Ben Baxter Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Just a quick question - canvassing for opinion really, not a major issue just a minor niggle that is annoying me.I'm losing oil in the Herald, but strangely I seem to be losing it out of the top of the rocker cover of all places. Originally thought it was out of the holes for the studs as its been overtorqued in the past (original tin jobbie), but after sorting that out and putting some fibre washers on to ensure a good seal I'm still losing oil out of the rocker cover. This leaves me thinking that it's coming out of the oil filler cap - could this just be due to a duff rocker cover/cap, or is it more likely to be that oil is being forced out of the top under pressure?Is it anything to be concerned about? (other than the cost of occasional oil top ups and a mucky drive!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Are you sure the cork seal for the rocker cover is working correctly? They can be a pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Baxter Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 I've a new one so it isn't that (the old one was buggered), and I know that I'm definately losing oil from higher up than that as it's settling in the lip of the rocker cover that is above the seal - only places it can come from (unless it's flowing upwards!) is the stud holes (sorted) and the breather cap in some form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freebird Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Clean the cover thouroughly, then run the engine at a fast idle and try to see where the oil is emerging from.I had the same problem on my Vitesse when I bought it. It turned out that the rocker cover had a tiny split in it near to the centre stud - 3 studs on a 6 pot.Temporary cure was a blob of silicone, permanent cure another rocker cover.Glen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 If that's the only place it's leaking oil then praise the lord and close the bonnet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 doug_foreman wrote:If that's the only place it's leaking oil then praise the lord and close the bonnetAmen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6 Mike Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Might be worth checking that the breather is clear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Baxter Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 GT6_Mike wrote:Might be worth checking that the breather is clear.Breather? Whats one of them when it's at home? Guessing you mean like on the alloy rocker covers, none of them here, that's high tech stuff!I would be tempted to praise the lord and shut the bonnet, but I'm of the opinion that I could well be losing oil from elsewhere (and it isn't an insignificant oil loss), and if I can rule this avenue out then all the better - if it solves the oil loss it solves it, if it doesn't then it makes looking for another cause easier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 So how often do you have to top up and how much? Is there a rubber seal on the 1200 filler cap? Is it sealing?As Freebird said, clean everything up and then chase any oil trails which appear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Cureton Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Similar to Freebird, I recently had a problem with a continual sump leak on a Fiat (I know, I know!!), no matter how much I tightened the sump and searched for the leak I just couldn't find it - until one day I pulled at a scabby bit of metal and the oil started pouring out! This is not what I expected to find on an oil-filled sump but it just goes to show the strangest of things can happen. My advice is to change the rocker cover, I bet your problem is instantly cured. Also, when a rocker cover has been over-tightened it will never seal properly again as the face will have become distorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 sorry b-baxter ..thought it was a minor leak from your first description...also worth looking at the top of the rocker where the bolts go through ..even with fibre washers it can still leak from there ...sometimes there is a crack around the holes or someone has been overtightened and distorted the top so it will leak anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 try running the car with the filler car off (guess it is a gauze filled breather cap) If there is a lot of pressure when revved then its the rings. If you seal the top it will come out elsewhere.Or take the dipstick out when running, oil can blow out there esp if the sealing fely washer has gone. And I think there is a breather pipe on the side of the block? check there too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 why not clean the cover, tape some paper towel around the sites you think are the cause and have a look after a run to see what has oil stains, then you know where to look, but you must make certain the breather system whatever method or evolved type is fitted is actually breathing, how long has this been occcuring ?? have you ever put a measured amount in the sump for oil change and checked the dipstick reads right ???? you could be overfilled ?? just some ideas Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpeg.b15b81ef10abeea1c3039ae03c4a9f3a.jpeg)
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.