Hey Everyone,

I've been working on my girlfriend's 2021 CX-5 Touring (with 66k miles on the odometer) the past couple of days. We just went to the dealer today for an alignment, and they hit us with the news that there is some seepage coming from the valve cover gasket. I posted an image below from the tech inspection video they provided us showing the seepage. From past experience with a subaru that had the same issue, I know it's easily $1,500+ for the job to replace the gasket. Is there some kind of additive that I could throw in just to see if it helps at all? I saw that ATP AT-205 Re-Seal, Bar's Leaks 1334 One Seal Stop Leak, and Bar's leaks High Mileage Engine Repair seem all seem to to have good reviews and could potentially help. I know that this pretty much means we have to monitor the leak and inevitably get it addressed down the road. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

 

No additives and its not a difficult job to R&R the valve cover gaskit.
A DIY with an average toolbox of tools can do it in a few hours. There is NOTHING complicated it is s simple R&R service.
Based on those few pictures, when you get it done perhaps consider washing the engine compartment at least one time a year.
That leak has been going on for months or longer.

Now if you have a coolant leak then its not from the valve cover and DONT use any kind of cooling system stop leak. You will regret it in the end!!!!!!
So lets start by defining what exactly is leaking... OIL or coolant?

What was the suggested service report from MAZDA
You know me..... I am going ask.... please post the copy of the service advisory. Or PM it to me hahaha!

 

OK, I'm an old bird who started off working on 1960s V8s. A leak like that would get no attention from anyone. Not even the dealership. From the picture, it does not look like you'd actually lose even an ounce of oil between changes. If it was me, unless there's actually a drip that's affecting other components, I'd not worry about it until if/when I'd actually need to address it, which may be never. The repair is not going to change whether you do it now or later, except for inflation. There might be a repair down the road that would involve replaceing the gasket anyway. It would be then rolled into that repair.

 

Alex you know me.....LOL This is ^^^^^ not the best information for a Mazda of your year> While it may have been a DIY or "grease monkey mechanic" back in the 1950's-1980's it is not comparative to how parts are manufactured from at least 2000 to present maybe even older if I think about it a little longer. LOL
While I don't think it is your valve cover (not enough info and not the best picture) but there were early production Mazda thermal plastic valve covers that would distort on the ends and cause oil leakage. Changing the gasket and stopped the oil leak or seepage for a time but if it was caused by a warped valve cover, they are inexpensive to replace.
As for IGNORING any fluid leakage on an engine, transmission, cooling system, or differentials is just BAD advice.

 

Lol I gotcha loud and clear. Gonna keep an eye on it for now. If it gets worse, we'll probably get it adressed at a reputable local mechanic by my girlfriend's place down in Florida where she's at. I hope this doesn't happen to my CX-5 Turbo from the same year...

 

The internet and the numbers of bad things seldom equals reality. I am sure that your Turbo Mazda will be fine.

I own a BMW that a couple of its model specific production years reported on forums and other social media plagued with trouble from timing components to early Turbo failure some claiming at less than 30k miles. At over 60k they all must have missed mine. The club I belong to there are about 7 of the same year period and only one had service-related issues but I suspect it had more of lack of servicing then the manufactured problems. I never volunteer to give advice professionally or work on club members cars. bad juju.
The numbers having to do with any issues are so skewed on the internet because of multiple posting from the same person all over and other passing the information that builds the unsupported numbers of actual issues.