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[Sonic_Boom]

I had leaking cam cover gaskets, so being the lazy bugger that I am I got a local garage to change them for me, now they are leaking again both sides dripping on to the exhaust manifold and causing smoke and as you'd imagine quite a crappy smell in the car.
I took it back to the garage and without even looking at it they said the cam cover are probably warped and thats why they are leaking so soon (3 weeks after being change) are they just talking crap because they don't want to reapir it for free? or its it a common prolem which they make out? I have looked for some cam covers but no one but vauxhall seems to do them and they want £98 plus the vat each!!!
Cheers Rich

[Dazzler]

They do sometimes warp, but its normally done to someone tightening them down to much. The bolts should only be tightened to 8nm. Have you or they cleaned out the breather system??? If not this could be blocked (common) and now the crankcase is over pressureing and the oil is finding the weakest link to escape from.........Which is normally the rocker cover gaskets.
HTH.

[Sonic_Boom]

I haven't cleaned the breather system and I doubt they have! Is it and easy job, i've got tomorrow free so I could replace the gaskets again and clean the breather system out aslong as It doesn't take to long as I need it working for monday morning.
Rich

[hotel21]

Couple of points.....

1)  Bet they used non-genuine VX gaskets
2) Didn't clean the breathers
3) More importantly, overtightened the covers.  They rarely warp, apparently.  Its a mechanics myth to get around the fact that they made a hash of it.

Get back onto them and demand that they redo the job.  Remind them of the remit of Trading Standards also covers shoddy workmanship and that you have paid honest coin in exchange for an honest job.  They have not delivered what you have paid for.

[Tafty]

I haven't cleaned the breather system and I doubt they have! Is it and easy job, i've got tomorrow free so I could replace the gaskets again and clean the breather system out aslong as It doesn't take to long as I need it working for monday morning.
Rich

Takes a couple of hours to do it properly - but as the others have said - the garage have buggered it up so are obliged to do it properly at their cost.  Have to re-iterate the need to use genuine bits.

[Sonic_Boom]

Cheers for the quick responce guys i'll get back on to them Monday Morning.
Rich

[Dazzler]

Just to note its easy to tell if the covers are warped once they have been removed. All you need to do is run a steal rule over them you will soon see if they are warped or not.

[TheBoy]

I've never seen a warped one.

If you want a job done properly, do it yourself I'm afraid.

Must use genuine gaskets (pattern ones simply don't last on cam covers), and must do job properly. That includes the 8Nm for the bolts!

Also, clean breathers, else they will fail again...

[VXL V6]

There's a great guide on cleaning the breathers / throttles on here.

If you need a hand I can pop over but will have to be one evening after work (in which case you'll need a lamp or lit garage to work in!)

[Sonic_Boom]

If you need a hand I can pop over but will have to be one evening after work (in which case you'll need a lamp or lit garage to work in!)

Cheers mate much aprecatied, i'll see what the garage say Monday morning and i'll let you know
Rich

[omega18]

I've never seen a warped one.

If you want a job done properly, do it yourself I'm afraid.

Must use genuine gaskets (pattern ones simply don't last on cam covers), and must do job properly. That includes the 8Nm for the bolts!

Also, clean breathers, else they will fail again...

Got to agree with ya there TB only way around here seems to be do it yourself as the garages are useless, one note I would also add is do not buy the gaskets from Autovaux-they say they are genuine but they are not. They send out ones that are joined together and they need cutting to fix!