Rockerfellah Thing

[sumar]

I bought a corsa a few months back and it had an oil leak. It was this rockerfellah thing and themechanic replaced it. Since then its happened twice more and each time the thing has started leaking again. I was told it was a weakness on corsas but i cant afford to have it mended every month and today it started leaking again for the 4th time. Please can someone give me some sort of suggestions on how i can get this problem solved. Thank you, Sue.

[tonyav]

Sue, is this rockerfeller thing the rocker / cam cover ?. What year is your Corsa and what engine does it have ?.

[sumar]

Hi. Its 2003 and 1000cc. As you open the bonnet, the thing is right near the front at the top, within easy reach. Its like a little pipe pointing up and all they do, i think, is twist the thing and take it out, then replace it. They may have called it a gasket but i don't really know. I know its just a 10 minute job. Sorry if this isnt very helpful and thank you for trying.

[tonyav]

Probably is a leaky gasket, wish I had a photo or a picture of the pipe so I knew exactly what it is. Don't suppose you know what the proper name for this little pipe that sticks up is do you ?.

[Sipowicz]

Dipstick?

[tonyav]

Yeah, is it the Yellow thing on this photo ?.
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KgHDWMF19-M/maxresdefault.jpg

[sumar]

Its definitely not the dipstick. I may be a bit ancient but i still know what that is. Heehee. No but thinking onit, its just like the hole that the dipstick goes in! When the engines on after a minute or two the oil bubbles up it and out. I forgot to say that it only leaks as the engine runs.

[tonyav]

Have a look at the photo and see if you can describe where this hole is, Sue.

[sumar]

I think its just out of the picture, where the yellow oil cover cap is, then further towards the front of the car. This phones not great but if theres no-one about, i'll go and c if i can take a picture of it.

[sumar]

Right. Its at the front of the engine on the left hand side about an inch to the left of the dipstick. Its black, and looks rubbery and sticks out. Ive got a photo but now i realise i dont know how to do what you did so you can see it. Sorry for wasting your time and thank you for trying. When i see my daughter i'll get her to do it.

[tonyav]

Your not wasting anybodys time, Sue. I'll look again tomorrow evening to see if your daughter has put the photo on.

[TWR]

Tony, it may be the Oil filer cap, the "0" ring seal may have dropped / perished, other than that the Rocker cover is either Warped???? or a Gasket has been replaced without cleaning the Head's surface before replacing a new one, Rocker has not been tightened down right.

[TWR]

To add, have you checked the Oil & not preplaced the Dipstick all the way down? this does happen Sumar.

[sumar]

Found it at last! Its an oil pressure switch. Today pools of oil were all over and oil light cameon. Got in touch with mechanic but this time I am fetching it from vauxhall n see if that makes a difference. I still obviously need suggestions as to why it keeps happening because this is number 4! At least now i know what its called and once more, thank you.

[alavahalf]

It sounds as though your mechanic may well be using the wrong kind of washer to seal the oil pressure switch. If it is a rubber one it might just leak when it gets warm.
Any pressure switch I have fitted, has either a smooth faced brass washer or a collapsible brass washer. These are readily available in packs of 2 from halfords or any car parts shop . I hope it,s something as simple as that.

[TWR]

On saying that Alva, I hope for your sake they have not cross threaded the old Switch Sumar.

[tonyav]

Possibly been over tightened, that could cause damage to the rubber O ring.

[tonyav]

No rubber O ring, should be a metal washer.

[alavahalf]

I never even thought of managing to cross thread the block, but I suppose that would give an uneven pressure on the washer, which in turn would cause the pressure switch to leak especially while the engine is running.
It would then become a much bigger job to try and straighten the hole in the block. If that is the case I would remove the switch, clean the hole area and try to refit the switch using an instant gasket paste. Don't like bodging, but I don't think you would want to hear how to do it properly.
Engine out in a machine shop.
Hope it doesn't come to that. Just make sure you keep an eye on the oil level in the meantime, otherwise it will be a new engine when yours seizes.

[sumar]

Thank you all very much for your answers. Tomorrow i will share the info and hope we can come to a successful and hopefully inexpensive solution. I am most grateful, Sue.

[tonyav]

Best of luck, Sue.