Just decided to get this done on my boys recently bought VRS. Suppose I should have done it as soon as we got it to save a change of oil so soon. but at £25 for 5L of Shell Helix Ultra 5w40 and a Crossman filter from ECP that's not a big deal.

 

Just been to Heritage in Yeovil to order up the pipe and seal and current prices are (inc. VAT) £11.63 for the pipe and £4.51 for the seal. I put the sealant number into Google and the first Ebay link to come up turned out to be ECP's Ebay shop so getting that from them. Didn't even bother trying Yeovil TPS as I've read before that wont serve joe public.

 

On the sealant side, I've seen from my Vectra days what can happen using too much sealant (old addage 'less is more' is true in this instance). Oil level sensor is on the front of the sump and they could start leaking. To change the 'o' ring you had to drop the sump to be able to undo the circlip to get the sensor out and change the seal. A friend has his done at a garage and they'd plastered the sealant on,of course it all squeezed out inside too and eventually broke off in bits. Outcome was after not very long the pick up totally clogged and lunched the engine. Not the end of the world on the Vectra 'B' 2.5v6 as then it was a good excuse to do a 3.0/3.2 conversion.

 

The boys vrs is running like a dream with no oil pressure issues but for peace of mind (it's had a very questionable service history for the last 4 years 16,000miles) I want to get on and do it.

 

good job 

 

My car is on 142k fsh but not had a pickup pipe changed so im defo going to order one up. Anyone got a link to this tool you need to get to the harder to get bolts?

 

You don't really need a special tool, you can just get em with a 1/4" drive long extension. 

Cracked on and did it this afternoon. Not as bad as I was expecting in there,considering it hadn't had an oil change for 4 years before we bought it (going by service booklet),a bit of gunge on the pick up but in no way completely bunged up. Sump took a while to clean up the stuck on stuff on the sides. Simpler job than on a Vectra B v6 anyway as that required the downpipes taken off. 

So i did mine the other day. What a disaster. My sump nut was cross threaded so i had to re thread that and now the sump is back on its bloody leaking from the front near the gearbox. Looks like its back off tomorrow and being re sealed. :(

Just out of interest, what sealant did you use?.

Just out of interest, what sealant did you use?.

Quantum rtv silicon sealant black. Says can be used as a instant gasket on rocker covers sumps water pumps gearboxes. Temp range -80 to 250. Probably not good enough. Tps sold it me as thet didn't have any proper stuff in stock.

Ordered some loctite 5910 so hope it will do the trick.

Ordered some loctite 5910 so hope it will do the trick.

+1 This is what I used - just be sure to read the instructions re curing time.

Hi

just like to bring this post back up as i am about to change the pickup pipe on my vrs.

can anyone please advise if there is a alternative to the loctite 5910 as i know this has stupidly gone up in price as it is now not sold for general consumer usage. ie for sale in halfords etc as it has carcinogenic properties and thats why only dedicated resellers sell it.

I would still like to use 5910 but for the cost of it now i think its a bit expensive.

has anyone had any experience with the sl 5980 or any other products

cheers

Thanks to Bowders1 for this great guide.

 

Did my car today, as after about 100 miles/2 hours driving was getting the flashing red oil warning light (but only under these conditions).

I ordered the sealant from the Skoda dealers which was very easy to work with, and cost £12.76. Part number is SD176404M2 if its of any use... 

 

Original pipe was partially (approx 50%) clogged

 

I also put on a new original oil filter, refilled with Mobil 1 ESP, and replaced the oil pressure sensor.

 

Fingers crossed this resolves the issue...

Having trouble getting hold of a reasonable amount of loctite, has anyone used this stuff before?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-SKODA-VW-GOLF-4-IV-BORA-SEAT-SUMP-OIL-PAN-SEALANT-SILICONE-BEST-QUALITY-/170761435276?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27c22cb88c

Or this? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Victor-Reinz-Reinzosil-Gasket-Sump-Sealant-Seal-70ml-/321550923501?hash=item4addedb6ed

Edited 9 August, 20159 yr by Funkoid

Having trouble getting hold of a reasonable amount of loctite, has anyone used this stuff before?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-SKODA-VW-GOLF-4-IV-BORA-SEAT-SUMP-OIL-PAN-SEALANT-SILICONE-BEST-QUALITY-/170761435276?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27c22cb88c

Or this? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Victor-Reinz-Reinzosil-Gasket-Sump-Sealant-Seal-70ml-/321550923501?hash=item4addedb6ed

 

Hi Buddy just get some of this

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIRKO-ELRING-VOLKSWAGEN-AUDI-SEAT-SKODA-ENGINE-SUMP-SILICONE-SEALANT-036161-GREY/141648103095?_trksid=p2141725.c100338.m3726&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20141212152715%26meid%3Dd80055b0c2114658992202addc8b7aa9%26pid%3D100338%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D30%26sd%3D141726557358

Only thing that put me off that was P34RC3 mentioning quantum and it's temperature range.

Fearful of ballsing it up TBH. Seems a fine line between using too much silicone and too little.

If you follow Bowder's guide you will be fine. the thing is, some people get a tube of silicone sealer, and regard it almost as a personal failure if they don't spread the entire tube all over what they are trying to seal, so it all spews inside the sump.

 

Most of the sealers have a cure time to hard of 6-12 hours to be oil tight, they will be touch dry in an hour or so, but hard enough to stand crankcase pressure is another matter.

 

If you take your time, work clean and don't panic you'll be fine, just pay special care when screwing in the bolts near the gearbox that you don't start them crossed, otherwise it is straightforward.

 

The only thing I would say is try to get the front of the car up as high as your jack will safely go and stick the car on stands. It gets old real quick when your elbows drag on the ground putting the sump back because the car is not high enough.

Cheers guys, just seen felpro make gaskets for the job which is interesting, but it looks like they're only available stateside.

(Double post sorry - please delete!)

Edited 10 August, 20159 yr by Funkoid

Just read this. Timely as I am removing the sump to cure an oil weep and will check the pickup at the same time.

 

Great write up!

just done this job-Bowders' write-up made it so much easier. I used Dirko HT sealant which is an approved VW silicon-thing; and fired up the engine after about 40 minutes/ No leaks, no warning lights- all good i hope. Didn't notice any change in performance, etc, but will see today, 24 hours later. Worst bit was the gearbox bolts, and the oil filter was a m***f**r to remove