Is the oil on top of the camshaft cover or around the sides?
To replace the camshaft cover gasket is a fairly straightforward but fiddly task, whether you have the aluminium or black plastic camshaft cover, but they do have different gaskets.
- Remove the large plastic cover from the top of the engine.
- Release the securing clip from the wiring plug on the ignition module and disconnect.
- Undo the 4 retaining bolts from the ignition module and lift to release it from the spark plugs.
- Disconnect the breather hose from the front of the camshaft cover.
- Unclip the wiring harness from the front edge and the side of the camshaft cover.
Disconnect the wiring plug from the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) valve, if you have one.
- Unclip the brake servo vacuum pipe and coolant expansion tank hose from the wiring brackets along the front and side of the camshaft cover.
- Undo the two retaining nuts at the front and lift off the wiring trough from along the front of the camshaft cover.
- Undo the two retaining nuts at the side and remove the wiring bracket from the side of camshaft cover. Once the bracket is removed undo the stud to release the earth strap.
- You may have to release the clips/nuts from the brackets for the fuel and air con pipes.
- Carefully remove the camshaft cover retaining bolts with the sealing washers then lift the camshaft cover and gaskets away from the cylinder head.
Replace the gaskets by fitting to the camshaft cover. TIP - some 'instant gasket' comes in useful to hold the gaskets in place when refitting the camshaft cover.
Then reverse the procedure above. 🙂