Oil loss from new engine

Asolepius · 2005-05-13T11:46:49+00:00

Well the good news is that the Sprite passed the MOT yesterday after the 15-year rebuild. I have done about 15 miles so far and have noticed clouds of stuff coming out of the top and bottom breather pipes (which go into a 1.5 L catch tank). I reckon it will do this until the rings are bedded in, but there is a lot of oil being blown out of the filler cap and running down the engine. I haven't noticed this on a rebuilt engined before. Will it settle down or is there something wrong? I have done all the usual things - checked ring gaps, put the rings on the right way round, used a pukka ring compressor when inserting the pistons etc. Oil pressure is 45 psi hot at idle, 60 at 2,000 rpm, so nothing wrong there. Any ideas?

May 13, 2005 23 Replies

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Rob 21 years ago

The only thing that I can remember is a screw plug in the front end and a plain plug in the rear of the rocker shaft. Maybe one of these have been left out? The alignment of the rocker shaft bushes oil holes.

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Asolepius 21 years ago

I have checked the rocker shaft ends - both plugs are in there.

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s--p--o--n--i--x 21 years ago

Could it be a missing oilway blanking plug in the cylinder head somewhere?

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Asolepius 21 years ago

There are no such blanking plugs in the head AFAIK. Actually it has all settled down now. The mist from the breathers has stopped, and the leak from the filler has been cured by a rubber washer - the cork one was hopeless. Still dripping from back of crank, as per usual for A-Series, and despite the £100 spent on an oilseal kit!

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