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[bestseany]

Well, we've just spent most of the day doing my rocker cover gaskets.

Everything seemed to go well, except for having to make an emergency trip to Vauxhall because they'd given me the green sealant instead of the black stuff  

The only real issue we had was when it came to cleaning the breathers. The guide on here is difficult to follow as the pictures no longer work on it. The guide mentions a brass pipe from the 'breather box', which I didn't seem to have, they are all rubber. Is the breather box the one that looks like it's attached at the back of the drivers side head? We took the large Y shaped breather pipe and it seemed quite clear, we also removed the black box on top of the plenum and it seemed to flow freely with air. Basically, I'm concerned that we've missed something with cleaning the breathers and the gaskets are going to leak again  

[Marks DTM Calib]

Its one of the guides I plan to improove when I next clean a set out....

If you look at the breather box there are two pipes, the larger one and a small one (on the left) it has a small brass insert in it .....its important to ensure that this and the associated small breather pipe are clear...

Its also worth checking and cleaning the throttle buterflies and also checking to make sure they are fully shut with zero throttle (some idiot mechanics wind these open slightly by adjusting the end stop when there is a stiking idle valve...)

[bestseany]

Its one of the guides I plan to improove when I next clean a set out....

If you look at the breather box there are two pipes, the larger one and a small one (on the left) it has a small brass insert in it .....its important to ensure that this and the associated small breather pipe are clear...

Its also worth checking and cleaning the throttle buterflies and also checking to make sure they are fully shut with zero throttle (some idiot mechanics wind these open slightly by adjusting the end stop when there is a stiking idle valve...)

I got my mate to (stupidly) blow through the pipes and they all seemed to flow freely. We cleaned the throttle butterflies and the two small breather holes on the throttle body, which was a little bit dirty.

Would the rocker gaskets still leak even if the breathers are clear? As mine didn't appear to be that dirty.

[TheBoy]

Its one of the guides I plan to improove when I next clean a set out....

If you look at the breather box there are two pipes, the larger one and a small one (on the left) it has a small brass insert in it .....its important to ensure that this and the associated small breather pipe are clear...

Its also worth checking and cleaning the throttle buterflies and also checking to make sure they are fully shut with zero throttle (some idiot mechanics wind these open slightly by adjusting the end stop when there is a stiking idle valve...)

I got my mate to (stupidly) blow through the pipes and they all seemed to flow freely. We cleaned the throttle butterflies and the two small breather holes on the throttle body, which was a little bit dirty.

Would the rocker gaskets still leak even if the breathers are clear? As mine didn't appear to be that dirty.

You did use carb cleaner, and not just blow though them?

[bestseany]

You did use carb cleaner, and not just blow though them?

I used carb cleaner on the throttle body, but that was it. I really wasn't sure what I was meant to be taking off and cleaning etc  :-/

[TheBoy]

You did use carb cleaner, and not just blow though them?

I used carb cleaner on the throttle body, but that was it. I really wasn't sure what I was meant to be taking off and cleaning etc  :-/

OK, lift up the black cover with ecotec written on it (only the then cover) - below this is more black plastic held one with a torx. Remove and thorughly carb clean. Mark and remove all 4 pipes at back, and carb clean. Also carb clean when this plastic bit goes into throttle body.  May as well do ICV (if applicable) whilst you're at it...

[PhilCavSRi130]

All being well and weather permmiting i will be doing mine at the weekend so will take a load of pics as i go then send them to you Mark so you can do the update  

Also doing what i hope will be a permenant solution to the leaking covers by replacing them with a set of the metal covers from the V6 vectra. Only problem i will have is that the oil filler will then be on the drivers side just behind the fuel lines into the rail, so will have to use a funnel to put oil in, but this i can live with.

Shotblasting the covers tomorrow night will then be painting them ready for the weekend.

[TheBoy]

All being well and weather permmiting i will be doing mine at the weekend so will take a load of pics as i go then send them to you Mark so you can do the update  

Also doing what i hope will be a permenant solution to the leaking covers by replacing them with a set of the metal covers from the V6 vectra. Only problem i will have is that the oil filler will then be on the drivers side just behind the fuel lines into the rail, so will have to use a funnel to put oil in, but this i can live with.

Shotblasting the covers tomorrow night will then be painting them ready for the weekend.

The plastic covers aren't the problem....

[Paul M]

All being well and weather permmiting i will be doing mine at the weekend so will take a load of pics as i go then send them to you Mark so you can do the update  

Also doing what i hope will be a permenant solution to the leaking covers by replacing them with a set of the metal covers from the V6 vectra. Only problem i will have is that the oil filler will then be on the drivers side just behind the fuel lines into the rail, so will have to use a funnel to put oil in, but this i can live with.

Shotblasting the covers tomorrow night will then be painting them ready for the weekend.

The plastic covers aren't the problem....

Maybe not but they do warp so the metal ones will remove one potential failure point. I considered fitting metal covers too, but was put off because of the oil filler issue. It'll be interesting to see how yours turns out, if it's accessible I may well be tempted to go back down that route. Different gaskets on the Vectra covers too, so maybe they're better (or maybe they're worse) I haven't really researched it myself.

[TheBoy]

All being well and weather permmiting i will be doing mine at the weekend so will take a load of pics as i go then send them to you Mark so you can do the update  

Also doing what i hope will be a permenant solution to the leaking covers by replacing them with a set of the metal covers from the V6 vectra. Only problem i will have is that the oil filler will then be on the drivers side just behind the fuel lines into the rail, so will have to use a funnel to put oil in, but this i can live with.

Shotblasting the covers tomorrow night will then be painting them ready for the weekend.

The plastic covers aren't the problem....

Maybe not but they do warp so the metal ones will remove one potential failure point. I considered fitting metal covers too, but was put off because of the oil filler issue. It'll be interesting to see how yours turns out, if it's accessible I may well be tempted to go back down that route. Different gaskets on the Vectra covers too, so maybe they're better (or maybe they're worse) I haven't really researched it myself.

Never seen a warped one yet...

[TheBoy]

I believe this cam cover warping rumour has been put about by mechanics who do not know how to cure the cam cover leaks...

[jonny2112]

I believe this cam cover warping rumour has been put about by mechanics who do not know how to cure the cam cover leaks...

Yep, that sounds about right to me  

[Paul M]

I'm sure a reputable member on here (or the dark side) said they sometimes warp... I haven't had mine off yet so no idea. Maybe it was Mark, or Finlay?

[TheBoy]

I'm sure a reputable member on here (or the dark side) said they sometimes warp... I haven't had mine off yet so no idea. Maybe it was Mark, or Finlay?

I don't believe MDTM or Ron McB have ever come across a warped cam cover either, but will happily stand corrected if anyone has.  Either way, it certainly isn't a common occurance.

Ronnie McB's problem with cam gaskets was always due to his insistance on using cheap, shit gaskets!

[PhilCavSRi130]

The reason i'm going down this route is that the Vectra doesn't suffer with this problem like the Omega's do and the only difference is the metal covers!

Yes there is no evidence that the plastic covers warp on the Omega but i had to change the wifes plastic cover on her 2.0 ltr Veccy because it had warped so its not just a mechanics excuse. Obviously Plastic when it gets hot may become soft and with the heat build up under the bonnet over a period of time it is possible the covers could warp very slightly.