Oil on Valve cover
 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y19...r/588f2b58.jpg

What can cause this^?

I thought maybe a valve cover gasket, since theres no oil on the plugs, but I figured Id ask the experts, since im a n00BY!

thanks alot!
-Charlie

Re: Oil on Valve cover
 

i have that same problem with my dsm once in a while, i never thought anything of it until i read this post> i would also love to know what casues it to do that, and if it's bad what actions should be taken to fix it?

Re: Oil on Valve cover
 

seems like alot of oil to me though, Ive only been driving it for a week

Re: Oil on Valve cover
 

It is most likely your oil filler cap. There is a rubber gasket underneath it and it gets hard and oil leaks out slowly and pools in that area.

Re: Oil on Valve cover
 

hmm, i dunno because i did switch that rubber gasket your talking about and it still does it alittle, not as much as his though. maybe i just have a bad oil cap and alittle to much oil in the car. so it's no big deal> correct?

Re: Oil on Valve cover
 

Or the usual cracked DSM valve cover.

Re: Oil on Valve cover
 

VC is not cracked, new gasket in place with and torqued to 3 ft/lbs exactly. My guess is also the oil cap. Bring it by Charlie, I will have a look at it. It is likely pretty simple.

Re: Oil on Valve cover
 

I was going to do that, but I figured you were pretty busy (as usual :p ) so I didnt want to bother ya.
but now that youve invited me, ill probably stop by sometime this weekend :D

Re: Oil on Valve cover
 

just pull the cap off and see if the rubber gasket feels hard. If it is, get a new one. I think they cost around 84 cents

Re: Oil on Valve cover
 

It's probably interchangeable with the Volvo oil cap gaskets. They are such a common failure that Borton keeps them in a box by the front counter.