OIl Leak! Rocker Cover???

[kiwi]

Long story short (I hope)

Noticed oil smell and leakage around the area of the cambelt side of the engine (dont want to confuse lleft and right here )

Took off the cambelt cover and no sign of leakage in there so looks better than worse case so far. Conclussion from a mech who had a quick look is seems like the rocker cover gasket. I suspected the Breather hose split so double checked that and tightened the pipe.

After a short 50k drive the leakage became apparent again (no oil seepage onto manifold after the clean up)

What I did notice today was the bolt that looks like it holds down the rocker cover was a bit loose. Actually finger loose!

Anyone confirm that that bolt does indeed hold the gasket in place and could be the reason for the leakage? Off top my head I can not remember if oil can get out that bolt hole.

Thats problem number 1...further posts may follow.

[citronut]

if its a 1.6/1.9 or a diesel lump then there are three 10mm ( spanner size ) bolts on top along the centre tine of the cam cover, and yes if any of these are loose you will get an oil leak, either round the cover seal and or at the bolt heads,

the bolt heads have a gasket under there washers,

you might find the cover seal has gone hard with age so that will require a new one,


regards malcolm

[MULLEY]

Also be very careful not to do them up too tight like i did & it went "POP", i'd only managed to strip the bloody threads out

[kiwi]

if its a 1.6/1.9 or a diesel lump then there are three 10mm ( spanner size ) bolts on top along the centre tine of the cam cover, and yes if any of these are loose you will get an oil leak, either round the cover seal and or at the bolt heads,

the bolt heads have a gasket under there washers,

you might find the cover seal has gone hard with age so that will require a new one,


regards malcolm

Its a petrol 1.9 and the layout is the same up there. I did not realise when I posted that I still had the cover off the BX16 head that I dismantled years agao so I was able to have a better look under the cover.

Might get away without replacing the gasket it seems.

[kiwi]

Also be very careful not to do them up too tight like i did & it went "POP", i'd only managed to strip the bloody threads out

Noted. Will be checking it regular from now

[Wooscary]

Also be very careful not to do them up too tight like i did & it went "POP", i'd only managed to strip the bloody threads out

Not that I plan on finding out for myself at any point, but out of interest, what did you do to solve said problem?

[citronut]

over tightening these bolts can split the cam caps

from memory i think they should only be torqued to 15 or 16lb foot,

regards malcolm