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[CaptainZok]

Doing them now won't hurt, may not help your leak but needs doing anyway.

[Andy B]

Doing them now won't hurt,  ....

Too dark now to see what you're doing!       

[CaptainZok]

Doing them now won't hurt,  ....

Too dark now to see what you're doing!       

He may have a nicely lit garage.

[Andy B]

....
He may have a nicely lit garage.

I do, but I can't get my car in it  :-?     

[Entwood]

As I understand it ... but probably wrong ... the gasket "forms" (flattens?) itself to the face of the head when first fitted and so makes a good seal.

If the pressure then builds up due to poor breathing, the gasket "pops" - like a safety valve - somewhere along its length.

From that point on it will NOT "reseal" and will leak, either by pressure if the breathers are not cleaned.. or by capilliary action if they are.

Once they leak .. they continue to leak ...

[Elite Pete]

I would say the original gaskets have probably hardened with time and that cleaning the breather wouldn't have much of an effect.

[dbug]

Not a huge difference between what you got and Andy's TBH ..

Andy's  .. £31.15 inc VAT

Yours ....  £26 + VAT = £30.55

I know "every little helps" .. but .60p in £30 is not a lot !! 

Better in my pocket than Vx, and a lot cheaper than retail 

Not really questioning Andy's prices, more pointing out difference compared to retail - and only posting on this topic as got a very recent receipt to hand for these items.

[TheBoy]

Cleaning breathers is unlikely to cure current leak, but you really, really, really do need to clean them when you replace the gaskets, before starting the engine.

[Andy H]

As I understand it ... but probably wrong ... the gasket "forms" (flattens?) itself to the face of the head when first fitted and so makes a good seal.

If the pressure then builds up due to poor breathing, the gasket "pops" - like a safety valve - somewhere along its length.

From that point on it will NOT "reseal" and will leak, either by pressure if the breathers are not cleaned.. or by capilliary action if they are.

Once they leak .. they continue to leak ...

My theory is that a new seal is elastic enough to seal perfectly but over time it both hardens and sticks to the metal surface. If there is enough pressure to unstick it and start the leak then capillary attraction draws oil into the joint and it behaves like a wick thereafter.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

As I understand it ... but probably wrong ... the gasket "forms" (flattens?) itself to the face of the head when first fitted and so makes a good seal.

If the pressure then builds up due to poor breathing, the gasket "pops" - like a safety valve - somewhere along its length.

From that point on it will NOT "reseal" and will leak, either by pressure if the breathers are not cleaned.. or by capilliary action if they are.

Once they leak .. they continue to leak ...

My theory is that a new seal is elastic enough to seal perfectly but over time it both hardens and sticks to the metal surface. If there is enough pressure to unstick it and start the leak then capillary attraction draws oil into the joint and it behaves like a wick thereafter.

Yes Andy and Entwood, I think you are both right.  Certainly whenever I have removed the old gaskets from the cam covers they are hard, brittle, and very rarely stay in one piece

[GaryBC]

Despite being slapped down i have done my MV6 and both my 2.5cdx cars  from a supplier off ebay and after 40,000 after the change (2.5 v6) still no leaks. My electric fans on the MV6 have now stopped but thats a different matter. LOL

Who?

[GaryBC]

Cleaning breathers is unlikely to cure current leak, but you really, really, really do need to clean them when you replace the gaskets, before starting the engine.

They will defo get cleaned when I do the gaskets! I was just wondering if there was worth cleaning them while I am sourcing gaskets at the right price. Looking at the How To guide here would suggest that it is a pretty straightforward job in it's own right.

[Entwood]

Certainly on mine .. with all the "stuff" you have to take off to get to just one side .. LPG, inlet manifold etc etc ... I would only consider doing both whilst in there .. the additional time/cost is peanuts compared with having to do the "other" side a few months later...

Found that the hard way when the first time I did them the passenger side one leaked on reassembly .... pain in the neck to take it all apart just to reseat the half-moon ..

Just my views .. nowt else .

[TECHNOPUG]

Make sure that the dealers give you 4 FOUR cam cover gaskets, not a pair, as in two cam cover gaskets in 1 pack......ask me how I know, go on, ask....... 

[GaryBC]

Make sure that the dealers give you 4 FOUR cam cover gaskets, not a pair, as in two cam cover gaskets in 1 pack......ask me how I know, go on, ask....... 

Ok. "How do you know this?" (Well, someone had to!!)