Purple Ronnie Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 My x-flow has good oil pressure, but is throwing oil out of the Breather, Cap and dipstick tube ☹️ anyone give me a clue!and ive still got a hard clutch pedal! Mr Motts called as Clutch Switch 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Brother Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Also known as a close-ratio short-shift clutch pedal ❗At least youv'e got one 😳 Steve Se7en-Up! Less is more! Remember - an Amateur built the Ark - It took Professionals to build the Titanic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Field Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Hi Crooky, My crossflow is getting that way too. It is beginning to push oil through the oil filler on the rocker cover. My car has done 20K, but has good oil pressure (Mobil No1 15w/50) Also my car does not have a crankcase breather. It is an AX block, but RK advises that some of these do not have breathers. My concern is that for some reason *confused*oil is being pushed back past the piston rings and is escaping via the filler. So come on all you XFlow Gurus, any clues 🤔 Terry Trying to get out of the garage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Brother Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Just thinking out loud....... Have you has a compression test done yet? Could be pressure in the crank case - worn rings? (unlikely as a, no smoke from breather and b, it pulls like a train!) Could it be overfilled - wrong dipstick fitted? Mine sort of finds its own level if overfilled. It does this by filling the catch tank. Also I have a modified (cut down) dipstick on mine Steve Se7en-Up! Less is more! Remember - an Amateur built the Ark - It took Professionals to build the Titanic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Ronnie Posted May 10, 2003 Author Share Posted May 10, 2003 Steve, give me a call if your doing your clutch in the morning, and i will pop over and look at your dipstick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Brother Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Now there's an offer I cant refuse Only problem is I cannot find the overhaul kit I bought about a year ago If it turns up I will ring you. If not, I will be at the Phoenix on Wednesday. Steve Se7en-Up! Less is more! Remember - an Amateur built the Ark - It took Professionals to build the Titanic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Brother Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 The engine can also suffer from heavy breathing and oil being force from the filler cap due either to blocked breather system, worn valve guides, or bores but if this is happening it most likely will be a combination of both. Taken from here Steve Se7en-Up! Less is more! Remember - an Amateur built the Ark - It took Professionals to build the Titanic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger King Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 I'm afraid that this is very common with Supersprints and is simply due to the fact that the pistons are from a 1300ccm 55bhp engine and are simply not up to the job. Heavy breathing becomes a problem, typically at around 15,000 miles (but this can vary a lot depending on usage) and the only solution is to fit new rings. You can simply glazebust the bores and fit straight replacements if you like, but this will last no better than the originals, or you can bite the bullet and fit forged pistons which are not only stronger, but also use up to date ring technology. This will be much longer lasting and has the bonus of producing better power through lower friction and mass. The same problem occurs to a lesser extent with the Sprint 1600ccm engine, but is usually longer in appearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Ronnie Posted May 11, 2003 Author Share Posted May 11, 2003 Thanks Roger, Do you have an idea of cost to replace the pistons? and why the engines out, can you suggest any other mods that could be done.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver 21 Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 Hi All I'm also suffering from Oil being thrown out of my X-Flow at the moment but it all seems to be gathering on the Starter Motor area as anyone who saw the car at Cadwell will testify ☹️. I presumed the oil is being pushed through the sump gasket to end up all over the starter but should I be looking elsewhere?, I have a breather fitted that feeds to the Valve Cover, then from the Valve cover to the catch tank. If the oil was coming out of the filler cap surely the whole side of the engine would be caked in oil including the exhaust. Any suggestions before I strip the sump off and replace the gasket as its a pain when the engines in the car ☹️ Graham Competition Secretary Lydden, Curborough, MIRA, Llandow, Loton Park, Curborough, Aintree...What more can you ask for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver 21 Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 BTTT before I take the sump off ☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Septimus Posted May 12, 2003 Share Posted May 12, 2003 Check the fuel pump mounting gaskets and insulation block. The blocks can crack and I've had oil dripping onto the starter after track days. If you've got an electric pump there is presumably a blanking plate but I'd be surprised if that gave problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Crudders Posted May 12, 2003 Area Representative Share Posted May 12, 2003 Just to reiterate a point Steve made, you may well be running with too much oil on board - there are many permutations of sump, dipstick, tube etc. and you could easily have a mismatch. I did, and when I measured in the correct quantity of oil rather than rely on what the dipstick was telling me, problem solved! Until many thousands of miles later anyway, when the problem returned due to wear ☹️ Worth a check anyway. Richard Don't Visit the North Kent Area Website here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Ronnie Posted May 12, 2003 Author Share Posted May 12, 2003 Thanks Richard Do you know how much oil should i put in from empty? and is it worth doing a engine flush at the same time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Crudders Posted May 12, 2003 Area Representative Share Posted May 12, 2003 What type of sump do you have? I have a James Whiting aluminium sump and no oil cooler. The instructions with the JW sump stated a capacity of 4 litres but my engine runs happily on 3.5 - any surplus over that very quickly ends up in the catch tank and then the whole thing settles down. I mentioned this to JW and he confirmed that my engine was asking for 3.5 litres, so I ought to give it 3.5 litres. Right you are squire, thought I. If you're not familiar with the JW sump, it's shallower than standard but box shaped, so I guess it holds a bit more than a Caterham modified steel sump. I've no idea on other sump capacities I'm afraid - anyone else? Does your engine behave differently when the dipstick level is low? Or do you never let it get low? I suppose you could (very cautiously) try cutting back on the oil and see if the engine 'finds its level'? But needless to say, if your engine explodes, I've never heard of you Richard Don't Visit the North Kent Area Website here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Crudders Posted May 12, 2003 Area Representative Share Posted May 12, 2003 . . . . sorry, forgot about the flushing question. I've heard as many arguments for as against on the subject of flushing. Personally, I've plumped for the idea that the best form of engine flushing is a regular oil change - oil might be expensive but not when compared to the value of your engine. But if your engine is sludged up I guess a flush might be a good thing That doesn't help at all does it Richard Don't Visit the North Kent Area Website here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Ronnie Posted May 12, 2003 Author Share Posted May 12, 2003 Thanks Richard, I will JW in the morning 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbirdman Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Crooky, Take Roger King's advice and do a rebuild. With an AX block you have the option to go to 1800cc as well. I did this a few years ago and it was a vast improvement over the original engine. That engine is still going strong (in Tony Pashley's car) with never a problem. Matt Is it a bike? Is it a car? No it's Blackbirdman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Field Posted May 14, 2003 Share Posted May 14, 2003 Going back to Crooky's earlier question, what are we talking about in terms of cost here, whether for simply re-ringing the existing engine, or for a full blown upgrade to firged pistons etc 🤔 Or is this a case of having a 'quiet word' with RK. I am going to need some form of fix on my crossflow soon, but wouldn't want to waste anyone's time if the cost is likely to be out of reach. Terry Trying to get out of the garage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted May 15, 2003 Share Posted May 15, 2003 I had just this problem with my X flow. Due to budgetary contraints, I opted to fit new pistons and ring. I paid £140 for the piston (which were pocketted to clear the valves). Armed with a flex-honer (I think its called something like that) from Halfords, the job was completed with the engine in place. Alas it transpired the head was in a fair sorry state. The valves had been touching the old non-pocketed pistons. In the end I put a new unleaded head on too. Vote of thanks to Steve of Vulcan Engineering whom gave me excellent service and advice. I think a proper rebuild with forged pistons from a reputable supplier will cost several £1000s. Don't get me going on the topic of oil sump capacities. I spent some time trying to find out how oil to put in my car. I never worked out what sump I had. Trial and error has shown that on a track day filling the oil above the 'minimum' mark on my dipstick, just meant it ended up in the catch tank. Running at minimum doesn't seem to cause oil starvation, so thats the level I go with. Jimbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo Posted May 15, 2003 Share Posted May 15, 2003 Ow - double post ☹️ Edited by - jimbo on 15 May 2003 19:06:47 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Ronnie Posted May 16, 2003 Author Share Posted May 16, 2003 Thanks everyone, the engine is booked to go to Dave Longhurst to be checked out or replaced which ever it needs, at the moment the engine seems fine and only throwing out a small amount of oil....... maybe its been overfilled Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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