No misfires. The tech showed me a bit of oil visible, but minimal. He advised doing nothing for a while.
I'm going to bury my head in the sand for a while unless I see an increase in the oil over the next year or two.

Unfortunately, I don't live in a competitive market in the greater Washington, DC area. I know the owner hustles me on the labor, but on smaller ticket items I can live with it.
When the time comes I will try to talk him down. I do have another independent shop that's farther away and can probably do it if I get all the parts. They literally work out of a barn
without the slick overhead.

I have to say these kinds of hassles reduce the enjoyment I get from the car. Never experienced these problems with my Porsch 911 or various Mercedes.

 

I think there is a little lopsidedness with British cars compared to German cars. Somehow, in a strange way, I like the quirkiness of the British cars. I've owned literally dozens of Jaguars, (my wife drives an F-Pace). I've never owned an Aston but it's on my bucket list (competing at the moment with an R8).

Right now I'm getting my car kicks from an AMG GTS. It's a ball to drive (I mean really drive and not in a straight line). I've never been a Porsche fan (too tall to fit in them comfortably). When a GTS breaks though...incredibly expensive, but here too, like the Bentley, I do most everything on the AMG platform myself.

Good luck with your GTC!

 

Trying to understand the gasket replacement job: is it really necessary to get new bolts or I can I just order the gaskets and rubber seals?

(see the pdf of parts list supplied by the repair shop that I posted)

 

Old bolts should be fine.

Maybe get (3) extra sometimes they round out on removal.

 

Please clarify: I need the gaskets, various rubber seals, and ? three extra bolts?

 

okay... 2 gaskets, 12 seals, 3 bolts.

 

• Bentley Continental GTC (2011+)

Bentley Continental GTC (2011+) Cylinder Head, Cylinder Head Cover

# Part
Number Part
Description Price
(each) Qty on
Diagram Order
Qty Add to
Cart
1 07C103470AK cylinder head cover with, gasket, F 3W-8-058 399>>, F ZA-A-062 464>> - 1
Enquire 2 07C103484C gasket IN STOCK $58.32 1

3 07C103469AM cylinder head cover with, gasket, F 3W-8-058 399>>, F ZA-A-062 464>> - 1
Enquire 4 07C103483C gasket IN STOCK $58.32 1
5 022103484D gasket IN STOCK $15.81 12
6 03H109091 gasket, F 3W-8-058 399>>, F ZA-A-062 464>> IN STOCK $10.16 4
7 WHT002370 Hexagon socket oval head, bolt with guide sleeve IN STOCK $12.50 24
8 D 176 404 M2 silicone sealant, adhesives and sealing compound IN STOCK $51.65 -
9 N0119104 sealing cap, D - 06.11.2006>> IN STOCK $1.41 4

10 D200005A2 liquid locking fluid, adhesives and sealing compound - -
Enquire
11 3W0103485J cap, oil filler tube, D - 20.02.2017>> - 1
Enquire
11 3W0103485J cap, oil filler tube, D - 20.02.2017>> - 1
Enquire
11 3W0 103 485 G cap, oil filler tube, contains:, F 3W-E-095 737>> 3W-E-097 155, F ZA-E-095 737>> ZA-E-097 155, F 3W-E-040 000>> 3W-E-087 093, F ZA-E-040 000>> ZA-E-087 093 - 1
Enquire 12 06A103483D gasket, cap IN STOCK $6.82 1

 

Thanks

 

Hi ​​​@tteplitzmd

The reason the bolts are specified as "replacement" is because of the rubber seal imbedded on the bolt (see Arrow). Technically, this becomes a "seal". Engineering standard says "seal parts" are one use only items. Bentley cannot recommend these be used over without running afoul of the SAE standard. This is the same issue I see in many other car manufacturers and I've run into similar on my AMG.

Then, there is reality. I good tech is going to inspect these and if they are in good shape without cracks or brittleness in the rubber seal they might reuse and you won't know it. A Bentley dealer, especially on a warranty will probably replace all of them.

I agree with Eric here, a few spares will probably get you through unless age has spoiled all of them on your car. However, some shops will also go "by the book" BC they will have to redo on their dime if any leaks.

 

Thanks.

They're expensive.

 

Hi ​​​​@tteplitzmd ,

In post #16 you said the tech showed you where the leak was. Out of curiosity, could you use this diagram you posted and mark where the tech showed the leak?

It doesn't have to even be the correct side, maybe just use the top cover in the illustration, reference where the leak is he showed you. If this top pic is the wrong cover, just mention it was the other side. It might be helpful what is leaking and the seriousness.

Best,

Bwings

 

We opened the hood and he showed me with a flashlight, the faintest of oil. Best for me to take a photo next week
of what he showed me when I'm back in town. Bear with me. I'm not really able to identify from the diagram.
I don't know enough to do that.

 

No problem, when you get to it. A pic would be really good. Same thing, if you're using an Iphone, maybe try a flashlight in the other hand, get a good lighted pic of the leak. There are some really smart members here with Johnny and Eric, maybe collectively you can get a "second opinion" about the seriousness of the leak. Sometimes an "oil sweat" looks worse than it is. It would also be interesting to see if the origin is the actual cover gasket, or maybe just one of the seals (possibly even one of those expensive bolts).

For example, if the origin is the cover seal, sometimes (not always) just retorquing those cover bolts can halt a leak.

Best,

 

Agreed 100%, a simple 1/8 to 1/4 turn of a bolt should do, BUT do not over tighten the bolts, just snug up, of course depending on how loose they feel at first turn.
I will add that the 2014 engine with supposedly 4000 miles or less, that I picked up a while back, along with the 2008 engine, both had some loose bolts on the valve covers, not super loose, but a half a turn or more before snug, the 2014 pictured below shows the very faint bit of oil staining, it appeared to come from the center front bolt on the passenger side valve cover, but I also saw the ever so faint signs of it coming from the 90 coming out of the valve cover to the breather tube, it could have been the seating of the breather tube into the 90 itself, but it was so minute, and even a dry stain.

Johnny

.

 

Seepage would be what I would describe it as, similar to in some of Johnny's photos.
Tightening the bolts makes a lot of sense to me, but what do I know? If it's more than a loose bolt you gotta open things up
to diagnose the other possibilities. Nobody wants to repair around here, they all want to replace.

Photo next week.