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[PaulW]

Ok its official, the car is now seriously getting on my nerves...

Since owning the car from September last year, I've had the passenger-side camcover gaskets done 3 times.

1st was done by Elite Pete prior to me buying it, he also cleaned out the breathers.

2nd was done by Mark at the Cambelt Party - breathers *not* cleaned.

3rd done by me, and I also cleaned the breathers out (even though they were clean)

And...

It's started leaking again, same area as all the other times...  At the rear of the bank, nearest to the ABS unit (back rear corner)

Each time had genuine GM gaskets used, including the black sealant.

I even put sealant around the entire bloody gasket last time, so ensuring it had a good seal, but this obviously hasn't worked either...

It's also had 2 different rocker covers to try and resolve the leak, but nothing...

So

Problem with the head perhaps??  Maybe even an issue with the headgasket similiar to TB's or Kates, but pissing oil out instead of coolant?? Could also explain why the engine is still running like a bag of nails, even after having a new coilpack, plugs and leads...  (Smokes on startup (blue), and hesitates under load still upto 4krpm and then gets all its power back)

Each time the cam gaskets were done, the head was thoroughly cleaned of all old deposits each time...  I also cleaned the rocker cover like there was no tomorrow each time they were done.

[markey mark]

does the car run hot ?? sounds like covers are warped bud !! sealant all round is a bad idea will get everywere and could possibly hold cover off head face :-/

[PaulW]

Car runs around 93 to 97 (depending on traffic), never gets to 100.

Phrased it wrong lol I put the sealant round the backs, in the half moons on both sides, aswell as around the corners.  Rest has none, so is just gasket to head...

Code: [Select]

SSSS  SSSS
S  S  S  S
*  *  *  *
*  *  *  *
*  *  *  *
*  *  *  *
S**S  S**S
S is where the sealant now is, * is where its just normal, so as you see the entire rear is sealed up but no change...

It has also started loosing a very very slight amount of coolant, and when I started it before (when hot just after putting some fuel in) there was a considerable amount of white smoke out of the exhaust for a few seconds, then it calmed down.

HBV was done not so long ago, as was the thermostat and housing.

[PaulW]

bumpy-bump for the evening masses

[justme]

Now I wonder what the cost of that lot was?.
Seeing that you have already changed the rocker covers, the chances of them all being warped is rather remote I should think, the rubber gasket is capable of taking up a fair amount of distortion, so i would rule that out.

The head gasket would in most instances give you other clues to go on,  if it has gone across a waterway it would pressurise your coolant, similarly if it has gone across an oilway. Difficult starting, oil out the back of the exhaust, steam out the back etc, back firing, lousy running. If you can rule those out it aint your head gasket. but it would not improve with revs in fact the opposite.

Your rocker gasket leaking would not give you bad running, just a mess, but then it would depend on what it was leaking onto.

You have changed the dis pack and plugs, why?
I would be looking at the icv and accelerator, fuel filter and pump, injectors.

The moral of the rocker cover gaskets genuine parts or aftermarket, they both are capable of failure, just that 1 is a lot more expensive than the other but good for the bottom line. The use of the adhesive  to me this stuff will do what it says on the tin "it sticks" and thats about all, it seems to dry quite hard, to hard for my likeing, I use instant gasket and dont change the gasket, never had a problem it stays very flexible and where it is put. But then each to his own.    

[Kevin Wood]

I don't suppose the oil cooler pipes are leaking, are they?

Kevin

[PaulW]

justme - dispack was changed due to the other being buggered (was breaking down, exposed at one end and rusted) plugs done as old ones were buggered, and leads replaced as part of trying to cure power issues (when cam gaskets were done did the leads at same time)  Power is down, bugger to start when cold, leaking oil, loosing some coolant, steam... meh...

kevin - EP checked all that over when he did the HBV last October, and it was all sealed fine.  I also checked over it when I did the coilpack, and again it was all fine.