Top end rebuild

[MrSpike]

Hi,

Quick question - I have just replaced the cylinder head on my 2.0 DTi Vectra (Y20DTH)

This is the first time I have ever attempted any work on an engine, so nothing like a baptism of dervvy fire!

The car starts and runs but is very rough - metallic sounding rattle and oil pressure warning light comes on. A friend suggested perhaps I'd forgotten to fit an 'oil pressure regulator valve' meaning either too much or not enough oil is making it to the head and flooding / starving the hydraulic tappets which would explain the low oil pressure warning and noisy top end.

Have searched Google and Haynes Manual and no mention of such a valve.

Anyone hazard a guess at what I've done wrong??? There was nothing wrong with oil pressure when I dismantled engine.
Cheers
Spike

PS I intend to make some notes on these forums about my experiences of changing a head when I get the car running properly and have some spare time

[jonnybravo]

Hi spike
you have't used sealant on the head gasket have you,if so you may have blocked the oilway supplying the top end

[MrSpike]

Hi Jonno,

No I didn't use sealant for the head gasket but thanks for the suggestion. A couple other people have suggested perhaps I put the gasket on back to front but it is not symmetrical so could only go on one way.

A mechanic mate had a very quick look and he says there is deffo no oil getting to the cylinder head, the cam was almost dry when started.

I'm started to think that perhaps I dropped something solid down one of the oilways and this has caused the oil pump to fail. I think I'm going to get her towed to a garage who has the equipment to test oil pressure. Bit of a bummer.

[MrSpike]

Two other thoughts -

1) Air lock in the oil filter. Someone told me this is a common problems in engines such as the Rover V6. Anyone experienced this?

2) The reconditioned head I bought does not match the one I took off, i.e. the oil ways are in different places. Does anyone know if there was ever differences in the designs of Y20DTH cylinder heads?

I'm going to remove the oil pressure valve tonight and start the engine. oil should **** out if the oil pump is a ok.

Remove the rocker cover and have a poke around, perhaps change the oil for Vauxhall fully synthetic and check the filter to make sure it's correct.

Damn it car!! please work...

[phykell]

...the oil ways are in different places...

Surely this means that there's no way can you use that head now?

[ptrehearn152]

i know you said the gasket is not symetrical and wouldn't go back to front but is it possible it would go upside down? thus blocking an oil way.

[MrSpike]

Surely this means that there's no way can you use that head now?

no that was a suggested by someone. I don't think it's true but I just wanted confirmation

[MrSpike]

i know you said the gasket is not symetrical and wouldn't go back to front but is it possible it would go upside down? thus blocking an oil way.

well the head gasket is this shape :-

|-------------|
|.... O O O O. |
|...|----------|
|__|

so if it was flipped horrizontally there would be a bit of gasket hanging out the front right hand side of the engine
if it was flipped virtically there would be a bit of gasket hanging out the rear left hand side.

although I am a bit absent minded so if it comes to it I might have to remove the cylinderhead again to cheack

[ptrehearn152]

ok only trying to help

[KTM Chris]

2) The reconditioned head I bought does not match the one I took off, i.e. the oil ways are in different places. Does anyone know if there was ever differences in the designs of Y20DTH cylinder heads?

This has surely got to be the cause of the problem?