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Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Vamps on 20 February 2013, 22:19:18

Title: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Vamps on 20 February 2013, 22:19:18
As above, I have posted this here as it is a time question and not a how to so felt this was the most appropriate place, if wrong then Please feel free to move, Mr Admin Sir..... :y :y

I only ask because our local Independent told me today that he had to replace 2 rocker gaskets on a v6 Omega recently and not a Job he is going to do again, I think he was dropping a hint... ::) ::)

He had never doen this job before and found it to be a 'Pain' taking him 4 hours due to access problems and having to move so much stuff out of the way........I suggested that there may have been a more simple way, so just thought I would ask........ :y :y
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Entwood on 20 February 2013, 22:25:01
I have limited ability, and even less equipment... but 4-5 hours is about how long it takes me, including the breather cleaning.

I expect MarkDTM, Daz etc etc would require just a couple of hours due to experience and ability
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: albitz on 20 February 2013, 22:39:01
Agreed,I would allow myself about 4 hours to do it,but would expect one of the ecperts to do it in half that time including teabreaks.Not the hardest job a mechanic should have faced though.Surprised a "pro" found it such a challenge.
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Lazydocker on 20 February 2013, 22:46:48
Agreed,I would allow myself about 4 hours to do it,but would expect one of the ecperts to do it in half that time including teabreaks.Not the hardest job a mechanic should have faced though.Surprised a "pro" found it such a challenge.

Don't forget though, he's not a pro on Omegas and his knowledge base is much wider, not specialised ;)

If it included cleaning the breathers and answering the phone/reception desk and tea breaks... ;)
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Vamps on 20 February 2013, 22:49:09
Agreed,I would allow myself about 4 hours to do it,but would expect one of the ecperts to do it in half that time including teabreaks.Not the hardest job a mechanic should have faced though.Surprised a "pro" found it such a challenge.


Thanks for the reply's peeps..... :y :y

No, he found it a pain..... :y  I don't know the circumstances but it was an Omega, and he has a lot of people who struggle to pay their repair costs so, I think, he has had the owner moan about the labour charge..... :-\ :-\

Our whole family have used this guy for years, I used to work alongside him many moons ago and he is rarely daunted by a challenge; he is happy to do the cam belt though..... :y :y
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: doz on 20 February 2013, 22:52:59
3.5-4 hours. Head down no tea breaks. This is where I go wrong and it ends up taken 5 hours  :-[
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Webby the Bear on 20 February 2013, 23:39:44
As LD says this guy Isnt a specialist so I'd expect four hours to be about right for an experienced pro. Me personally even now I'd dedicate a whole weekend to it as i take my time and wont be rushed. Lol
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Vamps on 20 February 2013, 23:48:19
As LD says this guy Isnt a specialist so I'd expect four hours to be about right for an experienced pro. Me personally even now I'd dedicate a whole weekend to it as i take my time and wont be rushed. Lol

The interesting test will come if I take the Mig to him for the Rocker Gastets and Breathers to be done, I do wonder what he would say; my guess would be that he would do the job..... :y :y
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: dbug on 20 February 2013, 23:51:50
Including breather cleaning 3½ - 4 hours ;)
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Vamps on 20 February 2013, 23:57:54
I must admit to being a little disapointed with the replies, I was rather hoping to find that the Job could be done in an hour by doing this, that and tother, so that I could 'wind him' but never mind.... ;D ;D
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: feeutfo on 21 February 2013, 00:42:34
4 hours IMO. It is fiddly. Cleaning all the old black goo off, cleaning breathers, seating the new seals and o'rings, cable tray is bloody nuisance too.

Remember though, the omega is not your normal run of the mill engine. As LD says really, we have the luxury of focusing on one model on here. Any mechanic will have to spread his experience over an entire spectrum of car engines, and all the support they buy into is based on data on numerous engines. Not all of it correct.

While its fare to expect a decent job, there isn't enough work to focus on one model like we do, so learning on the job is all part of it for the back street guys.

Generally speaking the lynch mob mentality on here is very unfair.
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Vamps on 21 February 2013, 00:48:46
4 hours IMO. It is fiddly. Cleaning all the old black goo off, cleaning breathers, seating the new seals and o'rings, cable tray is bloody nuisance too.

Remember though, the omega is not your normal run of the mill engine. As LD says really, we have the luxury of focusing on one model on here. Any mechanic will have to spread his experience over an entire spectrum of car engines, and all the support they buy into is based on data on numerous engines. Not all of it correct.

While its fare to expect a decent job, there isn't enough work to focus on one model like we do, so learning on the job is all part of it for the back street guys.

Generally speaking the lynch mob mentality on here is very unfair.

I do not think we have seen this in my case, and for the reasons you say, I would not agree to a 'lynch mob' he is a general mechanic who we, as a whole family, trust...... :y :y
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: feeutfo on 21 February 2013, 00:51:23
4 hours IMO. It is fiddly. Cleaning all the old black goo off, cleaning breathers, seating the new seals and o'rings, cable tray is bloody nuisance too.

Remember though, the omega is not your normal run of the mill engine. As LD says really, we have the luxury of focusing on one model on here. Any mechanic will have to spread his experience over an entire spectrum of car engines, and all the support they buy into is based on data on numerous engines. Not all of it correct.

While its fare to expect a decent job, there isn't enough work to focus on one model like we do, so learning on the job is all part of it for the back street guys.

Generally speaking the lynch mob mentality on here is very unfair.

I do not think we have seen this in my case, and for the reasons you say, I would not agree to a 'lynch mob' he is a general mechanic who we, as a whole family, trust...... :y :y
:y

Dealers however...

Anyway moving quickly on. :)
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: 05omegav6 on 21 February 2013, 00:59:34
When I changed them on my first one, I remember clearing the decks, but left the inlet manifold in place. Was quite annoyed when I then found that I couldn't left the covers off without removing that first ::)

Ended up doing the job twice, as one of the half moons didn't seat properly  ::)

That was before I discovered OOF though :-\ Now no such bother :y
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 21 February 2013, 08:13:31
1.5 - 2 hours with a breather clean.

A compitent mechanic should no take much more than 0.5-1 hour more than this as a first time.
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: omega3000 on 21 February 2013, 10:34:11
Undo 2 bolts on pug , 4 cups of tea and bacon buttie , 10 minutes  :P :P ;D
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 21 February 2013, 10:36:40
I should add that I often find myself repairing other bits when doing jobs which can increase the time (e.g. I have found the fittings snapped off the rear of the breather bridge, or the coolant pipes wrongly routed) which can add to the time.
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 21 February 2013, 10:37:19
Undo 2 bolts on pug , 4 cups of tea and bacon buttie , 10 minutes  :P :P ;D

....and changing the coolant temp sensor (10 times)?  ;D

Plus breather and throttle clean up
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: omega3000 on 21 February 2013, 10:39:11
Undo 2 bolts on pug , 4 cups of tea and bacon buttie , 10 minutes  :P :P ;D

....and changing the coolant temp sensor (10 times)?  ;D

Plus breather and throttle clean up

Not got that far yet , must get a book of lies  :( Or some redex  ::)
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 21 February 2013, 10:40:39
Redex wont clean the throttle body and breathers even on an SPi setup  ;D
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: scottambrose on 21 February 2013, 10:50:14
having done mine 3 times the 3rd time took me an hour and a half. as id already cleaned the breathers. its a doddle once youve done it before :y
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: aaronjb on 21 February 2013, 10:59:39
Redex wont clean the throttle body and breathers even on an SPi setup  ;D

Indeed. That's what the wife's an old toothbrush is for  :D
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Yasmine Lee on 21 February 2013, 11:14:45
autodata says 1.9hrs for both rocker gaskets and 0.5hrs for the breather work
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: henryd on 21 February 2013, 11:26:29
autodata says 1.9hrs for both rocker gaskets and 0.5hrs for the breather work

Autodata's times are a good guideline but they assume that everything undoes as it should and there are no other issues such as split vacumn/breather hoses etc :y
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Elite Pete on 21 February 2013, 15:38:42
I spend about 3 hours doing the cam cover gaskets, breathers and throttle bodies 
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: bored bigyin54 on 21 February 2013, 16:31:32
Undo 2 bolts on pug , 4 cups of tea and bacon buttie , 10 minutes  :P :P ;D
a 4 pot is easy  ;D ;D
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: dbug on 21 February 2013, 16:41:52
1.5 - 2 hours with a breather clean.

A compitent mechanic should no take much more than 0.5-1 hour more than this as a first time.

Really depends how dirty/clogged up breathers are - took me ages to clean breathers on my old Elite the first time I did them, really clogged up.
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: bored bigyin54 on 22 February 2013, 16:46:03
Undo 2 bolts on pug , 4 cups of tea and bacon buttie , 10 minutes  :P :P ;D
has it got an engine  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: omega3000 on 22 February 2013, 19:58:40
Undo 2 bolts on pug , 4 cups of tea and bacon buttie , 10 minutes  :P :P ;D
has it got an engine  ;D ;D ;D

Yeah 4 pots like yours , and a pattern rocker cover  :P :P :P ;D
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: martin42 on 22 February 2013, 20:02:45
nowt wrong with a pattern cam gasket  :-X :y
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: Gaffers on 22 February 2013, 20:18:28
45 minutes on the jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag :D
Title: Re: How long should it take to replace the rocker gaskets on a V6
Post by: bored bigyin54 on 23 February 2013, 00:56:17
nowt wrong with a pattern cam gasket  :-X :y
i know that  ;D ;D