Part number 11121437395.

 

[colb]

New Gasket fitted today plus all new rubber seals for the cover bolts, old gaskets were hard and brittle, dropped the under tray and alloy sump cover and cleaned off the exhaust around the Cats then ran the car for a good time to see if it was still burning anything. No smoke so think I have solved it. The centre plug well gaskets were very hard and one set had `broken the web between two of the plug wells. Only a matter of time before the plug wells would have stated filling up with oil.

 

[handsomejackuk]

job well done, I need to do my m44 soon...

 

[colb]

After changing gearbox and diff oils yesterday I put the diagnostics laptop on the car and had a peek at the fuel trims, they were spot on so it seems I have no air leaks, no need to break the smoke machine out on this occassion. If they had been high it would have indicated an air leak so confident the new cam cover gasket is doing its job. No sign of oil and no smoke appearing from where it was dropping on the exhaust. Checked the codes whilst it was hooked up and no faults currently present, grat shame I can't take it out for a decent road test with current Covid 19 lockdown, maybe give it a clean and a good polish now.