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[DrAndyB]

Hi all,

I suspect I have a slight oil residue coming from LHS of drivers side V6 bank.  Looks like right on edge of the black rocker cover.

I suspect rocker cover gasket.

Is this a concern in short term ? 

Is it common ?

Is it simple fix ?

Cheers in advance.

Andy.

P.s
It's MFL 2.5 V6 - V plate- 59k mls.

[gstylebaby]

Hi Andy,

I would say how sort term are you thinking ??
Its common if the breather system is blocked or needs a good clean.
Yes its a case of replacing the gasket and small o'ring seals and cleaning the breathers out.

There is a how to in the how2 section I'm sure some with more info than me will be along to say more or even put in a link to said how2.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Yep. Clean breathers, then replace gaskets. Easy enough job. I managed it 

If you want to 'walk tentatively' or even economically - the issue which causes the leak is breathers are blocked, which causes excess pressure inside the camcovers, causing an oil leak/weep. So.. in theory this being the case, you can unblock the breathers, the pressure is reduced significantly, and the leak should stop. In theory. 

The general consensus is to clean breathers, take the camcovers off and replace the gaskets, however, I'm going to go all renegade here and propose an alternative course of action. The price of these gaskets seems to have rocketed in recent years, so I'd get your breathers cleaned - which many recommend as an annual thing, make sure the outside of the engine is completely clean of oil, that includes the plugwells, then check back in a week, see how you're doing. If you've even a trace of oil, get them changed, if however you're ok, then you may have got away with it. I'm not advocating doing half a job, as it were, not at all. A gasket failure will kill your DIS pack, which is a 'derrière' of a job  . I just remember my gaskets when they came off were supple and spongy, and in hindsight wonder whether they 'needed' doing. To check your gaskets is simply a matter of pulling an HT lead out and shining a torch down there, so 'no biggy'. You should be checking the plugwells for oil after doing the gasket job, just in case even the new gaskets aren't sealed and require a further 'nip'.

Obvious things like make sure the covers are torqued up correct etc goes without saying, if you choose to do the gaskets.

I suggest my 'renegade' course of action purely as you mention 'short term' and also the leak appears to only be very slight at this stage.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Here's Mark's excellent tutorial

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90542.msg1155395#msg1155395

[DrAndyB]

Thanks all for advice.  Much appreciated.

Hopefully I am getting the Gaskets done in a few weeks time.  Car not do may miles so hopefully I can refrain from using her until done.

Breathers were pretty clean I beleive mid last year (got oil cooler plate done then ), but of course no doubt they will be checked when gaskets done.

Are the Gaskets still available at the VX Stealer ?

[Diamond Black Geezer]

They are.

Choose your least favourite child / limb.

 

[DrAndyB]

Choose your least favourite child / limb.

 

Just rang to get price - You're not wrong  !!  Owch    Even the part chap commented   

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I know, for a few strips of rubber... shame they're so hefty in price, it only dissuades people from doing the job, when it is so crucial to the engine's well-being   

The advice on OOF is of a very high standard - and by that I mean that almost always the correct tools, procedures, and best quality of parts are recommended. Look on the Cav/Calibra forums and loads of the V6 owners on there will do a timing belt change with a pair of mole grips and a can of Carling on standby, here we tend to move a little closer to correct engineering practices.

Not to make you feel like a Guinea Pig, but it would be a worthwhile experiment to see just how in need of a change the average set of gaskets are, as I said - it's the excess pressure, not an actual failed gasket per se that is at fault.

If your breathers are ok, then it really might be time for new gaskets, then. If it helps, just consider how many miles/years the original set lasted, and the similar amount of time you can expect these to last. 

[Steve B]

Choose your least favourite child / limb.

 

Just rang to get price - You're not wrong  !!  Owch    Even the part chap commented   

And there is the 16 o rings and the goo 

[Steve B]

I wonder 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

No personal experience but have seen some bits on here which seem too 'good to be true' - but they could be fine, of course. Anyone bought off here before?

[Sir Tigger KC]

Also check the covers themselves are still nice and straight as they go out of shape if they've been over tightened and probably just with age/heat/milage regardless as they're plastic.   

So there's no point in fitting new gaskets if your cam covers are no longer nice and rectangular! 

I was quoted about £220 recently for new covers which included gaskets, which isn't that bad really when you take into account the cost of the gaskets alone. 

[TheBoy]

I wonder 

That roughly translates into Phillips made a radio for a 1089 Astra, so their gaskets are OE

Autovaux infamously use the same bullshit

[biggriffin]

I wonder 

 No1 will be elring,
 No 2 will be genuine GM.with hologram.

[TheBoy]

The Elring ones are known to be problematic