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Healey 3000 a large of oil fumes fro rocker cover

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M

MadMike

Freshman Member
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Hi,

Finally got my healey 3000 bj8 back on the road. I used it for a year and off the road for 1 year as I wanted to take the underseal off the underside and paint it. job now done, I decided to update a few items, new distubuter, leads coil and recondition Carbs. Now the car running fine. I also change the old style oil filter for the more user friendly spin oil filer. This is where I discover instance gasket on one of the oil ways. I removed this and put the spin on kit and filter in place. The car was a little heavey on oil 200 miles upto 1/2 litre. Also it has an oil cachment tank. But now the oil fumes can been seen coming out the pipe and the rocker cover cap (when removed) the oil is squrting an inch or so high.

What should I check.

ta

Mike
 
This is a very common older Healey problem. Rebuild usually means a new rocker shaft (oversized) and the bushings in the pedestals reamed for the larger shaft.
 
I could be wrong, but I do not believe that you need an "over-sized" rocker shaft. Only a new standard size rocker-shaft and new bushings.
 
Richard, I was remembering how mine was repaired 30 years ago. It was an alternative that avoided new bushings. You are right about the other alternative.
 
By all means get the rocker shaft sorted out, but do not be surprised if this does not cure the problem.

I have had the head unleaded and also bought a replacement rocker system, I was burning oil at a prodigeous rate before that and I still am - circa 100 miles to the pint.

My bores appear smooth with no steps at the top so I think that the oil scraper rings are shot. Won't know for sure until the engine is pulled next year hopefully.

:cheers:

Bob
 
Thanks for the information, I warmed the car up and took the rocker cover off and all but one had oil just dripping and four rocker had oil squitting 2 inches up in the air while the car was idling. I order a new rocker assembly and hope this has cure the problem. Will know in the next few weeks

thanks guys
Mike
 
I started a thread last night asking for measurements of dipstick lengths for my BJ8 as I had a touring holiday cut short when the Healey started blowing oil out the breather hose. Was quite a mess by the time i returned home and switched to a different car...

Now the diagnostics have been started. Compression was fine, and the block wasn't pressurising - so rings and head gasket look ok. The suspicion is that the dipstick tube is not at its correct length and therefore we've been overfilling the motor with oil, causing it to be blown out.

You mentioned that you've also fitted a modern oil filter kit (as has my car) and this will further reduce the amount of oil that is needed to fill her up.

Could be you have similar issues to me?

regards
Simon
 
CanberraBJ8 said:
Now the diagnostics have been started. Compression was fine, and the block wasn't pressurising - so rings and head gasket look ok. regards
Simon
Click to expand...

My good man, what sort of pressure were you recording in the cylinders, and how did you determine that the crank case was not pressurising, I would like to give that one a try myself.

:cheers:

Bob
 
Bob, i confess I didn't do, and wasn't present when the test was done. I'll ask the guy who did and get back to you.
 
Bob Hughes said:
My good man, what sort of pressure were you recording in the cylinders, and how did you determine that the crank case was not pressurising, I would like to give that one a try myself.

:cheers:

Bob
Click to expand...

You could run a hose from the breather adapter on the block to a pressure gauge in the cockpit, and monitor it as you drive. This is done on aircraft to determine if the seal around the crankshaft at the front of the engine--behind the propeller--has failed.
 
I am very happy to report, that the new rocker assembly made the difference. The oil catchment tank has hardly any oil in. I looking forward for going on a longer drive to see how much less oil she now uses. Thanks for the help guys

Mike
 
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