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[sev]

Cam covers can leak even if the breathers are clean - they go hard and just start to leak.

This happened with mine.

To this one - plug leads or wrong plug lead order

But surely that occurs only when :

a) inferoir gaskets are used, thus leading too:
b) overtightening of the cam cover to compensate?

People and garage gorillas seem to forget that it's only a little plastic cover, and it's the rubber o- rings and gasket that actually do all the work, but they still wind it up for all it's worth causing it to warp, which over time causes it to fatigue.

As for the problem here, I remember when I chaged mine, I too had oil in the plug wells, and tried to get most of it out, but some invariably fell into the bores.

As Mark DTM says, a mile or two of running sorted it. What I did find though which is confirmed all that has been said already, was that the plug caps themselves had rotted through.

Invariably this not only causes a weak spark, but has also been known (check forums old posts) to knacker the DIS pack.

If you haven't already done so, then clean the breathers, but also check and if necessary replace your leads as a first port of call.

Don't look for cats and things just yet,  - that's expensive troubleshoot the easy stuff first

[feeutfo]

i have found loose cam cover bolts on both my migs,signified by a weep of oil around the bolt, i put this down to the oring seals retracting with age?

When i did my covers the seals where rock hard in comparison to the new ones, only ever use genuine vx as said. 99 car with about 110k on the clock at the time. My current car is 52 plate 77k and has a slight weep on the pass front half moons, they are original and the breathers are clear.

[DerekT]

Hi folks,

I have ran it for 80 miles now and its not any better. However I decided to check the only plug lead I had easy access to (front left) and when I pulled it, it was covered in oil.

Also when I left it disconnected and re-started the car it sounded exactly the same, so it seems that plug is not firing, would you agree?

thanks again,
Derek

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yes its a possible, where are you?

[DerekT]

I'm in cumbernauld

[vauxfan2k]

Hi derek,

Do you have access to a spark plug socket, extension and a ratchet?

If you need guiding thru removing the plug and lead for inspection I could do it over the phone with you as Im in scotland so should be cheaper to call.  

[DerekT]

Many thanks for the offer, I dont have any tools like that I'm afraid but I could get them. First off I'm going to try the garage one more time and if that fails maybe I could give you a call? Possibly Saturday morning

[vauxfan2k]

yep no worries, Im off saturday and being daylight i can look at one of my cars while im guiding you through it.

In the meantime it might be an idea to try and get another HT lead for that plug. pm one of the guys breaking omega's on here

pm me if you need a hand and Ill send you my no.

cheers  

[Martin_1962]

Cam covers can leak even if the breathers are clean - they go hard and just start to leak.

This happened with mine.

To this one - plug leads or wrong plug lead order

But surely that occurs only when :

a) inferoir gaskets are used, thus leading too:
b) overtightening of the cam cover to compensate?

People and garage gorillas seem to forget that it's only a little plastic cover, and it's the rubber o- rings and gasket that actually do all the work, but they still wind it up for all it's worth causing it to warp, which over time causes it to fatigue.

As for the problem here, I remember when I chaged mine, I too had oil in the plug wells, and tried to get most of it out, but some invariably fell into the bores.

As Mark DTM says, a mile or two of running sorted it. What I did find though which is confirmed all that has been said already, was that the plug caps themselves had rotted through.

Invariably this not only causes a weak spark, but has also been known (check forums old posts) to knacker the DIS pack.

If you haven't already done so, then clean the breathers, but also check and if necessary replace your leads as a first port of call.

Don't look for cats and things just yet,  - that's expensive troubleshoot the easy stuff first

Same as Chris Gixer

[DerekT]

Hi folks,

Just to give you an update, the garage confirms that the fornt left plug is not firing.

They have ordered a set of new plug leads that will be fitted on Monday. Not sure why they had to ordered a full set if only one plug isn't firing. Is it not possible just to order one lead?

From reading the feedback, and thanks very much to everyone who responded, I think it is the lead it must have been cooking in hot oil for weeks which cant be good.

Anyway they say that if that does not work it is probably the coil pack, but again I am confused because I thought my car didn't have a coil pack I thought coil packs were introduced in later models. Mines is a W reg 2.5 V6 Does anybody know if it has a coil pack?

Also as prevention of future rocker cover gasket failure a lot of you say that the breathers need to be kept clean. Do you know if there are any guides on how to clean the breathers I can look at?

Thanks again.

All the best,
Derek

[feeutfo]

yes, very good guide in maintenance section. Worth doing while they are in there and i would change the plugs as well, no matter how old they are, they may be ok at the moment, may also be breaked, but could well play up in the near future if they have been cooking with the leads. You probably will see carbon scoreing on the insulator where the spark has been escapeing, replace.

[markey mark]

no point in fitting new leads till the cam cover gaskets have been replaced with genuine vauxhall ones and breathers cleaned ! yes yours will ahve a coilpac its called a dispac too !!  

[DerekT]

They say thay have replaced the gaskets for a second thime and this time with genuine vauxhall parts but there is still oil in the plug wells.

They must no be cleaning the breathers.

I'll print off the maintenance guide and give it to them. I tink the problem is not being vauxhall experts they are probabaly just doing the bear minimum.

Failing this is there anyway to find a mechanic in my area who has done the breather cleaning before. I suppose even an amateur enthusiast would be better than what I am currently getting.

[feeutfo]

They say thay have replaced the gaskets for a second thime and this time with genuine vauxhall parts but there is still oil in the plug wells.

They must no be cleaning the breathers.

I'll print off the maintenance guide and give it to them. I tink the problem is not being vauxhall experts they are probabaly just doing the bear minimum.

Failing this is there anyway to find a mechanic in my area who has done the breather cleaning before. I suppose even an amateur enthusiast would be better than what I am currently getting.

You could do it your self mate? But failing that where the f is cumbermauled or what ever is called? Maybe some one near you...  

Trouble with independents is they dont know whats coming through the door. So unless your lucky and find one who knows omegas, then you will have to tell them exactly what needs doing. They cant be expected to know the ins and outs of every single car ever made. Although they usually will tell you they know what they are doing to get the work.
 
Maybe a google for a vx independent specialist in your area. Or pay a visit to one of the tech 2 owners on here, the boy, marksdtm or Kevin wood if they have time. What they dont know aint worth knowing. But yes most members on here will know the drill no doubt.

I am sure there is a guide on the gaskits as well, but they need to be genuine vx and use loctite 598 black goo around the half moon cam cut outs. Do not use all the way round or you risk blowing crank pulley seal if the breathers block again, which they wont if you change the oil regular.
Hth

[DerekT]

Its in the central belt of Scotland half way between Glasgow and Stirling