Wedge TR8 just imploded

[tdskip]

Lots of smoke, oil pressure warning light came on and everything. Immediately killed the engine but the bottom right side of the engine below the headers is comepltely covered in oil. Left side and top is dry, but bottom right is completely covered and there isn't any oil left in the pan.

I think I'm going to be sick...

(Sorry for the cross post with the TR8 list but I'm kind of distraught right now....)

 

[DNK]

I think there must be something in the air this Month.
That's the filter side. You blow the filter loose?

 

[tdskip]

Hi Don - not sure actually. It looked like it was still there, but it is dark now and my flashlight stinks.

You have no idea how seriously I'm hoping you are right. Better than venting the block with a connecting rod or something similar...

 

[DNK]

The filter might be still therre it just might be popped off a little.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Aw man!

If you didn't hear anything, you may be OK - let's hope, anyway. Oil filter, maybe the pressure switch worked loose?

Waiting to hear...

 

[tdskip]

No bang or clanking, and the engine was still running ok when I shut it down. I'll be able to check here in a bit -I am SOOOOO hoping your theories are right!

 

[Brosky]

Keep us posted....

This is like an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

 

[DNK]

Just found out what your first name is.
What's the story with the "skip"

 

[SCguy]

Keep us updated... I think I won't drive mine for a while.

 

[tdskip]

Well daylight allowed me to confirm that the drivers side (left) of the engine is clean and dry, so what ever happened was confined to the passenger side (right) of the car. From the headers up, including the cylinder head is dry.

The oil filter is still there, intact and tight.

I'm not sure, but from looking at how the oil spray settled on the right side of the engine bay it looks like something was spraying out under pressure and then hit hot parts of the engine and caked or burned off. The area directly next to #5 cylinder is wet with oil but almost looks clean - like it was sprayed.

I wasn't able to see anything sticking out of the block, and she wasn't making an evil noises when this happened.

I just put new oil in her and I'll report back after that has set for a bit to see if she holds on to it.

On the plus side - the bottom and right side of the engine bay won't be rusting any time soon.

 

[Brosky]

Well, if you haven't been able to fix anything yet, I suspect that you will soon be looking a fresh oil coating and expulsion from the defective or leaking area.

 

[tdskip]

Just found out what your first name is.
What's the story with the "skip"

Skip = college nickname from a ex-girlfriends family who, how to put this, wasn't totally enthralled with me. Double entendre is pretty funny actually...

 

[Cheapsnake]

Even though your filter is tight, pull it off and check the gasket. I had one blow out on a Rabbit and it still took a filter wrench to get off. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Tom

 

[swift6]

If your referring to cylinder #5 as the front cylinder on the passenger side of the engine, then the oil pressure sending unit is aimed straight at the exhaust from that cylinder and would spray the inner fender and side of the engine if it let loose. The sending unit is plastic and metal, about 10 bucks at your local NAPA, part number ECH OP6092. Retails for $7.29 here in Colorado.

Was that replaced as part of the rebuild? My original one started leaking after 27 years of service. Right where the metal is crimped around the plastic. It didn't spray, it drizzled.

 

[tdskip]

Hi guys - thanks for the help.

It is starting to look like the oil pressure sending unit is the culprit. The oil I added an hour ago is still in the pan, no more leaks at this point.

Here are some pictures looking up at the right side from below. In the first picture there is clearly a threaded insert that is blank/open. I've never looked at or replaced a sending unit on a Rover V8 before, so not entirely sure where it is or what it looks like other than from the VB catalog. (my wife 'stored' my TR8 shop manual and I can't find it right now)

 

[swift6]

The pressure sending unit is on the oil pump, which is external, opposite (above) the spin on oil filter. Right underneath the alternator.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

The pressure sending unit is on the oil pump, which is external, opposite (above) the spin on oil filter. Right underneath the alternator.

The pressure sending unit is on the oil pump, which is external, opposite (above) the spin on oil filter. Right underneath the alternator.

Well, I thought the same, but just learned something different. Engines with "B" suffix had a different timing cover to incorporate an oil cooler. Oil pressure sending unit was relocated to about where that nice, clean threaded hole is!

Check p. 15 here: Rover V8

I'm confused now (even more than I normally am!)

 

[tdskip]

The pressure sending unit is on the oil pump, which is external, opposite (above) the spin on oil filter. Right underneath the alternator.

Thanks Shawn - so I checked and the send is still there and feels firmly attached, but it is hard to tell.

When the senders go what signs or visual indicators do they provide?

 

[tdskip]

Well, if you haven't been able to fix anything yet, I suspect that you will soon be looking a fresh oil coating and expulsion from the defective or leaking area.

Hi Paul - well nothing like a problem to sharpen the mind. Now that I think about it that side of the engine and subframe always had more dirt/oil needing to be cleaned up. There is such a mess there now it is really hard to tell where the leak is but I think whatever did this had been doing it for some time and last night it simply failed in a big way.

 

[DNK]

Tom, piece of cake. I just removed mine last week to test the oil pressure. You can struggle with a set of pliers or get a temp sender socket(1 1/16) Makes it easy.
Change it anyway. Should have done mine when I went to NAPA to buy the socket.