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[Teebee]

Hi guys, first time here

Just lately i've gone through hell on my 99 2.5 Elite, it seems like after 8 good years everything failed at once!

In the last few months i've had the egr system cleaned, new gaskets & new oil cooler (unfortunately the cam covers looked straight but it turns out they weren't and are still leaking a bit). The problem now though is i've developed a huge misfire, with limited cash I took a chance and got the plugs/leads changed on the basis they had been boiled in oil previously but to no avail.

Now that pay day has rolled round i've got a game plan to kill (myself) or cure (the car)! I'm planning to get the dis pack and HCV changed (in case it's leaking) and put on a pair of vectra covers. I believe the EGR valve has also blown but was planning to do that as a seperate job as it's an easy location (lets me see how much the main job will cost first)

I have a couple of questions though.

Do all Vectra B V6 covers fit Omegas? (i'm looking at 97 onto a 99 car)
Do I need Vectra gaskets or will Omega ones do?
And a curve ball question. My mechanic did a check for exhaust gases in the head gasket using a device he wedged in the top of the water filler. He said I definitely showed "some" gas in the water.
Should I worry about this? Are these devices accurate? (never seen one before) If so is there anything other than head gasket that could cause this symptom?

Thanks in advance
Baz

[JamesV6CDX]

Hi Teebee and welcome to the site. Please update your profile with your information regarding where you are from and the model details of your car, engine size, etc

In answer to your questions

- There is no need to fit Vectra camcovers to an Omega - none at all. The main reasons gaskets fail on the existing covers is because -

• Ham fisted Mechanics overtightened the bolts - they only need 8nm

• Non genuine gaskets have been used (essential to use genuine)

• The breather system needs cleaning (Blocked breathers cause camcover gasket failure).

• Incorrect sealent has been used (important to use GM black goo)

Not a bad job to do yourself if you are reasonably confident.

As far as the misfire - if you have new plugs and leads, and no engine management light on, then the DIS is a likely cause. I have one here, and once I know your model and if it will fit, you can "borrow" it for a test, before you buy a new one, to see if it cures it. If not, just post it back, if so, you can either send it back and buy yourself a new one, or keep it for a small cost.

EGR - they can be cleaned - but were you getting any EGR related codes? You could just blank it off for now, that would eliminate any trouble from it ;)

As far as the headgaskets go, failures are very rare. Were you getting any symptoms such as - fluids mixing, overheating, or over pressurising of the coolant? If not, I probably wouldn't worry.

You can get a dye to put in the coolant which changes colour if it contacts exhaust gasses, this is probably a more reliable way.

Hope this helps?

Let us know where you from or if you need anymore information.

Cheers,
James


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[JamesV6CDX]

Just to add - if you suspect there may be a head gasket fault, and you're getting a misfire - a compression test won't go amiss (although it's rare for the fire rings to fail).

Still much more likely to be DIS though... especially if the old leads were cooking in oil, and the spark had nowhere to go...

[Teebee]

Hi James,

Reason for the Vectra covers is the old ones had warped a bit, the guy put them back on and they are majority sealed but it still leaks a little. I reason Vectra covers now because new ones will cost an arm and a leg and second hand ones risk the same problem.

For the misfire no EML, only code 12's with a paper clip. EGR has actually blown, you can smell gas, although maybe it's just the gasket.... I think this stuff was a dye, it changed from pure blue to a bluegreen colour, I guess the gismo just let him lift a sample away. And no, no other symptoms until he tried this test.

Thanks for the offer of a loan pack, I dont know what version it has yet. It's such such a git having to remove so much engine just to get access to a plug lead  

[JamesV6CDX]

I've never, ever, seen a warped camcover. It's something of a myth.

If fitted properly, going on the criteria above with clean breathers, you'll be sorted....

[feeutfo]

i would not worry about the coolant test for hg failure. I had this test done while trying to trace a leak before i new better and about this forum. The test showed a slight change in colour as yours did, the car went on to do another 50k. Unless you have mayo on the dip stick or thin watery gravey for oil i would not give it a second thought, imho.

[MutantCav]

100% agreed...you dont have warped covers...

If non genuine gaskets were used, wrong sealant put in the wrong places and the original cause of the gaskets leaking (the breather system blocking) was not resolved then the gaskets will just blow again...first port of call has to be to replace the dispack...all you need to know is whether it has an oval wiring connector or a square one (its probably oval)...I have a replacement here if needed...while your waiting...clean out the breather system, this will probably cure your slight leak anyway, make sure there is no oil in the plug wells before using...

If you stick Vectra cam covers on without cleaning breather system, your engine will go the way of many Vectra engines, cam covers wont release the built up pressure so next point of call for seal failure is seals within the engine a MUCH more expensive fix!!