Having spent a large amount of time trying to cure a persistent oil leak (leaks) from my engine, including replacing the oil pump seals and the cam cover gaskets/nut seals, I was a tad annoyed to find that the car was still leaking a fair amount from the nut seals, and required a drip tray to prevent embarrassment outside the hotel we are parked at in Normandy.
Viewings of the underbonnet area especially the right hand cam cover (left side okay), indicated the leak seemed to be getting worse. I was somewhat loathe to screw down any more on the cover screws, having already straightened out the cam covers when I took them off.
However, on one check it became apparent that the oil was coming out of the oil filler cap, and then flowing back over the nuts and down the side/rear of the cam cover. This made it look like the nut seals weren't doing their job properly. On inspection, the cork gasket was split almost all the way around where it butts up to the cam cover.
A postcard was cut into two lookalike gaskets and put on either side of the cork one. Works a treat, and now the old girl doesn't look incontinent.
I am somewhat surprised, as I replaced the cork gasket less than a year ago, (which is why I never checked it), and in that time the oil filler cap has been removed maybe four times. When we get back I am inclined to replace it with something a little less fragile.
And no, it didn't come from everyone's bęte noire. That doesn't mean I never use them, au contraire, I use them quite a lot. Never had a problem. Er, yet......
Simon
Viewings of the underbonnet area especially the right hand cam cover (left side okay), indicated the leak seemed to be getting worse. I was somewhat loathe to screw down any more on the cover screws, having already straightened out the cam covers when I took them off.
However, on one check it became apparent that the oil was coming out of the oil filler cap, and then flowing back over the nuts and down the side/rear of the cam cover. This made it look like the nut seals weren't doing their job properly. On inspection, the cork gasket was split almost all the way around where it butts up to the cam cover.
A postcard was cut into two lookalike gaskets and put on either side of the cork one. Works a treat, and now the old girl doesn't look incontinent.
I am somewhat surprised, as I replaced the cork gasket less than a year ago, (which is why I never checked it), and in that time the oil filler cap has been removed maybe four times. When we get back I am inclined to replace it with something a little less fragile.
And no, it didn't come from everyone's bęte noire. That doesn't mean I never use them, au contraire, I use them quite a lot. Never had a problem. Er, yet......
Simon
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