Rocker cover leak?

[Danith]

Car's using more oil than either of my ph1's and I can see a bit of weeping from the rocker cover area at the back (when looking under the car on ramps) and a bit from the front.

Is it an easy job to replace the rocker cover gasket? And shouldn't this have been replaced when the cambelt was done?

 

[MartinR]

No it shouldn't have been replaced when the belts was changed unless it is requested to be done.

Another belts off job and circa 7hrs labour iirc

 

[Struggler]

No, its not an easy job to replace to rocker gasket! its very hard!

it shouldnt necessarily been done with the cambelt, but to change it now, you will need to have all the cam locking tools, so effectively back to a specialist!!

 

[Danith]

Great news.

Rough est of ££££? It's not terrible at all just slight weeping, no drips on the drive - guess it's burning off. Guess it can only get worse though.

 

[Russ_16v]

The rocker cover is the top cam carrier too, so as said you can't just whip it off.

try doing up the rocker cover bolts - it's super common for the rear ones (from what iv seen the ones by the dephaser) to work loose - if the oil is coming up you could put a little silicone on the bolt threads to seal it.

 

[Danith]

Cheers Russ, you are such a ray of sunlight in an otherwise dark world of Cup ownership!

Just emailed Birchdown for a quote as they did my belts in Feb. But as said it isn't terrible, just annoying.

 

[Russ_16v]

I try to help when I can


Yeah it shouldn't be too bad mate but as you say, it can get annoying

 

[Danith]

I must remember it is a 2003 Renault after all. Getting an itch for another E36 328i sport though! Must stay strong.

 

[d4vy]

Both my 172 and 182 weeped on the rocker covers, along with my 08' 225 cup! They tightened up the bolts at Renault on the 225 and it sorted it and resealed them or something?

 

[Danith]

Both my 172 and 182 weeped on the rocker covers, along with my 08' 225 cup! They tightened up the bolts at Renault on the 225 and it sorted it and resealed them or something?

Hero, cheers pal. How much did they charge for that?

Gonna ask my grease monkey mate to tighten my nuts (and then fix my rocker cover - lolz) but don't want him to go crazy, so is there a torx setting for them or anything?

 

[st3ve]

It's quite common to leak from the breather plate, I'd check that first. The bolts are very soft so be very careful if you do remove them.

You may find some of them have already snapped off.

 

[Danith]

It's quite common to leak from the breather plate, I'd check that first. The bolts are very soft so be very careful if you do remove them.

You may find some of them have already snapped off.

I'm a desk dude mate, know F all about engines really - where's the breather plate? You mean the crankcase breather where the pipe from the inlet elbow goes? LOOKS like its coming from around the top by the rocker but not 100%.

Can new bolts be bought from Renault and replaced?

 

[st3ve]

I'm a desk dude mate, know F all about engines really - where's the breather plate? You mean the crankcase breather where the pipe from the inlet elbow goes? LOOKS like its coming from around the top by the rocker but not 100%.

Can new bolts be bought from Renault and replaced?

If it's at the back it's definitely possible it could be from the breather plate. The breather plate bolts onto the rocker cover and goes into the underside of the inlet plenum.

It's better to replace with some high tensile bolts.

Just take it to Birchdown, they sorted mine when I had exactly the same problem.

 

[Danith]

Oh that! Think I know what you mean, saw it when mate changed the plugs.

I've emailed Birchdown, only ballache is taking a day off work as holiday to get my car fettled! Don't suppose you could point me in the direction of where to buy such bolts? And what silicone type stuff to put on them (as this seems to be what people are doing on here after a few searches).

Thanks a lot for the pointers.