1.6 VOXLL engine - where does this pipe go?

[beko1987]

Ahh I love vauxhalls! Ours has started spitting oil over the fannymold (as per the grump thread) so I'm outside having a look...

 

And have found this lovely pipe full of custard. Anyone know where it goes? Vents the rocker cover, but does it exit somewhere safe or not? Can't see a way to get it off, am I safe empyting a can of brake cleaner and maybe a hosepipe down it or not?

 

 

 

 

Ta!

[Station]

It'll be the crank breather, it'll go to the sump area and into the head. It's full of gunk so take it off and blast it through with a hose. The sump will be over pressurised because that pipe is blocked, which is probably why it's blowing oil through every gasket (all Vauxhalls leak oil through at least one gasket - which is because ORL VOXALLS AR SIHT)

[Split_Pin]

Goes back into the crankcase I think. Some petrol should clean that shite out. Vx engines love to OMGMAYO in the cold weather.

[stuboy]

check the little ones to th TB as they gunk too

[tooSavvy]

OP wants to know if he can 'flush' the pipe on the engine.... not hose, I imagine.

 

Presumably it would be best with a bottle cleaner, if it is into the sump??

 

TS

[beko1987]

Yea the whole pipe looks.blocked, but if it goes into the sump then I'm not putting a hose through it!

 

Will get under it in a sec and have a look for it

[stuboy]

dont it just attach to dippystix

[beko1987]

Oh no, nothing that simple! It goes (metal pipe) down the side then back of the block, and bolts into the top of the sump at the rear, behind something that could be the starter motor, which in turn sits behind a driveshaft. I got as far as just about feeling the two bolts holding it on and went fuck this!

 

Grabbed my shitty wet vac and sucked alot of the crap out of the pipe, in the end I could feel the suction by putting my hand over the oil filler hole, so left it at that. At least it's unblocked now, although not as clean as I'd like!

 

We are going to northampton, then peterboghorror next week,and were going to take the XM, but now we are going to take the Meriva. Maybe a 100mph 40 mile blast up the private* A1 will do it some good. Certainly idles alot smoother now...

 

Job bodged! (old rocker gasket is fucked, and slightly split but went back in ok, will get another one from peterboghorror ecp in the week and fit it on my dads drive or something)

[Split_Pin]

Motorway blast will definitely help shift it!

[Timewaster]

When I used to sell oil and spark plugs for a "living" I discovered that Voxalls were very choosy about their oils. Gtx used to equal mayo where Duckhams Hypergrade = happy Voxhall.

I'm not sure about the modern equivalents but worth an oil change perhaps.

[beko1987]

It gets a change every 5-6k usually with valvolene stuff. If I'm feeling flush next change to!e I'll pop some branded stuff in and see what happens

[beko1987]

Looking a bit more of google, it seems that dropping the sump and cleaning it all out down there seems the easier option. However sod that until the spring!

[DVee8]

Vauxhall's like an engine flush at oil change time.

[Station]

They do mayo up!

When you blast it up motorway take the pipe off the rocker cover.

[beko1987]

Just got to wellingborough, it seemed more responsive but we went on back roads, no long blast yet!

 

Will take the pipe off on Tuesday for the drive to Peterborough and see how it goes. Never tried engine flush, always been put off over what it might uncover. Maybe after the sump drop when it's clean.

 

Will check the pipe in the morning, see if it's shat itself yet

[skattrd]

Never tried engine flush, always been put off over what it might uncover.

 

I never do an oil change without using engine flush. 35yr old Lancia, or newish Daihatsu that gets it's oil changed very frequently. They always get a flush and a new filter with each oil change.

[Station]

The old XE's had a genius method of breathing the sump into the inlet - where about five sensors were. Gummed up Idle Control Valves, throttle position sensor, etc.

The Ecotec made use of a mesh 'firewall' at the top of the rock cover. If you ever see one in the scrap yard, take it off and have a look inside. It'll look like the water drainage pipes at a Swizzels-Matlow factory.

[beko1987]

I saw mesh deep inside the cover, threw loads of brake cleaner in there, which ran out like caramel!

 

Can you strip it out anymore to properly clean it? Can see this being a yearly chore, gr9 Vauxhall, zx never shat itself doing 20 miles a day in -4

[Station]

Yes, the mesh comes out and you can just clean it out or buy a new one from Vauxhall. I have to say you could probably leave it, but it'll probably break as per inferior built quality on all newish engines.

[beko1987]

Well, incase anyone gives a toss, rocker gasket replaced in the pissing wind on Monday, and 250 miles later it's oiltight again, and the breather is still free flowing, although a slight coating of fresh gunk.

 

Think I'll keep on hoovering out the enging until it's warmer, then drop the sump, clean it all out, damn good oil flush, then some good oil.