Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Andy B on 14 May 2012, 14:23:39

Title: Cam covers
Post by: Andy B on 14 May 2012, 14:23:39
I've an oil leak somewhere on my car. It's dripping off the front of the gearbox & making a nice slick on my drive. So suspecting the usuall culprit of cam covers I've had a look. Driver's side all bone dry, however there's a little oil around the front of the cover.
I replaced all seals on both cam covers last summer - OE from Andy C.  The easy side still has 3 dry plugs  :y  :y The slightly testing passenger side has 1 dry plug, 1 slightly damp & the No2 plug is just starting to paddle in oil.  :'( I've just removed the cover for a look-see. The gasket is still pliable & no signs of it having been trapped or twisted etc in its groove. Has anyone put a straight edge across their cam covers when they were off?
I'm starting to think the impossible ........ warped cover  :o :o
Title: Re: Cam covers
Post by: 0795omega on 14 May 2012, 14:41:46
a garage who did mine once did phone me up and say your covers are warped and so had to do them aswell not cheap!! nothing is though is it!
Title: Re: Cam covers
Post by: Andy B on 14 May 2012, 14:47:25
a garage who did mine once did phone me up and say your covers are warped and so had to do them aswell not cheap!! nothing is though is it!

warped covers is often a cover story for their earlier ineptitude at fitting the proper gaskets or not clearing the breathers.  ;) ;)
Title: Re: Cam covers
Post by: 0795omega on 14 May 2012, 14:53:39
yeh mind you this certain garage new i loved the car and i think i was a bit of a cash cow to them to be honest!
Title: Re: Cam covers
Post by: Elite Pete on 14 May 2012, 16:17:28
I have seen warped cam covers but it was a result of them being over tightened. I'm not suggesting that's what's happened in your case Andy ::)
Title: Re: Cam covers
Post by: Andy B on 14 May 2012, 16:26:05
I have seen warped cam covers but it was a result of them being over tightened. I'm not suggesting that's what's happened in your case Andy ::)

But Your Honour!!!!  :o :o ;D Not guilty!  :y
Putting a straight edge across all 4 edges/sides allows a little rocking of the straight edge. Length wise they look pretty straight using rack o'th'eye
All back together again with black sealant in the appropiate corners & D section.

See what happens.  :-\

In all honesty, as there's a brass insert in the cover where it's bolted on, over tightening is only going to crush  the insert, I stilll can't really see how it applies pressure on the cover to warp it.  :-\ :-\ :-\
Title: Re: Cam covers
Post by: Andy B on 14 May 2012, 18:05:33
Phoned local Vauxhall for a price for a new cover. £120!! :o :o :o
I'll see what happens now after re-fitting my old cover.
Title: Re: Cam covers
Post by: The Red Baron on 14 May 2012, 18:39:37
ive had to change the covers on the elite ive just done the heads on as they had gone very wavey down the sides, so the gasket was pushing out the sides. thankfully i had a decent spare pair in the shed. still have 1 good un spare tbh. :y
Title: Re: Cam covers
Post by: Elite Pete on 14 May 2012, 18:45:33
They seem to go wavey on the outer edges opposite the bolt holes
Title: Re: Cam covers
Post by: Andy B on 14 May 2012, 20:07:43
They seem to go wavey on the outer edges opposite the bolt holes

Which makes my cover reasonable .....  :-\