Graze Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 First day on the track today for my TR4 went quite well for a number of laps then spluttered a bit (hard to tell with helmet on all the sounds are so muted) and spewed some coolant out the overflow tank had filled to the point it popped the top off and coolant came flowing out it was running at about 70deg on the gauge (normal is 50ish) but I wasnt alarmed due to high revving over 15 min period oil pressure normal around 70-75 came in, reconnected overflow and let it cool and suck it back into the radiatior went out again an hour or so later (thought tickover sounded a bit noisy) and started blowing smoke, only did 3 laps then came in - oil pressure still 70-75 range, temp never got above 50 a lot of oil at the back of the motor under the original fuel pump - at first we thought it was a welsh plug where the original breather used to go, then possibly the breather from under the pump so wiped it all up and headed home checked after about 5 miles before i got on the motorway and there seemed to be a little oil dripping from under the fuel pump drove about 15miles on the motorway at a conservative 55mph (under 3000 revs), was blowing a lot of smoke, Oil pressure was up to 80psi under load stopped when i got off the motorway at servo - trail of oil spots behind me every 2-3 feet and a pool of oil quickly appeared under the rear of the motor (think motor /clutch area). Checked the oil - it had gone down from full mark to bottom mark on the dipstick. Rear of car covered in small oil drops, undercarriage wet and droplets all along it A lot of oil on the top of the rocker cover - apparently emanating from the filler cap (does not have a breather hole) Topped up oil drove home last 3 miles slowly. Oil in rocker not milky, oil in sump not milky, ticking of motor louder than usual I'm suspecting blown gasket any other thoughts? Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graeme Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Yep, sounds like the gasket has gone. Possibly head crack but more likely gasket. Head off for inspection anyway. Cheers Graeme Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 (edited) The oil loss is a worry. Broken piston ring causing crankcase pressurisation blowing oil past the rear crank seal, and elsewhere? Compression/leakdown test next step. Edited August 21, 2014 by peejay4A Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graeme Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Pete, A blown gasket will easily pressurise the crankcase through the various oilways. Graeme Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted August 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 (edited) Graeme I hope you are right but even if Pete is on the mark it will just mean bringing forward the new pistons and liners and cranks New head from a late 4A arrives from US next week so good timing, means car will be off the road for a month or so while I get head ported (and maybe longer if Pete is correct). Recommendations on suppliers for pistons, liners & cranks welcome by the way Next issue is the radiator causing the problem in the first place - car doesn't overheat (and didn't today). Has electric fan which works, should I get radiator rebuilt? Graze Edited August 21, 2014 by Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 (edited) Ring problems by the sound of it. Always worth getting the rad flow checked. Stuart. Edited August 21, 2014 by stuart Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted August 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Stuart my "wise old head" advisor agrees with you - I just got off the phone to him and he thought losing that much oil spells more serious issues than just a gasket recommendations for liners pistons & cranks (Carillo?) might need to go shopping Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
boxofbits Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 (edited) Hi Stuart If it is blowing smoke, then you could have cooked it and damaged the pistons. Might be worth a compression test before you take the head off, just to see which ones are the worst. If it is like my 4A there was loads of silt and sludge around 3 and 4 when I changed the liners which would impede proper cooling. Btw if your oil pressure was fairly okay, the crank might be okay, but you'll need to drop the sump anyway to change pistons/ liners, so you could check then. Good luck Kevin Edited August 22, 2014 by boxofbits Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted August 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2014 Thanks Kevin We'll see in due course Quite happy to install new liners and pistons Will report back after compression test Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted August 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 Update 65psi in no 4, went up to 150psi after putting some oil into the cylinder, all others 175psi So Peejay you were right Engine rebuild time Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted August 24, 2014 Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 Modesty forbids. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted August 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 (edited) Peejay Just be thankfull you were right this time Cheers Graze Edited August 24, 2014 by Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted August 24, 2014 Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 Doesn't happen that often to be sure. Best of luck with the rebuild. 89mm? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted August 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 That's the plan, mick has been sharing some of his wealth of knowledge and I have a very experienced guy who has built a bunch of race engines for TR3's and 4's who is going to help me( truth is he is going to lead and ill watch, assist and learn) Have a late 4A head arriving this week from US so good timing for the whole process including extractors and fitting the Mikunis Was hoping to stage it but seems itall has to happen now Will keep you informed Grazr Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted August 24, 2014 Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 89mm is where I'm going when the time comes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
graeme Posted August 24, 2014 Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 My '4A has 89mm pistons/liners from TR Enterprises. Having suffered sealing problems with a copper gasket, I now use and would recommend the Cometic head gasket available to fit any size piston. http://www.cometic.com/ Cheers Graeme Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tr4Tony Posted August 24, 2014 Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 Hi sport You should have a serious look at Venolia 89mm pistons, Carillo's 7 1/4 in rods and Cambridge Motorsport Motorsport 89 mm liners ..... Beware that MANY other upwards of 86mm liners are oval and therefore next to useless. You may find that boring a set of used Stanpart 86 mm liners will give you the best result because the metal is already heat cured .... ;-) Also so, pay particular attention to the rocker arms and tappet bucket, balls etc as the best are better than roller rockers. Regards Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graze Posted August 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 Tony Thanks for the tips Car already has rolled rockers (by PO) so unless there is a compelling reason to change ill keep them Graze Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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