VW Valve Cover Gasket - Elring 051103483A

Product Information

The valve cover gasket seals the valve cover to the uppermost portion of your engine’s cylinder head and keeps oil and oil vapors from leaking at that connection. It must have some amount of crush or elasticity to fill in gaps between the two surfaces, sealing the connection. Typically on most modern vehicles the valve cover gasket is made from rubber or other elastomer materials. Sometimes this can be just a rubber gasket, and others it may be reinforced with metals or other materials to lend more strength and rigidity to the application.

Older classic European cars may use a cork or similar natural material. Both are sensitive to the installation process and tightening torques, but you must take extra special care with cork gaskets to avoid crushing the gasket and causing a leak.

• Age: As a rubber valve cover gasket ages, it will become hard and brittle, eventually allowing oil to leak at the valve cover and cylinder head junction. Cork and natural materials will begin to break down and allow Oil to pass
• Physical Damage: Typically this is from incorrect installation. Using too much tightening torque on the valve cover gasket bolts or fasteners can cause physical damage to the gasket but overcompressing or crushing it beyond its ability to seal the surface of the valve cover and the cylinder head.
• Chemical Damage: Using incompatible chemical gasket maker or sealing agents can cause reactions and failure of the gasket itself. Sometimes this can be because of the material itself, or the design of the gasket and the way it is intended to be sealed by the manufacturer.
• Obvious Oil leaks: A noticeable engine oil leak is the most common symptom of a bad valve cover gasket. This can appear in several different ways, the most common of which is oil seepage or obvious leaks running down the cylinder head from the valve cover.
• Mysterious Oil Leaks: Because of airflow through the engine bay and the exact conditions under which a valve cover gasket leaks, it is possible to have a “mystery” oil leak where oil residue and moisture gather in an unusual or unlikely spot. If you see this and have no other obvious causes, a quick degrease and careful monitoring could point you in the direction of a bad valve cover gasket
• Air intake leaks/faults: Because the valve cover gasket is a crucial seal for the engine, a completely failed or very bad valve cover gasket leak can result in a check engine light or rough running due to incorrect airflow either getting inside the engine or escaping through the leak.
• Burning oil smell: One of the most common engine oil leaks is from the valve cover gasket, and it is common for oil to leak while the car is sitting. Once you start the engine and begin to drive the car, the oil that has collected on the exhaust manifold will burn off, creating a noticeable oil smell while driving.

About Elring

Elring was founded in 1879 by Paul Lechler. Elring "the original" is their trademark, because as an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to so many automobile manufacturers, there is a chance Elring provided the original gasket. Elring is widely known as an OEM replacement provider of quality parts for European model vehicles. They are mainly producers of gaskets, seals, and other high end supporting components. With locations around the globe, Elring is already established as one of the greatest producers of parts for European vehicles including luxury makes such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Volvo and many others. Elring - "Das Original".

As an automotive supplier, ElringKlinger has become a trusted partner to its customers – with a firm commitment to shaping the future of mobility. Be it optimized combustion engines, high-performance hybrids, or environmentally-friendly battery and fuel cell technology, ElringKlinger provides innovative solutions for all types of drive systems. ElringKlinger’s lightweighting concepts help to reduce the overall weight of vehicles. As a result, vehicles powered by combustion engines consume less fuel and emit less CO2, while those equipped with alternative propulsion systems benefit from an extended range. In response to increasingly complex combustion engine technology, the Group also continues to make refinements with regard to gaskets in order to meet the highest possible standards. This is complemented by solutions centered around thermal and acoustic shielding technology. Additionally, the Group‘s portfolio includes products made of the high-performance plastic PTFE which are also marketed to industries beyond the automotive sector. These efforts are supported by a dedicated workforce of more than 10,000 employees at 45 ElringKlinger Group locations around the globe.

The Elring aftermarket brand offers an all-embracing package: original equipment quality, functional reliability, and premium, end-to-end service. This includes, for example, sales and technical training, service information, exploded-view drawings for trucks and vans, monthly newsletters focusing on engine sealing solutions, an online sealing compound wizard, professional installation videos, the Elring Academy, the training truck, and much more besides.

Original Elring products are acknowledged among dealers, mechanics, and customers around the globe. These products include cylinder-head and sealing systems, oil seals and valve stem seals, sealing compounds, and threadlockers as well as cylinder-head bolt and complete gasket sets – for full- and partial servicing.