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66 Sprite oil leak

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M

MCS

Jedi Warrior
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Hello,

Can someone answer my oil leak concern?
Details:1966 AH Sprite/ 1098cc engine / no emissions on car.

I noticed today that oil is dripping out of the tappet chest cover elbow. I just got the engine running after a 24 year rest. The elbow faces down and I have the elbow tappet cover on the back engine cavity. A picture I found looks like the cover should be on the front cavity. I was thinking that either there is some type of valve on the cover or should the elbow face up. I wonder if I need to move the elbow cover to the front of the engine.Hard to believe but I have owed this car for 30 years and I am only 42

Thanks Phil
Carlisle, Canada
 
Yes- the oil-seperator should be on the front location and face "up" and be hooked to the PCV valve which is on your intake manifold or your rear main seal will leak badly.
Bill
 
Thanks for the info.
When I look at pictures in my manuals, this model did not have a PVC valve ontop of the manifold. The rocker cover has a vent which is piped to the air cleaner. The tappet cover with elbow has nothing attached to it, so not sure if there should be a separator. If yes where would I attach it. I have lots of pictures but nothing shows the tappet cavity covers.
Thanks
Phil
 
I think, there should be an extension on the elbow to direct the excess oil to the pavement or where it can be blown across the bottom of the car to prevent rust.

Really. Oil from there means you have blow by and need to install new rings after the appropiate machine work of course. Hay, anything that is 24 years old just ain't going to be right, maybe run but not right.

Oh yea elbow cover on front cavity but then not sure it really makes any difference at all.
 
Your car is probably Canadian so easily could have a "road-tube" and not the PCV (I THINK that all US 1098's had PCV?) and and then it would just ramp "up" and then the connector tube would go down and minimize the oil outflow, but if you hooked-up the PCV valve system you would be amazed at how much oil your car DOESN'T lose!(the "V" means vacuum and it sucks some of the leaking oil back into the engine and keeps it off of the driveway!)
Bill
 
Thanks for the replies. Yes after more research it looks like this car had the down pipe. I have a spare motor stored, it is a 948cc, I think it has the PVC system. I will dig it out this week. If it does I will convert it, if not I am going to order the parts from Victoria British. The motor was completely rebuilt 25 years ago, new pistons etc, I sure hope the oil dripping out of the elbow is not because the engine needs to be rebuilt again. I have a compression gauge; maybe I had better check the compression
Thanks again
Phil
 
Good idea to check compression.

Check with Tony on prices for VB or Moss, he does well by us.
 
Ok I have looked through my engines. I have a 1275 with no side tappet cover and a 948 with the tappet cover and elbow with vent tube. So now I need to order some parts. I have found all the parts except for the side tappet cover with the oil separator. (Victoria British) Anybody have a side tappet cover with separator or know of an online store that would have one.
Thanks Phil
 
I have TWO side cover plates with separator cans nice and clean and Cad II plated (dull silver). Nice and clean never used and with a top cap with 1/4 f. mpt threads aded for a small pipe nipple.

You can have one or both for postage to Canada plus maybe 3.00 for the beer fund.

oneandoutgo (at) msn (dot) com
 
Hi Jerry

Sounds great, if you want to get rid of both I would be happy to take them. I am setup for paypal, would that work for you.
Let me know,or I can call you and arrange another way to pay you
Thanks Phil
 
The forum response time and help is fantastic. Jerry sent me a breather can, which got me changing over to a closed circuit crankcase. I have one more question. I purchased a new breather valve, but the bracket to hold the valve is not available. Could somebody please tell me where and how the valve is attached? And also give me the dimensions so I can make one.
Thanks Phil
 
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