Gear box mount and rocker cover replacement

firstgear · January 23, 2019

I am asked to replace tapper cover (rocker cover) and gear box mount for my Viva elite (100k+ kms done).

Estimate for both at the agent is about 85k with engine tune up.

Any members can share your experience with this change?

Are these critical jobs which I can only the trust the agent with?

Edited January 23, 2019 by firstgear
spellings

Davy · January 23, 2019

What's the issue with the rocker cover? Is it plastic on the Viva Elite?

No, they're not critical jobs. Even you can do them at home given you have the proper tools.

I've seen people recommend Janatha Motors for Viva Elite parts. Get a quote from there and take it to a good garage.

Tagging @Sampath Gunasekera as he might be able to advise as well.

Twin Turbo · January 24, 2019

Nothin wrong with your car,.. just taking the car's age/mileage into consideration, it's ok.

firstgear · January 24, 2019

On 1/23/2019 at 7:30 PM, Davy said:

What's the issue with the rocker cover? Is it plastic on the Viva Elite?

No, they're not critical jobs. Even you can do them at home given you have the proper tools.

I've seen people recommend Janatha Motors for Viva Elite parts. Get a quote from there and take it to a good garage.

Tagging @Sampath Gunasekera as he might be able to advise as well.

Expand

Thank you Davy.

I was told that oil is leaking from rocker cover and it could even damage the coils :excl: . Yes I think it is plastic.

Got quote from JM as 24k. (At the agent 40k). So hopefully I can do this from a good mechanic.

Replacing gearbox mount also includes replacement of engine mounts?

firstgear · January 24, 2019

On 1/24/2019 at 3:03 AM, Twin Turbo said:

Nothin wrong with your car,.. just taking the car's age/mileage into consideration, it's ok.

Expand

Thank you boss.

ghostwriter · January 24, 2019

I have replaced valve cover. it costed me about 22k to several months back. However, I went for a tune-up (clean up?) recently and when the mechanic inspected the spark plugs, it was discovered that oil has somehow got into the spark plug tubes. My guess is that either the earlier mechanic didn't fit the new valve cover properly or did not remove the residue oil before fitting the new cover or the new valve cover itself is faulty. Anyhow it was fixed back again with some sealant put in and I am expecting that it will solve the leaking problem. (Hopefully). If it starts leaking again to the plug tube, my next option would be to take the original valve cover that I replaced and re-install the oil seals into it. You have to take that to a lathe shop where they will cut off the existing oil seal from the valve cover and put in new seals. The quality of the work will depend on the skill of the person who will be handling the job.

I just stated some of the options you have and it has been a pain the neck for me as it didn't get rectified even though I spent a considerable amount of money on that issue alone. According to what Unimo said it's a common issue in Viva Elites, specially the auto gear ones. The part costs 40K Rs. at Unimo and they claim that its the original 'Daihatsu' spare part. ?

Hope this helps. I have no idea about the gearbox mounts though. How did you come to know that the mounts are bad? I feel quite a vibration when stopped in traffic (when the gear is in D and brakes fully pressed).

Twin Turbo · January 24, 2019

On 1/24/2019 at 11:12 AM, firstgear said:

Thank you boss.

Expand

?

Davy · January 24, 2019

On 1/24/2019 at 11:11 AM, firstgear said:

Replacing gearbox mount also includes replacement of engine mounts?

Expand

Not necessarily. If it's the gearbox mounts that are worn out, then you can just replace the worn out mounts.

But depending on the car and how the mounts work, replacing all at once (or a few) needs to be done. This is because a mix of old and new mounts mean that the new mounts will be under more stress because the other older mounts don't absorb engine vibration as much.

firstgear · January 25, 2019

On 1/24/2019 at 5:39 PM, ghostwriter said:

I have replaced valve cover. it costed me about 22k to several months back. However, I went for a tune-up (clean up?) recently and when the mechanic inspected the spark plugs, it was discovered that oil has somehow got into the spark plug tubes. My guess is that either the earlier mechanic didn't fit the new valve cover properly or did not remove the residue oil before fitting the new cover or the new valve cover itself is faulty. Anyhow it was fixed back again with some sealant put in and I am expecting that it will solve the leaking problem. (Hopefully). If it starts leaking again to the plug tube, my next option would be to take the original valve cover that I replaced and re-install the oil seals into it. You have to take that to a lathe shop where they will cut off the existing oil seal from the valve cover and put in new seals. The quality of the work will depend on the skill of the person who will be handling the job.

I just stated some of the options you have and it has been a pain the neck for me as it didn't get rectified even though I spent a considerable amount of money on that issue alone. According to what Unimo said it's a common issue in Viva Elites, specially the auto gear ones. The part costs 40K Rs. at Unimo and they claim that its the original 'Daihatsu' spare part. ?

Hope this helps. I have no idea about the gearbox mounts though. How did you come to know that the mounts are bad? I feel quite a vibration when stopped in traffic (when the gear is in D and brakes fully pressed).

Expand

Thank you @ghostwriter for the detailed post about your experience. Points taken.

I didn't feel any vibrations. I only came to know about this when I requested them to do a full inspection of the car because it has reached above 100k kms. They gave 5 recommendations. 1st priority is to replace the rocker cover and 5th is gear box mount. In between some other less costs things like oil seals, viper blades etc..

However now I realize that this could be the reason for the rigorous shaking of the car when I stop facing upward or downward on a flyover during traffic (it is a shaking more than a vibration). I don't get that shaking on a flat road stop.

raveeJaya · January 25, 2019

On 1/25/2019 at 4:05 AM, firstgear said:

Thank you @ghostwriter for the detailed post about your experience. Points taken.

I didn't feel any vibrations. I only came to know about this when I requested them to do a full inspection of the car because it has reached above 100k kms. They gave 5 recommendations. 1st priority is to replace the rocker cover and 5th is gear box mount. In between some other less costs things like oil seals, viper blades etc..

However now I realize that this could be the reason for the rigorous shaking of the car when I stop facing upward or downward on a flyover during traffic (it is a shaking more than a vibration). I don't get that shaking on a flat road stop.

Expand

Was it due to the Fly over is shaking ? Those Steel Fly overs in Dehiwala, Kelaniya are shaking.

firstgear · January 25, 2019

On 1/25/2019 at 11:00 AM, raveeJaya said:

Was it due to the Fly over is shaking ? Those Steel Fly overs in Dehiwala, Kelaniya are shaking.

Expand

I have felt the shaking on both these flyovers. But I haven't felt that shaking when I was driving another vehicle.

varotone · January 26, 2019

Rocker cover does not contain oil under pressure. Oil seals are less likely to fail. A warped rocker cover might be the reason. If the bolts are too loose, it may leak oil from due to the poor seal. If it is too tight, might warp or crack the plastic rocker cover. Make sure it is torqued down to specifications. If the engine block and rocker cover are in good shape, removing all remaining packings properly and using a new packing would solve the issues.

If only the rocker cover is uneven, it can easily be resurfaced in a lathe. If the cylinder head also needs resurfacing, it will be a major engine dismantling job.

(I'm clueless about the elite. This is in general)

ghostwriter · January 26, 2019

On 1/26/2019 at 1:31 PM, varotone said:

Rocker cover does not contain oil under pressure. Oil seals are less likely to fail. A warped rocker cover might be the reason. If the bolts are too loose, it may leak oil from due to the poor seal. If it is too tight, might warp or crack the plastic rocker cover. Make sure it is torqued down to specifications. If the engine block and rocker cover are in good shape, removing all remaining packings properly and using a new packing would solve the issues.

If only the rocker cover is uneven, it can easily be resurfaced in a lathe. If the cylinder head also needs resurfacing, it will be a major engine dismantling job.

(I'm clueless about the elite. This is in general)

Expand

in the elite, the plastic rocker cover has the 3 oil seals that cover the top of the spark plug tube embedded in to it in a way that the seals cannot be taken out and replaced. the outer gasket can be replaced but not the tube seals. if the tube seals are bad, the agent recommends replacing the rocker cover itself.

Edited January 26, 2019 by ghostwriter

kusumsiri · January 26, 2019

On 1/26/2019 at 2:27 PM, ghostwriter said:

in the elite, the plastic rocker cover has the 3 oil seals that cover the top of the spark plug tube embedded in to it in a way that the seals cannot be taken out and replaced. the outer gasket can be replaced but not the tube seals. if the tube seals are bad, the agent recommends replacing the rocker cover itself.

Expand

Agree with you. It is said that if tube seals are bad, oil leak to air cleaner chamber which is on the top of plastic rocker cover. So if you cant see any oil vapor deposit inside the air cleaner chamber, I guess you may replace only the outer gasket.

varotone · January 26, 2019

I had a very different picture in my head I thought oil is dripping down from the rocker cover on to the spark plug tubes and leads.

On 1/26/2019 at 2:38 PM, kusumsiri said:

It is said that if tube seals are bad, oil leak to air cleaner chamber which is on the top of plastic rocker cover.

Expand

How does oil get in to the air cleaner chamber? I can't imagine such a contraption.

kusumsiri · January 27, 2019

On 1/26/2019 at 3:16 PM, varotone said:

I had a very different picture in my head I thought oil is dripping down from the rocker cover on to the spark plug tubes and leads.

How does oil get in to the air cleaner chamber? I can't imagine such a contraption.

Expand

In this engine model, the spark plugs go through the rocker cover and air cleaner chamber locates top of the rocker cover.

(1) Top view