Sam's build thread

[sambb]

Had a good look around the engine tonight to see if I could find where all my oil is going. It was big fingers crossed that I'd find the turbo to be schmeared in oil goop but unfortunately it wasn't to be. The comp side was clean as a whistle despite the TIP being coated in pre catch can blow by goop, and the hot side whilst sooty looking, didn't have any wet shiny oil in it. I got a pic of the hot side taken via a mirror. To me that dry looking chimney soot blackness doesn't indicate oil burn but I'm happy to have opinions on that given that I've never really seen bona fide oil burning turbo hot sides before. opinions?

[sambb]

a supercar war between two of the best F1 designers that have ever lived. Neweys Aston Valkyrie V12 now challenged by Murrays V12. It says Cosworth on the sketches of the engine so that's the same engine probably too. I'd love to see someone like Martin Brundle do a comparo of them:

YouTube

[sambb]

Did a bit of intake remodelling. A 90 degeree 2.75in section lines up the pod housing perfectly with the cold air intake throat. The catch can is now finished with AN fittings and the correct oil resistant hose and will run like this, vent to atmosphere with no PCV in track guise.
On the street (legal) though the catch can vent filter will be removed for this line to the TIP and the PCV (which draws on the crankcase line like the stock setup) will be connected to the plenum. The stink from the vent to atmosphere setup was feral. Emissions aside, I don't know how anyone could be happy running vent to atmosphere on the street. Every time you are stopped in traffic or have the interior fan running the smell is pretty hard to ignore.

[HaydEn]

Air recirculation on, let the cabin filter get rid of the smell!


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[Sydneykid]

Did a bit of intake remodelling. A 90 degeree 2.75in section lines up the pod housing perfectly with the cold air intake throat. The catch can is now finished with AN fittings and the correct oil resistant hose and will run like this, vent to atmosphere with no PCV in track guise.
On the street (legal) though the catch can vent filter will be removed for this line to the TIP and the PCV (which draws on the crankcase line like the stock setup) will be connected to the plenum. The stink from the vent to atmosphere setup was feral. Emissions aside, I don't know how anyone could be happy running vent to atmosphere on the street. Every time you are stopped in traffic or have the interior fan running the smell is pretty hard to ignore.

That looks really neat Sam, nice job. If the smell is that bad then that's not a good sign of engine health, they really shouldn't breath that much (if at all) once they are up to temperature. I think I suggested it previously, but just in case, a leak down test should be on the agenda.

Cheers
Gary

[sambb]

yep standing outside of the car at night with the headlights on at idle, you could visibly see fumes coming out under that corner of the bonnet. I'm starting to look at my other engine sitting on the stand thinking its not far off from getting a run. Whether that be the head, bottom end or both I'm not sure yet. I don't have compressed air so i'll arrange a mate to do the test soon enough.

[simon k]

could visibly see fumes coming out under that corner of the bonnet.

berk... take the oil filler cap off and get your missus to give it a rev

[sambb]

But then again I haven't run a catch can before so wouldnt know if thats normal to see a bit of vapour coming out illuminated by headlights. My older cars all just had a crank breather going out under the car and a filter on the rocker cover when that kind of thing was ok and other cars just had stock PCV systems so I've never noticed that before.
I went down and spoke to my mate. We may do the leak down next week. While we chatted we left the car idling for ages and it actually didnt blow anything at all when I gave it a big rev when I went back out to the car so maybe its not stem seals.
He reckons if the comp test shows that the combustion chamber sealing is ok, that it could still be the oil control rings. He also said the turbo could still definitely be a culprit if it was dry sooty looking on the hot side.
I must admit this does all coincide with changing from a VW 504 spec 5W30 to a non VW 504 10W40 oil which does have me thinking that the oil could have a part to play.

[simon k]

While we chatted we left the car idling for ages and it actually didnt blow anything at all when I gave it a big rev when I went back out to the car so maybe its not stem seals.

Worn valve guide seals will (on pushrod motors at least) only let oil into the chambers when left overnight, the oil leaks down and you get a puff on first start in the morning, not when it's running because the valve is open during the intake stroke. Worn rings or glazed bores will let oil up past the rings at idle

I must admit this does all coincide with changing from a VW 504 spec 5W30 to a non VW 504 10W40 oil which does have me thinking that the oil could have a part to play.

sigh... scientific method says a change like that must be ruled out before you start thinking it's something else! especially going from a 5w to a 10w!

[sambb]

I know but a 10W40 burning more oil than a thinner oil - just doesn't seem likely. But seen as I have no money for a rebuild I do need to rule that one out yeah.