5 Signs Your Audi's Valve Cover Gasket Needs Changing

Seals and gaskets help a car engine in many ways; from sealing the coolant and oil passages to maintaining appropriate compression. However, because these seals and gaskets are made of rubber, they can wear thin over time. Fortunately, if one of your car's seals or gaskets deteriorates, it will give you a warning.

In this blog post, we will converse about Audi's valve cover gasket. We will discuss what purpose this gasket serves and what will happen if it tatters. To begin with, let's discuss what a valve cover gasket is and why it matters at all.

Valve Cover Gasket: A Very Short Introduction

A valve cover gasket, as is also implied by the name, is a gasket that effectively seals the gap between the engine head and the valve cover. That's all it does… Just in case you didn't know, the sole purpose of the valve cover is to enclose the valves, valve springs, rocker arms and other key parts of the engine's valve train system.

By properly closing the gap between the engine head and valve cover, the valve cover gasket;

 Seals motor oil inside

 Prevents dirt & debris from damaging key valve train parts

To put it in a nutshell, it is the valve cover gasket that protects the mechanism that regulates the opening and closing of different types of valves. However- just like any other car part- the valve cover gasket can malfunction.

Here’s What Causes Valve Cover Gasket Failure

There are several reasons why your valve cover gasket can wear out. Oftentimes, the cause of a valve cover gasket failure is due to preventable problems. Some of the most common reasons for valve cover gasket failure in a car are loose bolts, defective valve cover, low oil level, engine overheating and irregular engine servicing.

A defective valve cover gasket, if not replaced promptly, can lead to engine failure. Below are a few signs that indicate your Audi's valve cover gasket needs to be replaced

Ways to Detect a Failing Valve Cover Gasket

If your valve cover gasket is not in good shape, you may experience one of the following signs;

Sign #1- Oil leak

Oil dripping from the car is one of the early symptoms of valve cover gasket failure. However, there are numerous reasons why oil can leak from a vehicle. So, it will be quite hard to find out what exactly is wrong with your Audi and why is it leaking oil. Is it because of a defective valve cover gasket or there is something entirely different reason. You can also take the help of a reliable Audi mechanic in your locality to find out what's wrong with your Audi's valve cover gasket and why is it leaking oil.

Sign #2- Car smells like burning oil

If oil burning odor is coming out of your Audi, you should be alerted at once. Because the reason for the emergence of such a smell could be a cracked valve cover gasket. As soon as possible, turn off the engine and call a roadside assistance service provider to have your car towed to the closest auto repair facility.

Sign #3- Engine oil light on

If you discover that your Audi’s engine oil light is on, the cause may be a cracked valve cover gasket. As we've already mentioned, the valve cover gasket essentially stops oil from leaking out of the valve cover. If it wears out, oil will leak out of the engine. As a result, the engine will run low on oil and the oil warning light will come on. A fast visual inspection is the best approach to determine whether the valve cover gasket is to blame for the oil leak.

Sign #4- Poor engine performance

Does your engine keep losing power and performing in an inefficient manner? This odd engine behavior could link to a cracked valve cover gasket. That's because, when it's not in good shape, the oil will leak out of the engine. When there is not enough amount of oil, the engine will perform poorly and may even misfire.

Sign #5- Car engine overheating

Is your Audi engine running hot? Before you assume this is a cooling system issue, check the valve cover gasket to make sure it has not tattered. A defective valve cover gasket will allow the motor oil to leak out of the engine. When not enough motor oil is available, the engine will run erratically and may even overheat.

To Put It Another Way…

As trivial as a part as it is, the valve cover gasket plays a vital role in the overall functionality of a car engine. If your Audi’s valve cover gasket wears out, you will experience all sorts of engine performance-related drama. It is therefore important that you keep an eye on your vehicle’s valve cover gasket.