Various things!

[chasbaps]

Well, Frodo has been "dripping" oil for a while now and I thought it was time I took a look....

When he is cold there are no drips, but after 15 minutes the front of the engine is glistening, it appears there may be more than one leak from the engine, so I am now considering replacing all the gaskets. How complicated would that be, I am assuming it will mean taking the engine out and putting it on a bench?

Also, the oil breather pipe looks like a second exhaust - see photo below - is that normal or is there a more serious problem, and if so what?

Also, there is a pipe connected to the bottom of the carb, that doesn't go anywhere! Where should it go? (see photo)(it's shining white in the photo)

AND the exhaust leak by the carb seems to come out not from the manifold gasket, but at right angles to it. Has anyone else had this problem? (see photos again!)

Apart from that, he's going great!

 

[Enigma]

Thats the flame trap, the missing pipe should go to the air filter box under passenger seat...it won't do any harm, apart from make an oily mess!...you could throw away the flame trap, trace it back and just put another piece of hose on, and divert it downwards onto the gearbox so as you dont get any nasty fumes in the cab and prevent it making an oily/sooty mess everywhere

 

[Enigma]

think this one also should go on airbox under passenger seat, think it has something to do with helping the engine warm up quicker and making it more energy effecient/green ...dunno LOL

when Tim looked at Smurf in Coventry he tossed all these bits over his shoulder saying 'dont need this. dont need that' who am I to argue lol

 

[bazzateer]

If the breather pipes (inc flame trap) are blocked this will increase the crankcase pressure which in turn will force oil past some gaskets leading to lots of little leaks. As stated, replace these with oil hose venting to atmosphere (nice and low below gearbox for example) and you may find that the leaks stop or at least decrease.

If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
Peggy's got Sounds

 

[chasbaps]

Thanks guys! That sounds like a possible cause, I will whip of the flame trap later and see what happens. I'm going to try taking off the carb and replacing the manifold gasket as well, and if that solves the exhaust leak, then the cab will be a nicer and lot less toxic place!

 

[Navyreg1970]

Im also thinking that if your piston rings are worn you might be getting exhaust from the cylinders getting into the crankcase,which may be why it looks like a second exhaust, have you checked the compression?

The Dog is on its way....

 

[Chamba]

I think Commeracer vents his into one of the chassis rails so that they get treated to a nice oily rust protecting vapour I can't remember without looking at my carb, but that white pipe looks like it might be the vacuum advance which will connect to your distributor at the other end.

 

[commeracer]

Are you sure the oily mess is not caused by the breather rather than gaskets [?]
If the rings are past it then there will be alot of crankcase pressure to cause heavy breathing and leaky seals/gaskets too [xx(]
ditch the flame trap for a long hose and feed it into a chassis rail
I think there is a hose to nowhere on the zenith, just blanked off.
the exhaust leak could be where the two manifolds bolt together [V]

"you were only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"

 

[Panky]

In my humble opinion your engine is sh**ed - good excuse for fitting something more 'exotic'
Nah....as others have said ditch the trap and monitor the results - oh yes, fit an SU and a free-flow exhaust while you are at it[8D]

 

[chasbaps]

Are you sure the oily mess is not caused by the breather rather than gaskets [?]

Yeah it's definately coming from somewhere else

If the rings are past it then there will be alot of crankcase pressure to cause heavy breathing and leaky seals/gaskets too [xx(]

I think that might be the case, although I haven't noticed any drop in power

ditch the flame trap for a long hose and feed it into a chassis rail

Will do - does that become an issue at MOT time - do I have to reroute it before going to the garage?

I think there is a hose to nowhere on the zenith, just blanked off.

OK, I'll leave the hose alone for now!

the exhaust leak could be where the two manifolds bolt together [V]

Erm, I think that could be the case - why the [V]? is it a difficult problem to fix?

 

[bazzateer]

quote:
Originally posted by chasbaps
Will do - does that become an issue at MOT time - do I have to reroute it before going to the garage?


No, it's fine. My Imp has had this for the last 3 MOTs and it's never even mentioned.

If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
Peggy's got Sounds

 

[commeracer]

If the manifold leak is where they bolt together then its either burned a bit away of distorted [V]
if you try tightening the 4 long bolts the chances are they will shear off [xx(]
your best option is send them over for surgery Chas

"you were only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"

 

[steve williams]

if its the front of the engine and only when warm could be something as simple as the rocker box gasket,wouldnt leak until the engine was runnung when the oil is thrown up
they also leak from the timing chain cover,this aint easy to do so if its coming from there i would live with it
another area to check is the metal cover on the side of the engine behind the fuel pump,they can leak really badly but its easy to replace this gasket

 

[chasbaps]

quote:
Originally posted by commeracer

your best option is send them over for surgery Chas




Longer term I might be interested in that option!

For now, I have these problems to fix, adding a stereo (now that the diff has been changed we could hear it in the cab!),the interior to do, changing the dash around (putting in toggle switches and cleaning it up), seatbelts, seats, heater matrix, leisure battery, removing the old water tank, adding a reversing light, in that approximate order, so that we can use him more. Once those are out the way, I am going to be looking at performance improvements - but not some crazy engine change thank you Panky!

 

[commerjules]

As Tim rightly says, ditch the emmissions/breather gear. It wastes power by giving the carb oily oxygenless air. Failing running it into the chassis (which should be an MoT fail if noticed) use a catch tank http://shop1.actinicexpress.co.uk/shops/Rat_Sport/index.php?cat=Oil_Catch_Tanks&ActinicSID=cfd15e9544a11998ae9b56b474211053

Even if the motor is "breathing" a little I wouldnt worry too much about it. My race`car breathes loads even with a fresh engine and still wins races.

Cheers
Jules

RatSport www.ratsport.co.uk

 

[Paul Goldsmith]

Thanks Jules, a timely reminder of something I'm intending to add to our Hunny.

Last year on our standard Commer lump we followed the advice from this forum to fit a K&N filter (which means junking the breather) and a 'Panky style' RC40 exhaust and the difference in response was amazing, add on electronic points too - at £130 overall it was the an amazing 'bang for the buck'

'Hunny' our Commer Hi-Tor by TorCars