WtF is up with my engine?

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon May 14, 2007 8:19 am

Hey all,

I need some advice...

My engine was very recently fully done over...

Not bored, etc.

It's been running perfectly, but...

This morning as I slowed coming up to the back of a traffic queue, I had my oil light come on for a few seconds.

...so I immediately pulled over, and went to go look.

This was perhaps 3 km's from my house, so it wasn't fully warm yet, but it had churned up the oil enough to stop a clear level reading.

I had a look anyways, and it was above the line.

I know for a fact I was well within the oil level range.

I got back in and the light had gone off. It only stayed for a few seconds.

A few km's I pulled over just to check, as I was nervous about it...

I had smelt something beforehand, but having the engine behind me obviously puts that to shame. I'm willing to bet it was the heap in front of me.

Anyways, when I pulled over, there was some yellowy slightly hardened, and bubbled gunk that had squeezed out between the fuel pump spacer, and carb' manifold.

I also spotted a little oil where the breather pipe enters the tinware.

There was also a little oil on the rear valance. I cleaned the bus last night, so this was spotless beforehand.

WtF is going on?

I'll call my mate who did the work after I check it out fully tonight, but I'm hesitant to drive Home if it's an issue.

Thanks, N.

Post by **Tony Z** » Mon May 14, 2007 11:27 am

check your idle speed, you may just be idling too low. The foamy stuff is prob water in your oil that can be burned off during a proper run on the highway

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon May 14, 2007 11:38 am

Seems to be idling alright, in fact is sounds higher than before the engine went it.

I'll ask my father to help me check it over tonight.

I've been driving the bus for nearly 2 weeks since it's fix-up, and this is the first time the oil light has come on.

Thanks, N.

Post by **Tony Z** » Mon May 14, 2007 12:58 pm

what oil are you using??

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon May 14, 2007 1:38 pm

Erm...I'll check...it's Helix something or other.

My mate uses it in all his old engines, and he runs old stuff.

I use Dello 400 in my bus and bug usually.

N.

Post by **calooker** » Mon May 14, 2007 2:06 pm

The oil light should not come on, several problems needs to be looked at, if the motor is a new rebuild take it back let the person who built it let him check it out, it could be something as simple as a oil pressure sender unit playing up, or a badly matched oil pump, or a combonation of issues, if the oil light comes on when the motor is cold, I would make sure I get it back ASAP. The oil will be at it's highest pressure when it's cold. Get the builder do a oil pressure test, he needs to go thru a process of elimination to resolve it.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon May 14, 2007 2:33 pm

Nothing was recon'd...it's the same block, the same pump, the same blah blah blah...

Everything was taken apart, checked and cleaned, new seals, pushrod tubes, tin, etc.

I'll give him a call now.

Thanks, N.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon May 14, 2007 2:46 pm

Just spoke to my mate...

Says the yellowy crap is a sealant.

WtF did it ooze out today?

I'm taking the bus to him this weekend to have checked out. I'll monitor it, and cruise gently Home, and stash it away for the rest of the week.

Thanks all, N.

Post by **IMPI** » Mon May 14, 2007 7:32 pm

AGAIN: Check the sender! if it was replaced there is your problem.
Read the manual It says At idle the light may come on but shouldnt be cause for worry as long as it doesnt stay on.
Please dont worry it to death.
Armand

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon May 14, 2007 7:59 pm

OK, had a look tonight...

The stuff on the valance does not appear to be oil.

Whatever it is, it appeared sometime between last night and this morning, and has now dried...so we can confirm it's NOT oil.

The sealant is also hard, so I'll be cleaning that and keeping an eye on it.

I did not have the oil light give me the finger on the way Home, so I'll drive it again tomorrow and see if it's a happy bus again.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

Cheers, N.

hitlers revenge · Post by **hitlers revenge** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:07 pm

Merlin, Hows your bus? Is it OK now.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:40 pm

Seems alright thanks.

I had no light on the way to work, and we checked it out last night.

I'm keeping an eye on it, and the oil, gaskets, etc.

Will see how it it's going at the end of the week.

Thanks, N.

forcecooled · Post by **forcecooled** » Thu May 17, 2007 9:00 am

Anybody thought it may be an intermitent electrical problem?

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:16 am

I haven't had the issue again Bill, so I'll let it go.

If it happens again then it gets checked.

Thanks, N.