Ok so i snapped a few rocker cover screws, so ive replaced them... and being very wary about over tightening them ive stop as soon as there is resistance. How ever i have bad oil leaks from the rear, basically on both ends, but mainly the back right looking forward. I have followed the tightening procedure on the workshop manual. And applied some sealant on the points it suggests.

 

Any recommendations?

You should be able to get away with 10nms of torque on them. Try 9 and see how it goes. I had a leak and it was coming from a bolt at the rear, replaced bolt and used sealant and seems ok now. Did you check the cover for warping?

Whoever had the car before managed to strip the thread in the head on the front right corner, and like none of the rear bolts were anywhere near tight enough. Its not leaking from the front bolt but will get my local to helicoil it.

Im not sure how to check for warping, it all looked normal.. and the gasket fit fine so im guessing its fine.. Unfortunately my torque wrench only goes to 20nms >< 

 

 

Did you use sealant all over the gasket? the workshop manual says only use on the 4 points.

Take the cover off and put it on a flat smooth surface and see if it sits flush or rocks and wobbles. My local guy put sealant all the way round but yes I believe it's recommended at certain points. I kind of wish he'd done that but hey nevermind.

Iirc by feel 10nms was just at the point where you start to think you don't want to go any tighter! But really you need the click, like you say it's not the kind of thing you want to over tighten. Just try an equal 1/8th of a turn still following the pattern, and if you feel it's going ok try another. If it feels tight enough it probably is.

The gasket was leaking on my Octavia, I took it off cleaned everything carefully, including the top of the cylinder head, and it all went back on ok. I was going to replace the gasket but ecp sent me the wrong one. I have the right one now but the old one has been ok.

You could use a spirit level to check the edges of the cover if you don't have a flat thing big enough.

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The gasket was leaking on my Octavia, I took it off cleaned everything carefully, including the top of the cylinder head, and it all went back on ok. I was going to replace the gasket but ecp sent me the wrong one. I have the right one now but the old one has been ok.

You could use a spirit level to check the edges of the cover if you don't have a flat thing big enough.

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I will do this in the morning, dust bin lid should do the trick :P

For a dead flat surface try a mirror or any sheet of glass big enough, often it's the metal around the bolt holes that gets dimpled and prevents the cover seating, it is possible to lap the dimples off by using spray mount adhesive and a sheet of emery paper.

For a dead flat surface try a mirror or any sheet of glass big enough, often it's the metal around the bolt holes that gets dimpled and prevents the cover seating, it is possible to lap the dimples off by using spray mount adhesive and a sheet of emery paper.

Cunning. Although a lot of sheet glass isn't that flat.

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Use the dining room table while SWMBO is shopping

Cunning. Although a lot of sheet glass isn't that flat.

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It's flat enough, I used to lap two-stroke cylinder heads flat on an ordinary sheet of float glass, then lap them onto the barrel before sealing with a thin film of hylomar, higher compression and moar powah!

Hmm interesting stuff, i used this http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/car-maintenance-accessories/car-adhesives-tapes-sealants/quick-gasket/?549773345&0&cc5_139

 

Maybe its not the right stuff ?

 

I have a glass table, thing is i will need to shoo her out of the house, but that will no doubt end up in her shopping!!

 

But doing this i will need to full de oil the cover, whats safe to use and able to buy tomorrow ??? ie halfords, or eurocar parts, im limited to car shops locally.

Edited 29 January, 201610 yr by FromTheDarkness

I just got some degreaser from halfords. For the sealant I got a tube of some normfest stuff, I think it was this:

http://www.eurocarparts.com/mobile/ecp/p/car-accessories/car-maintenance-accessories/car-adhesives-tapes-sealants/sealant/?NOR2896501&0&cc5_142

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Hmm interesting stuff, i used this http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/car-maintenance-accessories/car-adhesives-tapes-sealants/quick-gasket/?549773345&0&cc5_139

 

Maybe its not the right stuff ?

 

I have a glass table, thing is i will need to shoo her out of the house, but that will no doubt end up in her shopping!!

 

But doing this i will need to full de oil the cover, whats safe to use and able to buy tomorrow ??? ie halfords, or eurocar parts, im limited to car shops locally.

 

That stuff is basically blue hylomar and it doesn't fill gaps, it relies on the mating surfaces being completely flat. Use RTV silicone instead.

 

Degrease the rocker cover then chuck it in the dishwasher while she's out.  :p

That stuff is basically blue hylomar and it doesn't fill gaps, it relies on the mating surfaces being completely flat. Use RTV silicone instead.

 

Degrease the rocker cover then chuck it in the dishwasher while she's out.  :p

Unfortunately im the dishwasher in the house!!

 

But the stuff i used says it is Rtv .."Vital Blue RTV is the original gasket maker formulated for sensor-safe and heavy duty applications. It make reliable "formed-in-place" gaskets that resist cracking, shrinking and migration caused by thermal cycling. Ideal to replace almost any cut gasket. Also use to coats pre-cut gasket to increase reliability. It is permanently flexible and stable at temperature of between -80 F to +500 F (-62 C to +260 c) intermittent. It is also highly resistant to auto and shop fluids"

 

How should i apply the sealant? as per workshop guide or all around the seal?

Edited 29 January, 201610 yr by FromTheDarkness

Unfortunately im the dishwasher in the house!!

 

But the stuff i used says it is Rtv .."Vital Blue RTV is the original gasket maker formulated for sensor-safe and heavy duty applications. It make reliable "formed-in-place" gaskets that resist cracking, shrinking and migration caused by thermal cycling. Ideal to replace almost any cut gasket. Also use to coats pre-cut gasket to increase reliability. It is permanently flexible and stable at temperature of between -80 F to +500 F (-62 C to +260 c) intermittent. It is also highly resistant to auto and shop fluids"

 

How should i apply the sealant? as per workshop guide or all around the seal?

 

RTV just means that it sets at room temperature, it isn't silicone, but it will work if the rocker cover is straight and flat.

For a dead flat surface try a mirror or any sheet of glass big enough, often it's the metal around the bolt holes that gets dimpled and prevents the cover seating, it is possible to lap the dimples off by using spray mount adhesive and a sheet of emery paper.

This would have worked 20 odd years ago with metal rocker covers

But not the plastic one fitted to the PD engine........

This would have worked 20 odd years ago with metal rocker covers

But not the plastic one fitted to the PD engine........

 

Ok, but it'll still work on a rigid structural thermoplastic.  :p

Ok, but it'll still work on a rigid structural thermoplastic.  :p

Aha but it won't

As the gasket sits in a recess,so the part you would be flatting down is not actually the sealing surface

Aha but it won't

As the gasket sits in a recess,so the part you would be flatting down is not actually the sealing surface

 

Ah well, at least my archaic hack might come in handy for something, somewhere, I used it recently to repair a distorted plastic water pump housing which wouldn't seal.

Although it sits in a recess the edges do push down the gasket since its got a lip and the gasket is T shape.

Ive always just replaced the gasket and nipped them up by hand, never had any leaks, id never used silicone gasket on them anyway (even if your meant to) its quite a thick rubber gasket. so cant see why silicone is also needed.

Crankcase ventilation problem?

Crankcase ventilation problem?

Well its quite a basic system, a pipe from the rocker cover goes to the intake pipe.

Could be a problem if he's fitted a catch can or similar.

 Ive done the elephant hose thing lol, a pipe to the floor ... but it does spit out a fair bit of oil, nicely lubricating the underneath of my car :P

 

 - Just to add i bought a torque wrench, and ive been massively  over tightening these bolts... 10nm is nothing! Ive also used the silicon suggested, so will have to see, fingers crossed.

Im sure the motorcyclist will appreciate it muchly

Im sure the motorcyclist will appreciate it muchly

Your right i never thought of that .. When i did it i wanted a catch can, but couldn't find one with the same diameter inlet as the crankcase, for under £100.