The sad tale of my last engine rebuild. - Page 2

Nutcase · 04-09-2009, 18:35

Bummer

Gutting when something like that happens.

One thing that does come to mind though, you used silicone on the sump gasket, that's a big no-no usually as it sets and can get sucked into the oil system and clog it. Usually something like loctite 518 should be used? Less of an issue on a sump rather than a cam cover gasket as there's the oil strainer on the pickup, but something to look at?

Just a thought

Darrin · 04-09-2009, 20:18

What I meant by having an extra credit card was the availability of possible swap engines over here. I've got an engine reman place just down the road from me. To see a classic as nice as yours down and out depresses me. I'd give my left nut to have something like what you've got.

Jonny69 · 05-09-2009, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutcase

One thing that does come to mind though, you used silicone on the sump gasket, that's a big no-no usually as it sets and can get sucked into the oil system and clog it. Usually something like loctite 518 should be used? Less of an issue on a sump rather than a cam cover gasket as there's the oil strainer on the pickup, but something to look at?

That's my thought too, the strainer is quite big and it would take a hell of a lot of dislodged silicone to block it.

Darrin · 05-09-2009, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonny69

Thick stinking grey smoke out the back, loads of noise, no power, pulled over and it seized up on the hard shoulder.

Checked the oil sump for the dreaded milkshake? This sounds like a head gasket catastrophic failure that threw oil and water in a combustion chamber, hydrolocking a cylinder. And then when it "cooled off" (water drained past the rings) it was able to fire up.

And the water/oil mix in the sump could account for the rattling/clunking (poor mix in the main and rod bearings).

Just my thoughts on the whole mess. I hope it's as "simple" as that and there's not actually something broken in there.

Jonny69 · 05-09-2009, 21:04

The smoke wasn't a smoke I recognised and it wasn't steam. Oil smoke is white, blowing headgasket smoke is blue and overfuelling smoke is black. This was a thick grey smoke with a strange smell like an electrical or chemical fire that I didn't recognise. I guess it could have been oil seals melting away. The engine was making a LOT of grating noises inside and seized as I pulled over.

Starting to lose my doom and gloom over it now so I'm not so sad about pulling apart. How does the old saying go... time heals all

Darrin · 06-09-2009, 00:22

Actually, you got the first two swapped there.

Water is white, oil is blue and petrol is black.

Electrical or chemical smell is clutch plate. You might just pull the engine and find a knackered flywheel and pressure plate holding a bunch of clutch bits in. That would also account for the noises and grey smoke...

Jonny69 · 06-09-2009, 11:38

Interesting, hadn't considered that. Didn't smell like clutch friction material but it could have been clutch bearing eating itself. First thing I checked was the alternator because it smelled like that on fire, but it was charging ok and spinning freely. Could also be the starter motor if the bendix has got stuck on the flywheel.

Getting excited now, in a strange morbid way that will involve my bank balance taking a shredding

Jonny69 · 06-09-2009, 11:53

In my experience of running knackered old Ford engines I've found headgasket blowing oil through is blue but when the rings let go and oil pours in it's clouds of white smoke. Guess how I know that

Only had Ford engines though. When the headgaskets go they usually go through to an oilway rather than a waterway like other manufacturers.

Treefrog · 06-09-2009, 14:08

My only experience of making a grey smokescreen was holing a piston on the works Kawasaki. But as you've got compression on all pots it's not gonna be that ..

Darrin · 06-09-2009, 19:53

Heh, forgot about one thing with the white/blue smoke thing. Oil produces blue smoke when it's burned. But if it is vaporized (like coming in direct contact with a hot exhaust manifold) it produces a white smoke.

Think of the smoke trails acrobatic planes make. They do that by pouring kerosene into the exhaust manifold (or the afterburner section on a jet) so that it hits hot bits and turns to vapor.

04-09-2009, 20:18	#12
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	What I meant by having an extra credit card was the availability of possible swap engines over here. I've got an engine reman place just down the road from me. To see a classic as nice as yours down and out depresses me. I'd give my left nut to have something like what you've got. __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

05-09-2009, 21:04	#15
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	The smoke wasn't a smoke I recognised and it wasn't steam. Oil smoke is white, blowing headgasket smoke is blue and overfuelling smoke is black. This was a thick grey smoke with a strange smell like an electrical or chemical fire that I didn't recognise. I guess it could have been oil seals melting away. The engine was making a LOT of grating noises inside and seized as I pulled over. Starting to lose my doom and gloom over it now so I'm not so sad about pulling apart. How does the old saying go... time heals all __________________

06-09-2009, 00:22	#16
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	Actually, you got the first two swapped there. Water is white, oil is blue and petrol is black. Electrical or chemical smell is clutch plate. You might just pull the engine and find a knackered flywheel and pressure plate holding a bunch of clutch bits in. That would also account for the noises and grey smoke... __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

06-09-2009, 11:38	#17
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	Interesting, hadn't considered that. Didn't smell like clutch friction material but it could have been clutch bearing eating itself. First thing I checked was the alternator because it smelled like that on fire, but it was charging ok and spinning freely. Could also be the starter motor if the bendix has got stuck on the flywheel. Getting excited now, in a strange morbid way that will involve my bank balance taking a shredding __________________

06-09-2009, 11:53	#18
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	In my experience of running knackered old Ford engines I've found headgasket blowing oil through is blue but when the rings let go and oil pours in it's clouds of white smoke. Guess how I know that Only had Ford engines though. When the headgaskets go they usually go through to an oilway rather than a waterway like other manufacturers. __________________

04-09-2009, 18:35	#11
Nutcase Moonshine Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chelmsford, innit! Posts: 3,979	Bummer Gutting when something like that happens. One thing that does come to mind though, you used silicone on the sump gasket, that's a big no-no usually as it sets and can get sucked into the oil system and clog it. Usually something like loctite 518 should be used? Less of an issue on a sump rather than a cam cover gasket as there's the oil strainer on the pickup, but something to look at? Just a thought

06-09-2009, 14:08	#19
Treefrog Survivor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chell Heath, Stoke-on-Trent Posts: 1,761	My only experience of making a grey smokescreen was holing a piston on the works Kawasaki. But as you've got compression on all pots it's not gonna be that .. __________________ Commit random kindness and senseless acts of beauty

06-09-2009, 19:53	#20
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	Heh, forgot about one thing with the white/blue smoke thing. Oil produces blue smoke when it's burned. But if it is vaporized (like coming in direct contact with a hot exhaust manifold) it produces a white smoke. Think of the smoke trails acrobatic planes make. They do that by pouring kerosene into the exhaust manifold (or the afterburner section on a jet) so that it hits hot bits and turns to vapor. __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".