Refitting Sump

[Alba 7]

Hi everyone,

 

Firstly thanks for all the help and advice following my recent rock and oil filter coming together. I'm very relieved that it hasn't damaged the crank.

 

I'm refitting the sump tonight and the Haynes manual for the VX 16v says to, clean all traces of the gasket sealant from the sump and block mating faces. The sump is nice and clean but there is still a bit of gasket compound (same sort of consistency and appearance as clear silicon sealant) around the oil pump on the block. Is there a solvent I can use to get rid of this? If so which one??

 

Secondly, the Haynes manual says to refit the sump gasket with Vauxhall / Opel sump gasket sealant product number XYZ123. I assume there is a generic version of this, what should I be looking for down at the autofactors? Sadly, unless it is a stereo or wheel trims for 19" alloys the local Vauxhall dealers parts dept. is useless.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Nick.

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

Don't know what sort of access you have to this spot, but a loose Stanley knife blade is good for silicone type sealant removal ?

 

Just watch how you hold it, as even the back edge of the blade can cut deep if you hit something while scraping !

 

******************

And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking...

 

And racing around to come up behind you again. new link to photos

[Kevsta]

I would guess that the sealant you are looking for is an anaerobic sealant so it does not block any oil ways. I think it is called loctite 574. Do a search on here and you will see a few posts about it (my engine was done with silicone and it buggered my VVC mechanisms (k-series language btw )) I bought it online as it was so much cheaper (but it IS expensive given it is a sealant but I cannot recommend it enough...I have used it lots since I bought it too!) Remember, you do need the correct sealant for the job!

 

Glad you got things sorted with minimum expenditure.

[Paul McKenzie]

Why not get the right stuff - 90485251-from your local VX dealer tomorrow-they've built engines before

[Alba 7]

Paul,

I did 😬 They even had it in stock. Got my local garage to get new gaskets so my Friday night is all sorted - flat on my back, working hard, smearing goo all over the love of my life!

[Paul Deslandes]

The two most important places to apply the sealant (and I agree with comments so far re Vauxhall or equivalent Loctite compound) are 1) where the rear main bearing block mates with the block. There is a channel either side which is filled with sealant and a good thickish smear along the join is essential to ensure the integrity of the seal between the block and the gasket, and 2) at the front of the block where the oil pump casting mates with the block. Again a goodly smear along the join will stop any possibilty of weaping. A smear along all the gasket faces is a good idea, if only to help hold the whole thing in place after you've looped the baffle plate and two gaskets around the pick-up pipe. I use an old B&D electric screwdriver with an allen bit to screw in the bolts. It makes it a whole lot easier when you're on your back!

 

Best of luck.

 

 

[Alba 7]

Paul,

I now know what you mean 😳 It took me and the missus 20 minutes benchpressing the sump into place against the much thicker uncompressed new gasket before I could get the bolts to catch on the block threads. All now seems to be in place and I'm looking forward to starting it up when I get home on Friday.

 

Hopefully I can get a few miles done now as it feels like it has been in bits more than it has been on the road this summer.