Engine cover wobble and dipstick pops up

[diesel406]

Hi - I wonder if anyone can give any guidance on this one. My 406 HDi 2.0 runs well and does 44mpg. But I noticed a few months ago that the dip stick had popped up after driving around for a bit. I read here that this could be leaking piston rings causing pressure on the outside of the compression zone in the piston. However, I am not using any oil and the engine runs well.

I also noticed that the plastic engine cover was not fixed onto anything .. just floating around. This was not the condition a year ago so I think the local garage must have forgotten to replace something when they were working on the engine at that time. This could also cause the dipstick to work lose

Can anyone provide a photo or diagram of the engine cover fixing system?

Any other comments?

Thanks peeps!

Lewis

[jasper5]

Hi, don't worry too much about this, my 406 HDi has had this problem.

The engine cover has rubber mountings that break off and need replacing, I have replaced mine twice and they need replacing again.Yes, I guess about every year.

The rubber blocks just screw in and cost a couple of quid each.

The dipstick pops up quite often, every time I check the oil it has popped up, there is nothing wrong, it just happens.

[Doggy]

My Xsara HDi 90 did this too, only I never replaced the engine cover clips
Eventually got down to one clip remaining, so removed the acoustic cover until I got new clips, (never happened)
Lo & behold dipstick didn't pop out any more - I think it's the cover jumping about & pulling the dipstick.

DW12's got proper nuts 'n' bolts - doggy proof!

[diesel406]

Hi, don't worry too much about this, my 406 HDi has had this problem.

The engine cover has rubber mountings that break off and need replacing, I have replaced mine twice and they need replacing again.Yes, I guess about every year.

The rubber blocks just screw in and cost a couple of quid each.

The dipstick pops up quite often, every time I check the oil it has popped up, there is nothing wrong, it just happens.

Thanks Jasper5 and dogslife for your comments - helps put my mind to rest. However, I checked the engine cover and all the rubber mountings are in place - seems there is something missing into which they plug. Can anyone provide a photo of what is under the engine cover or a diagram of what the mountings go into?

Cheers

[jasper5]

The engine cover is held on by round plastic clips, they slot onto the metal peg on top of the rubber mountings .

Look at my engine here....http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu10 ... 406001.jpg

You can see on the left side of the engine, the only undamaged rubber block on mine, if you look across to the right, at the back of the engine, you will see a broken block which is screwed into the rocker cover.There is one at the front left broken screwed into the bracket in front of the large wiring loom section, the other one is is at the front right, just in front of the thermostat housing and to the right of the dipstick.

[diesel406]

Thanks Jasper5 - just what I needed! off to look at mine now!

And the answer is ....

Yes - all that seems to be wrong is the rubber has sheared off the mountings! Hurray.. Now I am wondering if I can use a special glue to stick them back on! Rubber sounds a good idea.

[jasper5]

I doubt that glue will solve the problem, what I have bought for mine to replace the crappy original mountings are four Renault exhaust mountings, they are similar in size to the 406 cover mounts, but much stronger and can be screwed into the 406 mounting points with the cover able to be bolted onto the new Renault mounts.

I will be fitting them sometime next week.

The old mounts just unscrew easily.

[diesel406]

Like these?

[jasper5]

Exactly

[406silverhdi]

i got 4 new posts from a breakers, put them on BUT removed the cover, will put it back on when i sell it! Just too annoying to worry about

same with the under engine covers

[madbaggie28]

or you could do what i have done and put the cover in the shed (never to be seen again)

[Unpugged]

Is the engine cover installed only for aesthetic reasons, or does it also serve another purpose?

[diesel406]

Exactly

Thanks for the tip - got some on order today

Is the engine cover installed only for aesthetic reasons, or does it also serve another purpose?

I think it does deflect some of the heat away from the bonnet - there is insulation underneath it.

[Doggy]

Is the engine cover installed only for aesthetic reasons, or does it also serve another purpose?

aka 'acoustic cover'.....