Couple of Issues Noticed when doing an Oil Change

[101RRS]

Changing my engine oil and diff oils on my RRS 2.7TDV6.

As always when taking the engine cover off you have to be careful that any dirt under the cover does not go down the oil filler hole - great design on PSA's part. On lifting it off, half the foam underneath it was missing - was there 10000km ago when it last came off - looking around the top of the engine I found little bits of it but of concern there was a huge chunk sitting on top of the passenger side exhaust manifold - huge fire danger - maybe it is this issue that is setting D3/D4s on fire rather than diesel leaks.

Can you just buy new foam? I assume a new cover is required - if so after market dynamat etc might be the go - or is the foam really needed - I have driven the car without the cover and did not notice any difference in car sound levels.

Second issue - while looking at the lower suspension arm rubbers etc (all look fine) I noticed some goo near the front inner passenger side CV - on closer inspection it was a little bit of CV grease. The boot is not split but on the driveshaft end the boot is perished next to the clamp allowing a very very small amount of grease out - will obviously get worse over time.

As an interim measure are split boots available? as at this stage I would prefer not to have to pull the driveshaft out. I have mixed results with split boots - I have them on my Haflinger and they are great but were no good on my old Subaru. I do have to get the lower suspension arms replaced soon so will get the boot replaced then (or the entire driveshaft) but if a split boot was available that would be helpful just at the moment.

Thanks

Garry

[Graeme]

I remove the acoustic engine cover from all my vehicles to reduce warm hiding areas for vermin.

[loanrangie]

I remove the acoustic engine cover from all my vehicles to reduce warm hiding areas for vermin.My kids prefer their bedrooms :)

[Fatso]

I too removed engine cover , no decernable diff in noise and without it the engine can always be checked for leaks etc at any time . Does not serve any real purpose other than aesthetic value .

[DazzaTD5]

My kids prefer their bedrooms :)

ROFL ohhh dam thats funny

[DazzaTD5]

to answer OP...

Cant buy the foam, the new engine cover is something like $300 !!
The foam falling apart is common, i remove it all and just fit the plastic cover, no sound diff in my opinion.
Having atleast the plastic cover on does serve a purpose of atleast keeping some water / dirt off the mass of electrics on the engine.
I wouldnt use any sort of foam that has any foil layer on it, clark rubber has all sorts of sticky foam stuff

I would measure the CV boot and see if a after market one can be purchased, i'm sure it can.
I only would do just a boot replacement if the CV inners havent been exposed to water / dirt etc, it take very little dirt in a CV assembly to grind it away to nothing

[rangieman]

ROFL ohhh dam thats funny
You should meet his kids [bigwhistle]
Only joking sorry Nick[wink11]

[101RRS]

Thanks Daz - my main concern was the fire hazard with a big chuck of the foam on the exhaust - I will pull the rest out and just use the cover by itself.

As the driver of a 79 subaru wagon I got to know the quirks of CV boots really well. I used to wrap them up with glad wrap and secure the end with cable ties until I could get in an replace the boot or driveshaft. It kept the grease in and the dirt out - as you say not much dirt will kill the CV. I might do the same to my CV until I can get the driveshaft out and things fixed.

Cheers

Garry

[Barryp]

Foam also fell off my L320 engine cover, simply threw it away and replaced the cover, as above no discernible difference in noise level.
Mine probably disintegrated at about 5 years old.
Traded up to an L494 and it looks like the same foam!
Regards
Barry