Oil in the back carb

[tahoe healey]

I found excessive oil in rear carb "air cleaner" on by BJ8. I think it was from the breather hose from the valve cover. I checked for heavey amounts of oil from the rockers but they seem fine (valve cover off).
Probably unrelated but with engine cold(ish) I drove 1/2 block and stopped to work in the carbs and leaked a puddle of oil a foot in diameter from behind the water pump. I've always had leaks there but only a drop or two. Once warm I was back to the small drops. I know there is a sleeve that can be fit but I'm not ready for a full tear down yet or am I?
I value all the great input you all offer, thanks.
Give me a day off and I'm bound to break something.

 

[Dave Russell]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by tahoe healey:
I found excessive oil in rear carb "air cleaner" on by BJ8. I think it was from the breather hose from the valve cover. I checked for heavey amounts of oil from the rockers but they seem fine (valve cover off).

<hr></blockquote>

I think that you are correct about cause & effect. The problem may be in the interpretation of "heavy amounts".

With the engine warm & running at a fast idle, an acceptable amount of oil flow from any one of the rocker arms should be around one drop per every one second or longer. (this is an estimate. It could be up to three drops with hot, thin oil)

A related problem could be that the tube on the spark plug side of the vent tee is plugged, though I doubt it.

I don't know about the front seal problem. It appears to only happen with a partially warm engine which doesn't happen very often. If so, I wouldn't worry about it.

Excess blowby from leaking compression rings could make both problems worse. What does a compression test on your engine show?
D

 

[Alan Alfano]

A BJ8 has power assisted brakes.
Excessive oil on the rear carb could be a leaking power brake booster.
Check your brake fluid level, if it is low, you now know where it's going.

 

[tahoe healey]

That is a good thought but is there oil or brake fluid in the booster? The level seems fine.

 

[Dave Russell]

Brake fluid
D

 

[bob hughes]

I found a similar problem on my BJ7, ( no power assisted brakes). There seems to be a lot of crank case prssure being developed probably due to worn piston rings, I know that we are burning a drop of oil. I have installed ram pipes instead of the air filters and there is no place for the breather tube to fit. It is resting on top of the passenger foot well area ( right hand drive) and there is no significant seepage present after 1 year. Try removing the tube from the filter and resting it some where to monitore the seepage, I suspect, that like mine, it will be insignificant in the short term and will only build up in the long term. However if you are pumping oil:- brace yourself for a rebuild in the near future.

Best of luck Bob
Bob

 

[tahoe healey]

I read an article about using a pcv unit in the line between the valve cover and the carb. It is suppose to reduce the oil leak from the engine but would it also reduce oil into the air cleaner? (refrence: Norman Nock's Austin Healey Tech Talk)