se7ensport
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| posted on 26/6/07 at 09:11 PM |
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Pinto issue (pos major?!)
On my way home doing 70 on dual carriage way when the power starts to drop i.e 5th down to 3rd just to keep moving. I pull over in a cloud of smoke,
lifting the bonnet I see oil has come out of the filler cap and is all over the cam cover.
anyway called AA and they were going to be an hour, I didn't fancy the wait as only 2 miles from home, so restarted it after waiting 10 mins and
it seemed to rev ok so I drove it home carefully.
Oil pressure is still at normal (just under 4 bar), engine temp is at 90, again normal.
Pinto spec: 205 bottom end, race head and cam on bike carbs with VEMS ecu.
what's happened to it??? where should I start looking? chances of permanant damage?
the panic of it all going up in smoke has only just subsided, now hoping I don't need a new engine
Alex
ps just had a though, is there a valve in the oil cap that's supposed to let off pressure? I have a take off just under the inlet manifold that
goes to a catch tank, but no valve and breather filter fitted.
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Fatgadget
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| posted on 26/6/07 at 09:22 PM |
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Has it got compression on all cylinders? Is it misfiring?
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se7ensport
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| posted on 26/6/07 at 09:26 PM |
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I haven't checked compression, need to get a gauge.
no misfire, when running it seemed as smooth as normal, I'll pull the plugs tomorrow to check I'm getting an even burn across each
cylinder.
[Edited on 26/6/07 by se7ensport]
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nitram38
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| posted on 26/6/07 at 09:36 PM |
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Check your oil breather system, especially if it still has the original square box type valve on the side of the block. It has a small vane inside
that sometimes jams shut.
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se7ensport
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| posted on 26/6/07 at 09:38 PM |
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I'm wondering if my crank breather kinked and blocked or the end of the tube pushed up against the wall of the catch tank (well, alloy water
bottle).
If this is the case will there be any damage to the engine?
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se7ensport
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| posted on 26/6/07 at 09:43 PM |
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Nitram- I'm using one of these
just found this on buton for about £6 so will be purchasing as a safety
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nitram38
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| posted on 26/6/07 at 10:58 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by se7ensport
I'm wondering if my crank breather kinked and blocked or the end of the tube pushed up against the wall of the catch tank (well, alloy water
bottle).
If this is the case will there be any damage to the engine?
I doubt any damage as long as you didn't go below minimum oil levels.
Your hose against the bottom of the catch tank sounds feasible as the pressure in the crankcase is relatively low.
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se7ensport
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| posted on 26/6/07 at 11:02 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nitram38
quote:
Originally posted by se7ensport
I'm wondering if my crank breather kinked and blocked or the end of the tube pushed up against the wall of the catch tank (well, alloy water
bottle).
If this is the case will there be any damage to the engine?
I doubt any damage as long as you didn't go below minimum oil levels.
Your hose against the bottom of the catch tank sounds feasible as the pressure in the crankcase is relatively low.
Fingers are crossed, I'll cut a
"V" in the end of the tube to prevent that from happening again and then take it out for a gentle run.
Cheers
Alex
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DarrenW
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| posted on 27/6/07 at 08:46 AM |
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If its running ok again now it doesnt sound terminal. if it was a breathing issue forcing oil to the top end maybe it overcome the sparks causing
power loss - sounds plausible to me, albeit a little scary. i wouldnt be surprised if your plugs will be crudded up now so may not tell a true
story.
Ive vented mine via a cortina oil trap, piped vertically and Tee'd into a pipe from the oil filler cap to catch tank. Ive got one inlet to catch
tank and 2 outlets. I have tried to pipe 2 in and have only one breather outlet in the tank but felt pressure might have been building up in the tank
a bit.
My breathing has been far better after using 1/2" pipe and running the pipe from crankcase breather vertical first. I did try running straight
from modded PCV valve but not too successfully, i reckon the Cortina trap, due to its size, will act as a pressure reducer.
As always best to keep diagnosis simple at first rather than fearing the worst.
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