Engine might need to come out for valve cover gasket -what else?

[cch]

For the third time in less than a year, my RS6 with about 110K miles is leaking oil (two or three drops per night on the garage floor). The first time my Audi-trained now-independent mechanic replaced the valve cover gasket on both sides. He told me one side is pretty easy, the other is a major pain in the ass to do without removing the motor. It started leaking again less than two months after the first replacement and he went in and did the job again. Now it's leaking and he says he needs to get the engine out to do the job right (he's going to eat the time he has already spent on doing the job before).

These are the kinds of problems that lead to this awesome car getting scrapped. Or....

What else makes sense to tackle with the engine out? I can't go crazy with the $$$, but I'm open to any maintenance issues and perhaps some mods that are just too easy to do once the engine is pulled.

The timing belt is obviously high on the list. What else?

-Chris

[fukinavit]

hi,
lots of posts on here about what to do when the engine is out, just search on here.
as far as valve covers go, pretty simple with the engine in, only water pipe on p/s needs to be gently moved. depends if you still have the secondary air injection gunk on the back othewise no real big deal. i suspect more than valve covers if this keeps re-occuring, half moon seals or timing tensioner gasket?

[lswing]

New mechanic time...had most seals replaced and no leaks for years.

[Aronis]

valve cover gaskets can both be down without pulling the engine.

[DHall1]

I call BS

he does not know what he's doing

2nd opinion time

i would not let the first guy pull this engine.

This is usually how I end up with stray RS6s. I fix them right and enjoy them for years.

[SteveKen]

I've come to learn that valve cover gaskets are very tricky and it doesn't matter whether you use OEM or aftermarket.

It's all in the technique and 100% ensuring that everything is clean and properly seated ans torqued.

[cch]

Any suggestions for a mechanic within 100 miles of Charlottesville, VA? It's probably not practical to mechanic-shop in this market...

[Turbowned]

I'll be really mad if when I go to do my timing chain tensioners and guides if my previously-dry valve covers start to leak after re-sealing them... seems to be a common thing?

[cch]

B8S4 is a great little car,....

What is that comment doing in this thread?

[hahnmgh63]

Strange one. I was in the other top thread and it posted in here. I hadn't even looked at this thread so I had to search my posts to find it here. Deleted here and re-posted in the other.