replaced passenger side cam switch seal and valve cover gasket today.. 2.5hrs

davenew · 12-01-2005, 04:58 PM

I popped the hood after pulling into the garage after work today and saw oil smoke rolling off the exhaust manifold! I got motivated and replaced the passenger side seals. I didn't use the special tool to compress the cam switch but I'm sure it would give more room to clean the mating surface.

The new cam seal has blue sealant on it but that wasn't good enough for me

I added a thin layer of permatex gasket to both sides of the metal seal. This stuff looks like tar and has the brush attached to the lid. The only drawback is I won't be able to clean the mating surface using only Q-tips the next time.

I drove to the sunoco station and back (15 miles each way) and have no more smoke signals

I was being very careful to not damage the cam switch. The job would go VERY easy with the proper compression tool. Just don't drop anything into the open head or air intake pipes or this easy job could become a nightmare. I removed the Y-pipe and passenger side upper air inlet pipe to get the valve cover off.

Johnny Bravo · 12-01-2005, 05:07 PM

FixedWing · 12-01-2005, 05:25 PM

davenew · 12-01-2005, 05:37 PM

FixedWing · 12-01-2005, 06:06 PM

with the tool plus lifting the one cam one would get lots of room to work. Then it should be pretty easy to clean off the surfaces.

I read somewhere that the real problem is the top of those half moon things. They shrink after being heat-cycled for a while and then you have a space on top.

Stephen

davenew · 12-01-2005, 06:45 PM

The white plug feels like silicone and the old one was deformed slightly, but wasn't hard like regular rubber would be. I would hate to see one that was made of regular rubber. I'm afraid many of the aftermarket parts aren't the same material as oem. I'm not sure but I wouldn't take the chance, considering how cheap they are from the dealer.

Eric 2.7 · 12-01-2005, 06:59 PM

Eric 2.7 · 12-01-2005, 07:02 PM

davenew · 12-02-2005, 01:45 PM

Eric 2.7 · 12-02-2005, 03:51 PM

pump. Seems like there's always a better and more creative way : ))

12-01-2005, 04:58 PM	#1
davenew AudiWorld Super User Account #: 70028 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,828	replaced passenger side cam switch seal and valve cover gasket today.. 2.5hrs I popped the hood after pulling into the garage after work today and saw oil smoke rolling off the exhaust manifold! I got motivated and replaced the passenger side seals. I didn't use the special tool to compress the cam switch but I'm sure it would give more room to clean the mating surface. The new cam seal has blue sealant on it but that wasn't good enough for me I added a thin layer of permatex gasket to both sides of the metal seal. This stuff looks like tar and has the brush attached to the lid. The only drawback is I won't be able to clean the mating surface using only Q-tips the next time. I drove to the sunoco station and back (15 miles each way) and have no more smoke signals I was being very careful to not damage the cam switch. The job would go VERY easy with the proper compression tool. Just don't drop anything into the open head or air intake pipes or this easy job could become a nightmare. I removed the Y-pipe and passenger side upper air inlet pipe to get the valve cover off. __________________ '00 S4 EPL Stg 3 (March'04-May'08) '08 BMW 135i Dinan Stg 2 (May'08-Present) '00 S4 Imola widebody AWE Stg 3 (Bought Nov'08. AWE stg 3 kit is sold.. I'm switching over to ASP GT soon)

12-01-2005, 05:07 PM	#2
Johnny Bravo AudiWorld Super User Account #: 6784 Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 5,384	wow.. it is a true pain with out the compresoin tool. __________________ Aim: Johnaudi mail: Johnaudi / Aol.Com

12-01-2005, 05:25 PM	#3
FixedWing Senior Member Account #: 66531 Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,155	Wow .. I'm impressed!! I guess you didn't move the one cam up? __________________ ================================================== ======================

12-01-2005, 05:37 PM	#4
davenew AudiWorld Super User Account #: 70028 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,828	no, only removed the 4 cam switch torx bolts __________________ '00 S4 EPL Stg 3 (March'04-May'08) '08 BMW 135i Dinan Stg 2 (May'08-Present) '00 S4 Imola widebody AWE Stg 3 (Bought Nov'08. AWE stg 3 kit is sold.. I'm switching over to ASP GT soon)

12-01-2005, 06:06 PM	#5
FixedWing Senior Member Account #: 66531 Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,155	Well, if you were able to get in there with just that... with the tool plus lifting the one cam one would get lots of room to work. Then it should be pretty easy to clean off the surfaces. I read somewhere that the real problem is the top of those half moon things. They shrink after being heat-cycled for a while and then you have a space on top. Stephen __________________ ================================================== ======================

12-01-2005, 06:45 PM	#6
davenew AudiWorld Super User Account #: 70028 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,828	and that's why I wouldn't buy these aftermarket The white plug feels like silicone and the old one was deformed slightly, but wasn't hard like regular rubber would be. I would hate to see one that was made of regular rubber. I'm afraid many of the aftermarket parts aren't the same material as oem. I'm not sure but I wouldn't take the chance, considering how cheap they are from the dealer. __________________ '00 S4 EPL Stg 3 (March'04-May'08) '08 BMW 135i Dinan Stg 2 (May'08-Present) '00 S4 Imola widebody AWE Stg 3 (Bought Nov'08. AWE stg 3 kit is sold.. I'm switching over to ASP GT soon)

12-01-2005, 06:59 PM	#7
Eric 2.7 Member Account #: 61325 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,808	I very much believe that the rubber half moon is most if not all of the problem in most cases. __________________ Eric 2000 A6 2.7T DIY Mule: Full Timing Belt Replacement, Cam Seals & Cam Tensioner Gaskets, Engine Mounts (TWICE! Thanks Hamburg-Technic/ECS), O2 Sensors, 2ndary Coolant Pump, '03 OEM Sport Suspension, H-Sport Sway Bars, Control Arms, Tie Rod Ends, CV Joint Boots & All Kinds of Maintenance Stuff. Retired: 1996 A4 2.8 2wd 12v 1987 4000CS Quattro 1980 4000 2door (not even an "S")

12-01-2005, 07:02 PM	#8
Eric 2.7 Member Account #: 61325 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,808	Kudos for trying it w/o the tool and glad it worked out. Really no reason to mess with cams at all. __________________ Eric 2000 A6 2.7T DIY Mule: Full Timing Belt Replacement, Cam Seals & Cam Tensioner Gaskets, Engine Mounts (TWICE! Thanks Hamburg-Technic/ECS), O2 Sensors, 2ndary Coolant Pump, '03 OEM Sport Suspension, H-Sport Sway Bars, Control Arms, Tie Rod Ends, CV Joint Boots & All Kinds of Maintenance Stuff. Retired: 1996 A4 2.8 2wd 12v 1987 4000CS Quattro 1980 4000 2door (not even an "S")

12-02-2005, 01:45 PM	#9
davenew AudiWorld Super User Account #: 70028 Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 7,828	I like to try everything at least once without reading the bentley:) __________________ '00 S4 EPL Stg 3 (March'04-May'08) '08 BMW 135i Dinan Stg 2 (May'08-Present) '00 S4 Imola widebody AWE Stg 3 (Bought Nov'08. AWE stg 3 kit is sold.. I'm switching over to ASP GT soon)

12-02-2005, 03:51 PM	#10
Eric 2.7 Member Account #: 61325 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,808	That's a good idea. I think they have you remove the power steering pump to do the 2ndary coolant pump. Seems like there's always a better and more creative way : )) __________________ Eric 2000 A6 2.7T DIY Mule: Full Timing Belt Replacement, Cam Seals & Cam Tensioner Gaskets, Engine Mounts (TWICE! Thanks Hamburg-Technic/ECS), O2 Sensors, 2ndary Coolant Pump, '03 OEM Sport Suspension, H-Sport Sway Bars, Control Arms, Tie Rod Ends, CV Joint Boots & All Kinds of Maintenance Stuff. Retired: 1996 A4 2.8 2wd 12v 1987 4000CS Quattro 1980 4000 2door (not even an "S")

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