Potential donor M30b35 question

[Thomas76]

I'm looking at buying a motor pulled from a 7 series when I noticed this mountain of silicon on the head. Is this a common failed gasket area or worse..... Cracked head?

 

[sfdon]

Perhaps the most common oil leak area on the engine. That gasket is 2 bucks.

 

[Thomas76]

Perhaps the most common oil leak area on the engine. That gasket is 2 bucks.

Thanks for passing along the knowledge. I do recall my b32 leaking in that same area.
$2 has gotta be a 1/3 the cost of a tube of blue silicone these days.

 

[wkohler]

Upper timing cover gaskets certainly can leak but there can be other causes. Entirely possible the head was done at some point but the upper timing cover wasn’t surfaced with the head. You could change the gaskets a hundred times and it would still leak. Not saying it’s definitely what it is, but it’s a possibility I’ve seen too many times.

 

[Stevehose]

Also, forgetting the dab of sealant in the corners of the timing covers against the head can cause this.

 

[Mike Goble]

Also, forgetting the dab of sealant in the corners of the timing covers against the head can cause this.

Just like Brylcreem...