Skip to main content

Closed17 replies

Dang mess - what did this

FM Former Member
Here's another one for all the forensic cyber mechanics:
The car is a 2367 type 4 with vertical cooling, external cooler and filter. Drove vehicle on freeway 16 miles. Stopped, checked smoke from engine compartment. Found lots of oil sprayed all over the engine and a small pool collecting above the tin, with a considerable amount leaking through the tin to the exhaust and mufflers below. Never lost oil pressure. Engine ran fine. Towed car home.
Subsequent examination revealed about one third the oil was lost. No obvious leaks. Cleaned everything up (no rags left at my house!). Examined everything, nothing evident. Hoses look fine (only three years and 6000 miles old). Drained the oil, to see how much I'd really lost. Put in fresh oil. Turned the engine over on the starter (no ignition) to build up pressure. No leaks. Finally started engine. No leaks. Ran engine for 20 minutes at fast idle, with a dozen trips to 4000+ RPM. Oil got to temp (thermostat turned fan on). No leaks.
And the next step is to drive it I guess. Understandably, I'd rather "fix" something first, but I'm out of ideas. OK, let the diagnosis begin, I'd really like to drive this to Knott's but....
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

FM Former Member
Here's another one for all the forensic cyber mechanics:
The car is a 2367 type 4 with vertical cooling, external cooler and filter. Drove vehicle on freeway 16 miles. Stopped, checked smoke from engine compartment. Found lots of oil sprayed all over the engine and a small pool collecting above the tin, with a considerable amount leaking through the tin to the exhaust and mufflers below. Never lost oil pressure. Engine ran fine. Towed car home.
Subsequent examination revealed about one third the oil was lost. No obvious leaks. Cleaned everything up (no rags left at my house!). Examined everything, nothing evident. Hoses look fine (only three years and 6000 miles old). Drained the oil, to see how much I'd really lost. Put in fresh oil. Turned the engine over on the starter (no ignition) to build up pressure. No leaks. Finally started engine. No leaks. Ran engine for 20 minutes at fast idle, with a dozen trips to 4000+ RPM. Oil got to temp (thermostat turned fan on). No leaks.
And the next step is to drive it I guess. Understandably, I'd rather "fix" something first, but I'm out of ideas. OK, let the diagnosis begin, I'd really like to drive this to Knott's but....
MASSIVETYPEIVMASSIVETYPEIV
Hmmn,
How hot was the engine? Sounds like you may have gottn it warm and puked some oil.

You have the 103mm bored cylinders with a stock stroke crank( I suppose since that yields a 2366) and they are well known for losing cylinders early in life unless you have Nickies for cylinders.

You need to do a compression check and leak down test before something else happens that might not be a minor issue.

oldyeleroldyeler
Yes! I sure any vent above the head will help , But that invites more leaks and they are fussy when you concider adjusting valves every 3,000 miles.

It' not a normal thing, but If a 1/4pipe vent could be added to the upper head lip and vent straight up through the engine tin your valve service and covers could be standard parts. it still might leak but not near as badly. It may not be a very large vent but it wouldn't take a lot to lower the valve cover back presure.

Getting back to what Jake said if it venting out the crank ,I'd be a bit worried a bout the piston rings condition.
FM Former Member
Additional info on the victim:
Heads were off about 200 miles ago to receive some larger valves. At that time the cylinder walls were excellent. Pistons looked perfect. Engine was run on a dyno after head work. No leaks.
After the leak, no pinched breather hoses were found. No source of leak is yet known. There is some evidence that the leak may have started in my driveway, even before I got onto the freeway (small oil trail). After the cooling fan got finished spreading the oil around like a paint gun, no source of the leak is evident.
The leak does seem to be above the engine tin. I have a pretty decent seal to keep all the hot air below and the cool air above. Even the pulley and alternater belt are well sealed using the foam seal adapted from a bus.
Guess I can tow it to Knotts? Ohh, the disgrace . . . . . .
Gordon NicholsGordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member
Jake mentioned maybe the engine "belched". I remember once helping a friend who overfilled the oil by accident and it belched some out the filler. Try starting it up and removing the filler cap - see how much air is rushing out (should be very little). If it's a lot, then you've got more looking to do.

Only other place I can think of for that kind (and amount) of leak would be the gasket a the base of the Alt. pedestle. A leaking oil pressure sensor usually doesn't go intermittant, nor does it leak 1/3 of the sump. The fact that the bulk of the oil was on top of the tins is puzzling, though.
Alan MerklinAlan MerklinDrclock - Elkins, West Virginia Supporting Member
I think it got Spring fever and got excited!....Seriously, check the oil level then cover the dist with plastic then steam/ pressure wash the engine compartment out as clean as possible, start it and look for the first tell tale sign of oil, if nothing run it for a a 1/4 mile or so stop, and again check it out, if nothing shows once again run it up to 50 mph for a half mile stop, and check again...it surely should show up by then.

Alan
FM Former Member
Thanks guys, but as my first email said, I all ready changed the oil and the engine starts and runs just fine. Ran it at fast idle for 20 minutes with a few trips to 4000+. The oil hoses were "hot" (subjectively speaking). Clean exhaust - no blue smoke. Not a hint of any problem.
The motor got overly excited on spring break? Gee, I did pass a nice older 911 Targa coming the other way. . . .
Post Content
Remove This Ad

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×

Access to this requires a premium membership.

Supporting Member

Please help keep us running!

Supporting members have donated about $4.00 a month ($49.00 US per year) paid annually.

  • Priority support
  • Removal of inter-page (between thread) advertisements.
  • Access to Build Manuals
  • Access to Knowledge Base
  • Access to Supporting Members events.
  • Access to Leveraged Group Buying from site Merchants.

AUTO RENEW: You membership will auto-renew after 12 months. If you prefer not to auto-renew, you can cancel your premium membership at any time and it will remain in effect until the end of the 12 months. To cancel, sign in at SpeedsterOwners.com and navigate to: (Your User Name)  > Premium Membership.

PLEASE NOTE: Your credit card will receive a charge from CROWDSTACK PAY, the payment processor, not SpeedsterOwners.com.

$49.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable)
×