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[MonzaGSE]

Hi. Ive had my 95 omega mv6 for 7 years now and i cant remember the spark plugs ever being dry. They always swim in oil. In these years at least 6 attempts have been made in changing the cam cover gaskets. It never works. Two different independent garages have tried, i tried myself some years ago and the Opel dealership have tried 3(!) times. It always leak just as badly. I always Ask the garages if they cleaned the breather system correctly and they always say yes. I cleaned the breathers as pr the guide on here the one time i tried. I should ad that the local Opel dealer are not very competent in what they do. Dont know what to do next. Thought of having a go myself again. Once the cam covers are of, is it easy to see if they are warped? Could there be another cause of this when i know the breather bridge, hoses to the breather box and the connections on the breather box is clear?
 Wish i lived in the uk where you have competent mobile mecanics:)

[BazaJT]

From what I understand if the cam covers are warped it usually shows as a bow out along their length,this was the case with mine.However once the covers are off then you want a flat surface/straight edge and then you can check all aspects for being true.If breathers are clear and gaskets good quality ones I can't see it being anything else but warped covers,others may know different of course and will no doubt be along to say so.

[Bigron]

MORE leaking cam covers!
They have always leaked slightly - even less so after James cleared my breathers, but after a 50 mile trip yesterday there was quite a bit of smoke from under the bonnet after I stopped the engine back home!
Ihave some cam covers, etc., from another member here, but having studied the excellent maintenance guide on here, I lack the confidence/ability to tackle the job myself.
I'm not sure that the car will make the journey to Serek's garage without bursting into flames, so is there a mobile engineer near me who could help?
It would probably be wise to have a service at the same time, but I have no parts for that - plugs, filters, etc.
Could anyone interested please PM me with an idea of cost and likely time/date?

Ron.

[BazaJT]

Would've thought the chances of it bursting into flames was slight,but that's no guarantee of course

[ffcgary1]

Had the same issues ron, i bit the bullet and bought new covers from vx, they come with new gaskets and o rings and cured the problem. cover bolts 8nm only.

[DrAndyB]

Had the same issues ron, i bit the bullet and bought new covers from vx, they come with new gaskets and o rings and cured the problem. cover bolts 8nm only.

Yep, had VX ones fitted to mine few months ago by Daz, along with all o rings (had slight weep on on LH bank - Original 60kmls on V-plate MFL, so had my money out of them !).

VX ones all the way.  Pricey for Liquorice, but just do it once and job sorted.

[terry paget]

As said before, cam cover gaskets should never leak, as long as the crankcase breather system is working properly. On a new car all they do is prevent air being sucked in while the engine is running. Once the breathers are blocked they struggle to contain crankcase pressure, caused by gases escaping past the pistons; in this they are doomed to eventual failure, pressure will get out somewhere, and the cam cover gasket is the obvious place.

Most common blockage is the small breather hole, which allows engine suction to maintain a modest vacuum in the cam cover during idling. Blockage is caused by frothy oil, oil level too high and infrequent oil changes. It can be checked by trying to blow down it.

On most used cars I buy (2 this year so far) I find it blocked. If it is blocked I know I have a cam cover gasket job to do. On a V6 once one side is leaking the pressure is released, so the other side is OK and don't need replacing. I can tell this by the oil, or lack thereof, in the plug holes. In the boot of the 2.6 I found a full set of V6 cam cover gaskets, unknown manufacturer, with a bill for £16. I fitted one gasket to the 2.6 I bought in Plymouth in May, used the other one on the 2.5 I bought in Clacton in July. Both cars still OK.

Once you have done a few, cam cover gasket changing is a fun job, only tricky bit is manouevring the V6 lower inlet manifold out. But unless the breathers are clear they will soon leak again.

[minifreek]

I had the same problem with mine last year until I changed the plastic covers for Vectra B covers off a 2.5..

A lot of people say they don't work with the breather system etc... but Iv had no problem ever since they got fitted by meself, using the expensive gaskets has probably helped too but they didn't work on the plastic covers...

I did clean out the breather system too, but TBH the breathers wasn't blocked or clogged up with crap but I cleaned them anyway... Thought I might as well do it as the top of the engine was dismantled anyway...

No doubt someone will be along to say to not fit the Vectra covers as it does make the oil filling a bit awkward but I use 2 of the filler tubes connected together and it works no problem for me

[MonzaGSE]

Mine always leak on both banks. Does that suggest warped covers then? Think 6 gasket changes over the last 7 years and never seen a dry plug:p always both sides and dont matter which garage does it.

[EMD]

The bolts come loose sometimes so best to check and nip them up now and then at 8nm . The slightest bow in the covers and they will leak