Leaky Cam Covers - Common?

[2003 V8 TT]

OK, so I went in for a 12k-mile A Service, including the free timing belt inspection/retensioning (verified with Lotus Cars USA), and was told by the service adviser that the cam covers were leaking, and that oil had accumulated around the plugs.

Questions: Is this common? Should I be worried? Are there other implications of this problem, other than just leaky cam covers? How can I prevent this in the future? How much disassembly is involved to fix this -- I'm always nervous about any disassembly with the engine -- and will things be just as good as before?

Don't know why I lose sleep over these things, but advice from you folks on the board always puts my mind to ease...not that the problem will disappear, but that I understand more about the causes and effects of the problem.

Thanks in advance!

-Will

[Artie]

OK, so I went in for a 12k-mile A Service, including the free timing belt inspection/retensioning (verified with Lotus Cars USA), and was told by the service adviser that the cam covers were leaking, and that oil had accumulated around the plugs.

Questions: Is this common? Should I be worried? Are there other implications of this problem, other than just leaky cam covers? How can I prevent this in the future? How much disassembly is involved to fix this -- I'm always nervous about any disassembly with the engine -- and will things be just as good as before?

Don't know why I lose sleep over these things, but advice from you folks on the board always puts my mind to ease...not that the problem will disappear, but that I understand more about the causes and effects of the problem.

Thanks in advance!

-Will

Will,

I don't know that much about the V8's but this is usually an easily remedied issue. I am not that familiar with the mechanicals of the V8's but most cam covers aren't difficult to remove, reseal and reinstall. Nice thing is there is nothing that should interfere with regular operation of the internals and thus when fixed should cause no ill effect. There is no need to pull cams out or remove belts to change the cam cover gasket.

Artie

[atgnat]

i have a set with the evap holes in them on offer.

[joeyoesprit]

I have over 23500 miles on my Esprit and when I removed the plugs there was no oil in the plug wells. So I don

[Günter]

...If so you will also need two Gasket, inlet manifold B918EOO27F for the Plenum

If the Plenum is going to be removed I would also recommend change the plug wires, checking the Coils, and check/clean the IAC (idle air control valve).

Just my opinion.

JoeyO

2001 V8

to remove the plenum is no problem diconect only trottle cable, some pipes and conectors , but you do not need to pay for some manifold gaskets, it's an easy papercut job to... (drove 40.000km with do it yourself version, no problems at all...)

important is to use paper of right thicknes (0.5mm or so), normal paper is not stiff enough to hold the screwed compression between the plenum an intakebodys. some flexible adhesive is also useful...