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[Romie]

My mechanic replaced the valve cover gaskets and after 300 kms I  experienced misfires and hard starting. My friend and I check the wires and plugs and found 2, 4, and 6 were swimming in oil. So I called my mechanic and requested an appointment. He said he used good quality gaskets and that couldn't be the fault for the leak. Is he just brushing off an error in reassembly or a bad gasket or would there be another reason for the oil filling in the ports?
thanks for your input
Romie

[zirk]

Was the Breather System blocked and cleaned at the same time? Pointless changing the seals without checking this, otherwise its down to crappy non GM seals, wrong sealant, or he hasn't torqued them down properly.

[TheBoy]

As Zirk says, the breathers need to be clear. But given the timescales, I would suggest a combination of poor quality gaskets and poor fitting.

It is absolutely the only place oil can get into the plug wells.

[terry paget]

As said before, with clear breathers, cam cover gasket merely have to resist  air being sucked into cam covers by breather light vacuum. With breathers blocked, they struggle to contain sump pressure caused by piston leakage, soon fail and allow oil to blow past into plug holes.

[Webby the Bear]

Sounds like poor fitment due to the amount of time it took. 

[EMD]

Could also be warped rocker covers due to being over tightened previously , if they are warped you will never get an oil tight seal .

[Romie]

Thanks for the speedy reply...not so on COG. It seems most answers are in line with my friend Dave. I have yet to take the Cat to Jeff so that he can check his work.
Is the breather easy to remove and inspect?
How do I remove the oil from the spark plug wells?
Thanks
Romie

[EMD]

Thanks for the speedy reply...not so on COG. It seems most answers are in line with my friend Dave. I have yet to take the Cat to Jeff so that he can check his work.
Is the breather easy to remove and inspect?
How do I remove the oil from the spark plug wells?
Thanks
Romie

I use a turkey baster with a thin pipe attached to syphon all the oil out .

[Nick W]

Thanks for the speedy reply...not so on COG. It seems most answers are in line with my friend Dave. I have yet to take the Cat to Jeff so that he can check his work.
Is the breather easy to remove and inspect?
How do I remove the oil from the spark plug wells?
Thanks
Romie

Cheap turkey baster.


Damn, not quick enough

[amba]

Large sized syringe with thin tube attached ,although does help having a A & E nurse in residence for such items 

[terry paget]

I suck it out by mouth, using a long enough tube to avoid swallowing it.
There is a guide to cleaning the breathers soemwhere on this forum. The one that blocks most often is the smaller one, can plug solid and is easlly cleared with a 1.6mm drill in a hand vice.

[EMD]

I suck it out by mouth, using a long enough tube to avoid swallowing it.
There is a guide to cleaning the breathers soemwhere on this forum. The one that blocks most often is the smaller one, can plug solid and is easlly cleared with a 1.6mm drill in a hand vice.

Old school , bit of pipe and hope you dont taste the consequences 
You wpnt get all the oil out though but when most of it out i swab the hole with tissue and poke it with a thin screwdriver . I have been known to just pull the plugs and let the oil into the cylinders which makes for interesting start up  Not recommended though   

[Sir Tigger KC]

I suck it out by mouth, using a long enough tube to avoid swallowing it.
There is a guide to cleaning the breathers soemwhere on this forum. The one that blocks most often is the smaller one, can plug solid and is easlly cleared with a 1.6mm drill in a hand vice.

Old school , bit of pipe and hope you dont taste the consequences 
You wpnt get all the oil out though but when most of it out i swab the hole with tissue and poke it with a thin screwdriver . I have been known to just pull the plugs and let the oil into the cylinders which makes for interesting start up Not recommended though   

You can't admit to doing things like that on here!!!!     You'll get banned!!!   

[Romie]

Was the Breather System blocked and cleaned at the same time? Pointless changing the seals without checking this, otherwise its down to crappy non GM seals, wrong sealant, or he hasn't torqued them down properly.

Thanks Zirk
After watching this video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PczuE0tH7Xw
I'm thinking Jeff the mechanic didn't pull the cover off the drivers side (3L 1998 Catera Left hand drive).
You have a good point and I would like to know more.
Thanks

[Romie]

I suck it out by mouth, using a long enough tube to avoid swallowing it.
There is a guide to cleaning the breathers soemwhere on this forum. The one that blocks most often is the smaller one, can plug solid and is easlly cleared with a 1.6mm drill in a hand vice.

Old school , bit of pipe and hope you dont taste the consequences 
You wpnt get all the oil out though but when most of it out i swab the hole with tissue and poke it with a thin screwdriver . I have been known to just pull the plugs and let the oil into the cylinders which makes for interesting start up  Not recommended though   

Thanks EMD
After I had blotted the oil out with a rag (not fun) my friend Dave held the starter on until it started to run. But Dave said not to run the car very long like that. The car was putting out white smoke and then we found that #2 was misfiring. I still have some issues but now I'm just gathering information to repair it myself.
Your advise worked for me, at least now I can move it into my heated garage. Since I don't see any wrench marks on the valve cover, I don't think Jeff the mechanic didn't install the driver's side cover gaskets. I've watched a video and wow what a job. You can see the video on my previous post.
thanks