Valve Cover Seepage Scare Tactics?

[cdodkin]

Just bought a nice 2002 SE7 with 55,000 miles on the clock

Nice dealer service record every 3-5,000 miles - LR Las Vegas

Had the usual pre-purchase inspection by an 'independant' LR specialist - they proceeded to try and scare the hell out of me with stories of doom should I neglect to fix the slight oil seepage at my valve cover gaskets.

They first claimed it would drip oil into the alternator....

I pointed out that this was ABOVE the valve cover - so that would be tricky....

They then changed their story, and said it would fall on 'ignition wiring' leading to possible future starting problems....

Then they said that the head gasket would typically go sometime in the next 6 mths anyway, so I should give them 2 grand and have all of them done at the same time

So I get the Disco on the lift, check it out myself, and can see minor oil seepage from the valve cover gaskets - none from above that.

No actual dripping oil.

Are these people just hell bent on ripping me off of is there some grain of truth in what they say?

Chris.

 

[barefoot]

yes...they are hell-bent on "making money"....if that involves making up bullshit to get your money...MOST dont give a shit! then again, thats just my experience with dealers and mechanics in general...im sure there are good ones out there...i just havent dealt with any myself.

sometimes i think about how much money the average "non-do-it-yourselfer" would have spent on maintaining my 96 d1 and it makes me just plain sick! dont make me tell the $1100 fuel pump replacement quote/story again....or $800 quote for 2 new weld in cats.

since your (im guessing) new to rovers....they all leak! ive even heard of ppl spending big money to replace all the seals in them only to have them leaking in a short few months afterward. the big thing is making sure that nothing is leaking onto the exhaust system! imho...oil leaking on wiring is just a good waterproofing replacing valve cover seals...is something a monkey could be trained to do.

i dont generally replace things without good reasoning...if it goes out in 6 months (which it doesnt sound like it) then so fking what! replace it when it does go out. i have 140k on my STOCK head gasket! probably lucky....but none-the-less...if it aint broke dont fix it. they would have prob just charged you for doing jack shit anyway!

always research/check here or a similar site before handing your rig over to anyone...

 

[frickjp]

As long as a monkey can remove the upper intake, said monkey could change valve cover gaskets. I wouldn't worry about ignition wires, alternator, etc. but I would worry about the hot exhaust manifold conveniently located directly below the leaking valve cover gaskets. Then again, most Discovery's are worth more dead than alive, so this may not be a bad thing...
Get yourself a 12-pt 8mm or 5/16 socket, and snug the gaskets. They frequently work themselves loose. Even a small wrench will do if you already have one. Don;t worry so much about the inner bolts, they're tough to get at, just the four outers will usually slow it down enough.
Yes, your head gaskets will leak. Yes, your ABS light will come on. Yes, your fuel mileage will suck. Welcome to Land Rover.

 

[The Limey]

If anything replace the PCV hoses....that will help with seepage @ the valve covers

 

[rover4x4]

its a breeze man you can do it in a few hours even if you have nevber done anything other than change your oil just label everything you unplug its siple

 

[cdodkin]

Thanks everyone!

I fully intend to go the DIY route on the gasket replacemnt, good to hear it's not too much of a chore.

In the mean time I'll snug up the bolts as suggested - thanks.

Having originally come from the UK, I've lived and breathed cars that bleed the blackstuff for many a long year - it's like going back to my roots getting the Disco

Chris.

 

[SCSL]

Chris, what you are describing is very common. I had an almost identical pitch. Must come out of the svc dept training manual

 

[kellymoe]

I had severe valve cover leakage on my defender while climbing steep hills. The gaskets became stretched and allowed leakage. I removed the gaskets cut out the excess stretch at the front of the valve cover for the time being, problem solved. The result of the leak was a little oil in the rear of the engine bay, big deal. Go buy new gaskets and problem solved.

 

[Jack Straw]

Yes it's an easy fix, just remember the torque setting on those is 8nm so you can do it with a screwdriver/socket driver. Over torquing those is easy.