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[Abiton]

The plastic ones are undeniably crap though. Has anyone here been on any other car forum where there are anything like as many threads about camcover oil leaks? 

Yep, Alfa 156 has the same set up and problems

Interesting.  Same set up as in plastic covers held only down their centrelines?

[omega3000]

Makes you wonder why they fitted the alloy covers to the vectra and not the omega 

[tunnie]

The breather setup on the Vectra is different

[TheBoy]

Well, the combined membership here can only give the very extensive advice they have learnt and experienced since the dawn of the forum.

Its up to individuals to listen to that advice.

Many have chosen to ignore the excellent advice on offer, usually to their cost.


You pays yer monies,, yer takes your choice.

[jibberwobble]

I will admit to having done this conversion on my last omega. At the time I was not aware of the breather problem being quite as severe as it would seem to be and just thought it was another little niggle that didn't help the situation. Once I found this out I became pretty regimental about keeping them clear.

The sole reason for fitting them was because the originals were dead, one side of the channel that retains the seal was broken away in a few places and when the covers were placed on a flat surface they were clearly bowed. The seals had been changed two months before I bought the car and they were leaking already. I had them done again and they leaked almost straight away. I changed the seals again myself with the help of a competent mechanic and obtained all parts from Vauxhall and correctly torqued but didnt hold much hope due to the state they were in. Needless to say I needed another solution.

So after getting over the shock of being quoted for new ones from Vauxhall (I think they were well over a ton per side but may be wrong) I spent an age looking for second hand ones in good condition but drew a blank. In the end I went for the metal covers out of desperation and I can see why others might do the same especially if they have not come across this and similar sites as was the case for me.

My current car had brand new covers and breathers 4 months before I bought it so hopefully I'll not be cornered like that again.

So if the breather system is different on the vectra and that is fine with the metal covers doesn't that point at the omega breather system being rather susceptible?

Sorry I've written another long and boring story!

[TheBoy]

So if the breather system is different on the vectra and that is fine with the metal covers doesn't that point at the omega breather system being rather susceptible?

The Vectras with this type of cover frequently blow crank seals. Thats how we know that the crank seals are the next problem area if excess pressure can't release via cam covers

Interesting to note that the later Vectras used plastic covers

[Nick W]

So if the breather system is different on the vectra and that is fine with the metal covers doesn't that point at the omega breather system being rather susceptible?

All the posts on this subject don't just point at it; they prove it. Conclusively.

The whole system -both breathers and cam covers- are over complicated, and evenworse, under developed. That's obvious from the fact that the damn things leak, and are fiddly and expensive to put right. The fact that a modern engine is more leak prone than, say an A-series, is pathetic. If the Japanese can make millions of mass market engines that are utterly oil tight, why should we accept ones that aren't?

[tunnie]

They only leak if basic maintenance is neglected, done right they last 100k & 10 years 

[omega3000]

So if the breather system is different on the vectra and that is fine with the metal covers doesn't that point at the omega breather system being rather susceptible?

The Vectras with this type of cover frequently blow crank seals. Thats how we know that the crank seals are the next problem area if excess pressure can't release via cam covers

Interesting to note that the later Vectras used plastic covers

Which year was that 

[jibberwobble]

They only leak if basic maintenance is neglected, done right they last 100k & 10 years 

So I should be good for 5-6 years at over 20k per anum and by then the car will have rusted away anyhow.

If they go prematurely with good maintenance I might have to cry or something!

I wonder if stooging around all the time like a grandad helps these things to clog up?

[albitz]

At 20k per annum I would clean the breathers etc. at least twice per year and change the oil at least four times.

[tunnie]

Yup, as Albs suggests, at that mileage, I'd be looking to change oil every 5k. Maybe tad less if you are doing a lot of town work 

[TheBoy]

There are things you can do to help keep breathers clear - a decent oil (not Castrol!!) coupled with regular changes. If you do short jounerys, change more often.  If the underside of the oil filler cap regularly gets a mayo on it, the breathers are likely to block quicker.


To the person who mentioned the A series, I'm pretty certain that breathed to outside air, which wouldn't be allowed on a modern car. Can't remember, its about 20yrs since I last looked at an A series engine.

[Andy H]

Even 50 years ago it was normal to have a 1/2" rubber breather pipe from the crankcase breather to the air filter housing.

It worked well until the engine became worn out (ie anything over 30,000 miles) and breathed hard enough to clog the filter with oil. The problem is worse at idle when the air velocity in the air intake is insufficient to pull the oil mist into the engine. This problem was solved by adding a second, smaller, breather pipe connected to the inlet manifold via a small orifice which looks after the crankcase breathings at small throttle openings. 

The breather systems on modern engines are not really any different. The problem with the Ecotec engine breather system is that some stylist decided to disguise the breather pipes and hide them in a series of restrictive channels in the plastic badge on top of the plenum. 

[jibberwobble]

My engine is due an oil change about now as it goes. I had all the breathers off a few weeks ago when I changed the off side exhaust manifold gasket. Due to being nearly new I found them all to be as clean as a whistle. I have smelt the odd wiff of oil every now and then though but not found any anywhere?

The oil filter housing on my last omega used to weap a bit, is it recomended to stick with the little internal filter and housing or convert to the canister type filter?

Also what oil is recomended. Sorry I know its most likely on here somewhere but the puters dead at the mo and navigating around on my phone is hard going. The motor is on 130k.

I don't do many short journeys. 25 miles to work down the lanes. I try n save fuel when commuting but at least once a week I'm late and it gets a good flogging! Most of the rest of the journeys are to far away race tracks, some with a caravan, some not. Worst case scenario is to the other side of Cumbria with the car fully loaded, huge roof box fully loaded and a ton or so of caravan groaning along behind.