2014~2018 Dealership second opinion: OCV/Valve cover leak?

Here's the video from the dealership review a few months ago (I know I know): hopefully it remains up for a bit: https://tce-in.s3.amazonaws.com/12416e45c681acc37adaad6aebe8fa7.mp4
2014 Mazda 3i

I wiped down the outside cover, it's been driven regularly for several weeks now, and there's no oil I can see:
1616822286998.png


Am I blind or just not understanding what I'm seeing? Is this something I need to re-inspect very carefully? They want $650 to fix what I expect I can do myself, following https://www.mazdas247.com/forum/ind...l-control-valve-gasket-replacement.123873415/

(The plugs were done ASAP, the belt I probably will have to pay someone else.)
 
I wouldn't worry too much until I see too much oil in any one spot or the oil level starts dropping a little too much for my taste.

Leaky valve covers can go for hundreds of thousands of miles. Just check the oil level regularly. Watch that back leak. Retorque/tighten the valve cover. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN. If the seals are shot, then they are shot. But a little snugging up never hurt.

If you can't stand it, then doing it yourself is probably easy since it looks accessible.

For me, just something to watch. It's not urgent in any sense.
 
Back