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TR6 Engine Oil Level Question - TR6

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jjbunn

jjbunn

Jedi Knight
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I'm still diagnosing my rough running problem on the '71 TR6, and checking various things.

The engine heats up to red fairly quickly, so I pulled the thermostat/valve (someone here suggested to check it) and it looked in very poor shape - rusty and old. I've got a replacement (amazingly Kragen had the correct one *and* the correct gasket), and will fit it later.

I checked for leaks at the brake booster by detaching the hose and plugging it: that made no difference, so I think the booster must be a good seal. Next I am going to check the mixture needles.

I also checked the level of the engine oil. It's quite plainly new oil, but the level is about 1/2" above the upper dipstick mark. Is this risky?
 
jjbunn said:
I also checked the level of the engine oil. It's quite plainly new oil, but the level is about 1/2" above the upper dipstick mark. Is this risky?
Click to expand...
As Andy says, 1/2" isn't likely to hurt anything. However, I'd be wondering how it got that way. If it happens to be gasoline finding it's way into the crankcase, that could be a Bad Thing.
 
TR3driver said:
jjbunn said:
I also checked the level of the engine oil. It's quite plainly new oil, but the level is about 1/2" above the upper dipstick mark. Is this risky?
Click to expand...
As Andy says, 1/2" isn't likely to hurt anything. However, I'd be wondering how it got that way. If it happens to be gasoline finding it's way into the crankcase, that could be a Bad Thing.
Click to expand...
Good point, Randall, and one I've heard about all too many times. It's a result of a leaky fuel pump allowing fuel to enter the crankcase, and it's not at all uncommon on the TR6, from stories I've heard over the years!
 
Andrew Mace said:
TR3driver said:
jjbunn said:
I also checked the level of the engine oil. It's quite plainly new oil, but the level is about 1/2" above the upper dipstick mark. Is this risky?
Click to expand...
As Andy says, 1/2" isn't likely to hurt anything. However, I'd be wondering how it got that way. If it happens to be gasoline finding it's way into the crankcase, that could be a Bad Thing.
Click to expand...
Good point, Randall, and one I've heard about all too many times. It's a result of a leaky fuel pump allowing fuel to enter the crankcase, and it's not at all uncommon on the TR6, from stories I've heard over the years!
Click to expand...

But ... I don't understand: my fuel pump is in the trunk. Or is there another fuel pump?
 
Someone dumped the full six quarts in based on what some manuals say.

I never liked an overfilled engine. You could buy one of those cheap plastic suction pumps hooked to a drill and siphon some out.
 
If it were me, I would probably just do an oil change.

If the PO didn't know how much to put in, no telling what kind of oil they used.

You would also have a starting point to monitor if indeed the level is rising.
 
I forgot too !
But I'd still smell & feel the oil, JIC something else is finding it's way into the crankcase. I'm a suspicious sort, especially of engines I don't know.
 
The color you see the morning after eating a lot of asparagus. Actually looks like the coolant did not stay where it was suppose to be. Once happened to me, but was a rusty water and oil emulsion.
 
Continuing the quest for smooth idle:

1) Replaced the points (the PO's had some pitting)
2) Regapped the points
3) Blocked off the hose to the brake booster
4) Fitted a new thermostat and gasket

Now I notice that the PO's new fuel pump (a Facet, in the trunk) has an intermittent fault. By wiggling it, I can make it stop pumping. Need to investigate.

But, when the pump is pumping, the engine still idles very roughly, with choke half out. With choke full in I detect an improvement: the engine stumbles along at about 1000rpm without cutting, but only just.

Also the temperature gauge still rises fairly rapidly to the red mark ... maybe after a couple of minutes of idling.

My intuition (ho ho ho) tells me this isn't a carb problem, it's something electrical. Any guesses or speculation warmly received!
 
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