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Twin Cam engine question

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That down-tube carries the oil from the cam troughs back into the sump... it's problematic. I've always been liberal with RTV on both ends of it when assembling an engine, seen plenty of 'em leak. If you clean it well and get it (and surrounding area) clean/dry, you MAY slow it down some by smearing RTV around the base... a "stop-gap" fix at best but it may hold until you can R&R the head, down the road.
 
RTV: "Room Temperature Vulcanizing" gasket goop... Permatex product.

I don't think overfilling the oil (unless it's REALLY overfilled!) will cause this. It's usually a poor or deteriorated seal/seat at that down-tube. And trust me: there is NO way to deform a new one to get it in place without it rupturing or damaging it. I've tried... more than once.

It shouldn't be under galley oil pressure, only what's in the crank-case. There's a crank-case vent hole at the back of the head, a tube fitted from it to the induction air-box. Be sure that is clear/clean as well.
 
Thanks for that.
I replaced the tube from head to air box recently so I know that is OK.
Ah well . Loading car onto trailer and off soon. More anon.
 
Just HAVE FUN!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 
curtis said:
... and it's only the two of us!
The oil is a bit over filled at present ...
Click to expand...

Not quite - I'm still lurking in the shadows.

Re the overfilling - A few years ago I noticed that these engines seemed to have a variety of dipsticks with different dimensions. I asked forum users (this was on the Elan forum) to measure their dipstick tubes and the sticks (from seating surface to 'full' mark) and we discovered iirc two tube lengths and three stick lengths. Some combinations were off by enough to underfill by about 1.5 quarts and I suppose some could have worked the other way.

The message was to refill after an oil change using the prescribed quantity of oil and then scribe the stick where needed.

Just thought I'd mention it & head back into the shadows.
 
Thanks, John. That's been my experience, too. And the method for remedy.

Been a while since I was 'over there' inna Elan forum. Those guys are a bit "stiff" fer my taste. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif
 
So it all depends on the size of your stick !

Nothing changes.
Right, I really am off on the rallye now.
 
DrEntropy said:
Thanks, John. That's been my experience, too. And the method for remedy.
Click to expand...

Same here.
My engine builder (who has 35 years of TC racing exp.) is recommending I overfill the oil by about a quart to prevent starvation on hard cornering (even with added baffles in the sump) when I get it back

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Been a while since I was 'over there' inna Elan forum. Those guys are a bit "stiff" fer my taste. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif [/QUOTE]

Are you talking lotuselan.net?
 
uh, I was.

Don't misinterpret, Morgan: I was there before here... I just find this a less formal place: I like that. I even ~know~ a few of the peeps over there, some for over 20 years.
 
DrEntropy said:
uh, I was.

Don't misinterpret, Morgan: I was there before here... I just find this a less formal place: I like that. I even ~know~ a few of the peeps over there, some for over 20 years.
Click to expand...

Don't think I am misinterpreting, I have pretty much came to a similar conclusion. Been on that forum since its inception (with some time off in between) and I don't feel like I know anything about the people on the forum. In the past year I have gone back and have found that it is pretty hard to get a rise out of anyone. I am not really interested in talking about fixing things all the time either, it almost seems like no one there ever drives their cars

Unfortunately, there is not enough Lotus content here.
I find myself mostly on Elisetalk
 
Same conclusion. Mebbe we can troll a few of the ones I know over here.

I appreciate "serious" but they're s'posed to be ~FUN~ serious!

And BTW: You can ask about and comment on Elans ~anytime~ and I'll see it. I've had 'em down to component level and back, in the dozens over my last 37 years. Some were my own, some were friends' cars some were clients. Junxtaposed hobby (LBC's) and profession (photojournalist) in the late '70's/early '80's.


...I'm off to troll one of 'em now... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
I noticed that when I first had my Elan,
back in the early/mid '80's,that the Lotus clubs
seemed to bid fairly low-key,with the emphesis on
having fun.Overall,they seem to be a more serious
group.I wonder if this comes from the cars becoming
worth more?
Owners need to remember that if you want to
attract new owners,you need to show them that you
are the kind of group that they'ed like be associated
with.

- Doug
 
Hmm... they're worth more now?!? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif

I have grand respect for a couple of the guys on the Elan forum, they're true genius-level engineers. But the over-all is kinda mundane. I like the relatively fast interaction here, feel I can both contribute to more than one marque's info base and have fun too. Much higher level of comradere here. It takes both, IMO, for a 'forum' to be interesting.
 
Back to Twin Cams again for a moment !!
Had a great rally. The T/C was impeccable. less so the driver and navigator.Some very quick roads through the forests and countryside. Not closed to traffic.
Came away with a cup, a jacket and a tee shirt and the car in one piece.
Will have a think on the various ideas put forward and let you know what happens.
 
Congrats, Curtis!!!

Meanwhile I'm trying to figure how to get a photo of that drain-tube bodge... MIRRORS may need to be involved. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
Have subsequently competed in another rallye and came 4th. The oil drips are not too much and I am happy to live with it. Still loving the car.
 
Great news! Keep goin'!! It'll take a long time for that leak to become a "critical" problem. You can add it to the list of things to deal with when/if you decide to do head work or ~need~ to replace something else.
 
Exactly. I have never had a car that was "dry".
The Astons always leaked. The old story, when it stops dripping it's time to top the oil up !
 
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