2008 3.0ĺ mystery cover behind distributor

[TBarCYa]

Last time out I found some oil in my bilge and tonight was looking around to find it. It looks like there may be some oil coming from behind a cover that bolts to the block behind the distributor. It goes the length of the block and has 4 bolts, one directly under each spark plug. The bolts have gaskets under them.

My question is does anyone have an idea what this cover is for, what it's covering and why there may be oil behind it? The oil in the pan is clean, no water and it looks like it's barely been used.

Thanks.

 

[TBarCYa]

The parts catalog lists it as a cover. Duh. Doesn't say anything about what it covers or why there would be oil behind it. There's no sign of rust and like I said, the oil is clean so I'm not thinking cracked block.

 

[biggjimm]

Your cam & lifters are hiding behind that cover. The gasket is not too hard to change. Jim.

 

[TBarCYa]

Looks like I'm ordering a new gasket. Thanks!

 

[biggjimm]

Look everything over real good while you've got it off. Actually, changing that gasket lead to a new cam & llifters on mine. I had one lobe on the cam & it's lifter that was wore excessively (i think the lifter got crudded up & stopped spinning in its bore) it wasn't chattering at all & I thought it ran good for a 4 cyl but after the new cam it runs so much better

 

[TBarCYa]

Everything looked really good when I took the cover off. As it turns out they didn't use a gasket on the cover, just RTV so I went back with the same and it's dry as a bone in my bilge now. Thanks!

 

[Bt Doctur]

you really do need that gasket and not a bunch of RTV

 

[Grub54891]

I've used the ultra black rtv many times on valve covers, and in place of v-8 intake end gaskets. The trick is to clean the surfaces, when you think they are clean, clean them again. I use brake cleaner to wipe the surfaces dry. Once installed, clean up the excess, Let dry for at least a day before starting up. Never had any leaks doing it that way. However, I've never done it on that side cover.

 

[TBarCYa]

That's pretty much what I did and it's not leaking yet.