Hi Folks,

Looking for a bit of advice. I got some spare time yesterday so decided to remove the cam covers to get at the leaking plug and cam cover seal.

Problem is I cant seem to get proper access to the bolt on bank 2 (rhs when facing car) thats on the bottom sode of the cam cover underneath the coolant bottle.
Access is poor and I have tried 3/8 and 1/4 socket set, open ended and ring spanners.

Any tirck to getting this one out??? 10mm Crows foot??
Even if I do get it out, how are you supposed to torque these up afterwards as theres no way my torque spanner will fit in.

Any help appreciated

Mike

 

You still not fixed your shakey engine yet..........lol

 

No Steeevo,

Just no time. I work, the missus works, 3 kids with the youngest under 2. Im an expert at cooking but the kids say I must be allergicto the vaccum cleaner! More chance of me vaccuming than getting time on the xk8... meanwhile theres a capri in the garage needing valve stem seals, a mk1 escort that needs recommisioning and a daily driver bmw 320 vert that has the odd fault code or two!!

Mike

 

If I remember correctly I unbolted the reservoir bottle and used a 1/4" universal joint drive to get to that one.

 

+1^ . I also used a 1/4" universal, but did not remove the bottle. That being said, I would recommend removing the bottle.

 

I moved my coolant reservoir it was one bolt if I remember correctly, a couple of things to beware of.. the plastic cooling lines can be brittle, I'd broken one cleaning the engine on a different day, also beware of the low coolant sensor that plugs in the bottom doesn't pop out or get damaged. Also used 1/4 universal and extension.

 

1/2 in torque wrench with 1/4 in step down to 1/4 in wobbly to 3in extension to 1/4 in wobbly to socket. Bit of a Frankenstein tool but it worked. I've been known to hack a spanner in half when I can't get one in. Helps if you have hands like a 12 year old girl, But being Irish myself I doubt you do!

 

Before removing the Expansion Tank, you'll need something to temporarily seal the two hoses to avoid losing coolant:



A wine bottle cork and a 1/4" drive extension (arrowed in red) fit perfectly.

Graham

 

Just don't reuse the cork

 

dont remove the expansion tank, just move it out the way. simples

 

I used a 1/4" drive flexible extension - getting more difficult to find in tool shops but there are several vendors on Ebay. So useful(along with a 3/8" one) to have in your tool box.