Question about a VC Gasket Replacement

[buster]

I rencently had the valve cover gasket replaced on the 15 3 due to a leaking OCV seal. In order to replace the OCV gasket, they have to take off the valve cover. In doing so, I have noticed a very small amount of oil on the front right valve cover. I took it back to the dealer to have them check it and they said they didn't find it to be leaking and that the repair is holding up well. I had at first thought it was residual oil from the job, and it could be, but I have noticed that after wiping it dry with toilet paper, it comes back. Being a bit of a perfectionist with certain things, I am concerned this will lead to more leaking down the road. Should I have them re-seal it or just let it go? This is what I have noticed:

 

[buster]

It’s coming from this small section:

 

[JMJNet]

Bring it to the stealership without cleaning it? then show it to them.

 

[buster]

Originally Posted By: JMJNet
Bring it to the stealership without cleaning it? then show it to them.


It doesn't drip though. You have to literally stick the paper in between the groove to see it.

 

[tomcat27]

If it bothers you, add some uv dye to your oil and have them check it with a black light.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: tomcat27
If it bothers you, add some uv dye to your oil and have them check it with a black light.


That's a good idea, however I would convince them to do it. Then make sure they actually did it. This way they have zero recourse if there is some kind of problem down the road.

OP-I'm also a perfectionist, gaskets are not supposed to seep, weep, or leak in my world, especially on a vehicle that new.

 

[jk_636]

This is a difference between being a perfectionist and expecting work to be done correctly.

I would take it back in a heartbeat.

 

[buster]

The other issue I didn't mention is when I turn on the AC now I smell oil. Oil must have spilled a bit when the guy did the job and it's coming through the vents. I'm going to detail the engine today and keep an eye on it. It's not leaking that's the problem. When the dealer looks at it they won't find anything. It's very subtle but shouldn't be like that regardless.

 

[jk_636]

Take it to them and make them do it.

 

[funflyer]

What I see on that towel might be, and probably is, residual oil. If you clean the engine with some simple green or gunk, and the oil starts to appear again, then I'd take it back but chances are you won't see any oil after that.

 

[buster]

I just cleaned the engine using SG HD Pro. Oil level is fine and the engine is dry. Zero signs of oil. I took the car on a 30 min highway drive to get it really hot and to dry it off. On the way home when I put the AC on (air coming from outside) the oil smell was bad. Called dealer and they said oil likely got on the exhaust manifold and is buring off. That's probably the case but what a sloppy job. I'm giving it a few days and hopefully it burns off. When I open the hood i don't smell the oil. It only smells coming through the vents when AC is on.

 

[buster]

Overall I've generally had good experiences at the dealership. Not this time. They did the job and I got the car back and a very strong oil burning smell was coming from the engine through the vents. Strong as in it smelled like an exhaust pipe was inside the car. It was that bad. I took it back and they said there were no signs of leaking. I didn't believe them. It was possible that oil had made its way to the exhaust manifold where it was burning off, creating the smell. However this was not the case.

I cleaned the engine over the weekend to remove any previous oil that was in and around the engine from the job they did. Sunday night I took the car out and gave it a few WOTs. When I got home from getting the engine hot, I noticed new oil dripping from the right side of the engine. I took the car back to the dealer and showed one of their techs the area the oil was coming from and strong smell. They identified and acknowledged it was leaking but claim the gasket was defective.

It's not a big deal, but much more of a hassle than it should have been, considering I had to be the one to actually identify the leak. It's disappointing the dealer failed to properly do one of the more simple jobs correctly. I understand they rush at times and make mistakes, but a VC gasket is something you want to get right. The car is being worked on today and hopefully they get it right.