been out for a drive today after nt being able to for 3 & abit weeks & the 1.8 zetec decided to blow the rocker gasket again about 3rd time now , oil pressure was fine , water temp fine 90 ish , oil everywhere covered bulkhead ect .
any one any ideas y ?
or had the same thing happen ?

Distorted cover? blocked crankcase breather? excessive piston wear? Incorrect fitting in the first place? Get a cylinder leakage test done , better than a compression test .

thanks for that crankcase breather is a K&N , sure it has been fitted right , i'll get the rest looked at but engine seems in good nick & doesnt burn oil

Happened on my 2L silvertop on a 300 mile journey. Blew out the left hand semicircular bit at the back of the exhaust side of the cam cover. What a mess.

strange that same place , has it done it again?

Is the cover distorted? Are you using the cover oil breather as the one on the block is normally closed unless connected to the inlet manifold as it requires negative presure to open.

oil breather on the block is nt used , rocker one is clear & has a K&N attached ,
now thinking it could be distorted . check in morning .

I've found they need a smear of silicone (oil resistant type) round the corners and over the top of the cams at the pulley end. Done this on the last two gaskets and I have no leaks.

I plan to blank mine off, but run a breather tube from it to a catch tank. I've heard they put out a lot of pressure there, so if you bottle it up, I'm guessing it has to go somewhere.....

Hi you certinaly don't block off the breather on the side of the block. Either use the std smaller version breather pot or make a plate and a pipe pointing generly up hill. Pipe bore of at least 5/8" 15mm and connect to a catch tank along with the one of the roker cover .

ps I have never found one off those nise little k+n or pipercross filters that works for that aplication .

cheers matt

edit to say sorry zetec 7 i didnt see your post it was off the bottom of my page.

[Edited on 1/9/06 by procomp]

thanks all , think ive sorted it this morning ,
it was the rocker cover end bolt hitting the bottom of the hole , only just but its possible thats all it was , have to see if it does it again.