steve anning Posted November 4, 2002 Share Posted November 4, 2002 Guy's Can you offer any advise on this one for me Caterham 7 Classis Crossflow 1700 ford 1989 Coming back from L& Brighton I noticed smoke coming from under the bonnet, I've noticed it for months be it seemed to be getting worse so I thought I better have a look, since I've had her ,18 months she's used a bit of oil, not a lot but enough for me to check it every week or so, anyway it appears that the smoke is coming from the rocker cover cap There doesn't apprear to be any access smoke coming from the Exhaust and the engine it self sound fine what do you think ? Guy's Can you advise when you get a min steve Colonel Bogie all done in the best possible taste.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe 90 Posted November 4, 2002 Share Posted November 4, 2002 It's quite common for XFlows to become smokey, as the Zetec boys are only too happy to point out. It's most likely to be "blow-by" because the piston rings are past their best. If the engine still produces good power and the oil consumption is reasonable, you can keep driving it. With a bit of luck you could keep going for quite a while, but eventually it will be rebore time. 99,000 miles so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted November 4, 2002 Share Posted November 4, 2002 Sounds like pistons/rings. Conduct a copression check to verify. C7 PWT X-Flow all Steel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New7er Posted November 4, 2002 Share Posted November 4, 2002 Steve, Interestingly enough my similar aged Super Sprint started the same smoking this weekend. I noticed that it stops once the engine is really hot (no oil left!) and is worse after the car has not been driven for a while. Oil pressure is still good and there are no disturbing rattles or other noises to speak of. I now have to decide whether a winter rebuild is due, cos there's no point doing just the rings, or run it until the bitter end and get at least another season out of it. Its a bit disconcerting sitting at the traffic lights with smoke emanating from the bonnet grills though - must make sure that extingusher is still OK! Suspect another season is most likely as I wanted to do the suspension this winter. New7er Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New7er Posted November 4, 2002 Share Posted November 4, 2002 Steve, Interestingly enough my similar aged Super Sprint started the same smoking this weekend. I noticed that it stops once the engine is really hot (no oil left!) and is worse after the car has not been driven for a while. Oil pressure is still good and there are no disturbing rattles or other noises to speak of. I now have to decide whether a winter rebuild is due, cos there's no point doing just the rings, or run it until the bitter end and get at least another season out of it. Its a bit disconcerting sitting at the traffic lights with smoke emanating from the bonnet grills though - must make sure that extingusher is still OK! Suspect another season is most likely as I wanted to do the suspension this winter. New7er Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe 90 Posted November 4, 2002 Share Posted November 4, 2002 Steve, I can't recommend any additives as I haven't used any. I was told that synthetic oils don't produce as much smoke when they burn, and they do have very low wear rates, so that might make you feel better. A compression check might be a good idea, because if one cylinder is bad then you may have a broken ring. Do you want to come round one evening/weekend to check it out? 99,000 miles so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve anning Posted November 5, 2002 Author Share Posted November 5, 2002 Thanks Oliver, I'd like to take you up on that offer, I must confess I have a worry that I just might have a broken ring and the thought of the ring gouging a grove in to the cylinder doesn’t bare thinking about, I can make to any evening from 4.30 onwards I only live in High Wycombe so that’s no problem, the sooner the better for me steve Colonel Bogie all done in the best possible taste.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New7er Posted November 5, 2002 Share Posted November 5, 2002 Guys, Please post the result and let me know what the verdict was in case I have the same issue. Many thanks New7er Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Locust Posted November 5, 2002 Share Posted November 5, 2002 You say it's smoking under the bonnet 🤔 As distinct from the exhaust 🤔 Is it a leaking rocker cover gasket running oil onto the exhaust manifold 🤔 Look for simple things first before it gets into upgrade/rebuild territory 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe 90 Posted November 5, 2002 Share Posted November 5, 2002 Steve, I got a bounce trying to email you. Can you email me with your phone number and/or prefered email address? How about thursday evening? Oliver 99,000 miles so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted November 5, 2002 Share Posted November 5, 2002 This is a long shot but check it isn't a blocked breather causing the c-case to pressurise, which will cause it to blow oil from all sorts of orifices. It's always worth a shot with the cheap ones first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Sewell Posted November 6, 2002 Share Posted November 6, 2002 Or in my case (1995 supersprint) I do not have a crankcase breather, so it can only breathe through the filler cap. Has done this since day one and I stopped worrying after two years. Low tech luddite - xflow and proud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve anning Posted November 6, 2002 Author Share Posted November 6, 2002 oliver, thanks, have just sent you a email 8.46am 6/11 asking for address etc, hope you get it ok steve Colonel Bogie all done in the best possible taste.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashaughnessy Posted November 7, 2002 Share Posted November 7, 2002 They all do that. Its a question of "how much" though. The oil filler cap has a vent built in to allow for breathing, and that's where it will come from if you don't have a separate breather. The older they get, the more they will breathe. Eventually, you will lose a lot of power this way and will need a rebuild, but breathing isn't a sign of imminent failure, it is just the way they are. How many miles has it done? Is it in standard tune with the standard pistons? Some people will say they only last 20,000 miles before needing a rebuild, others have engine that have gone for 45,000 before a rebuild. (Mine's just been rebuilt after 45,000 miles, but it was breathing very heavily indeed). Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve anning Posted November 8, 2002 Author Share Posted November 8, 2002 Thanks for that Anthony, no she's not bad and the preformance is good so maybe it's the norm , I see your from Leeds, how much did the rebuild cost and were did you get it done, Oliver, got your message on my mobile will try to ring you later Colonel Bogie all done in the best possible taste.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puremalt Posted November 8, 2002 Share Posted November 8, 2002 Yes mine does that too, it was rebuilt only 3000 miles ago. Yes it also is a little better on synthetic oil, I hadn't thought about it until now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve anning Posted November 11, 2002 Author Share Posted November 11, 2002 puremalt how much did the rebuild cost, what did they replace ? were did you get it done , did they do a good job, how long did it take them to do. as you may have guessed, I'm thinking of getting it done. My mileage is 18,000 for a 1989 I thought being over 12yrs old maybe this wasn’t the true mileage, but if there all a bit like it maybe it is ! Colonel Bogie all done in the best possible taste.. Edited by - steve anning on 11 Nov 2002 09:31:53 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashaughnessy Posted November 11, 2002 Share Posted November 11, 2002 Steve, I got my engine rebuilt by Dave Brooks Engines of Crewe, so far its cost me about £3500. Can't say anything about the performance yet as it's only just started running. Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve anning Posted November 13, 2002 Author Share Posted November 13, 2002 Thanks for you time Oliver, I rang Roger King this morning and booked her in for a general check and tune up, I told him about the compression reads we got, after a pause his comments were, “your engine is in a bad way”, then he went on to say that you need to have the throttle full open to get a true reading, the reading should be in the 200’s. Anyway, she’s booked in for the 21/11 so I’ll let you know the outcome Hope to see you at the next Penn meet if not before steve Colonel Bogie all done in the best possible taste.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Sewell Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 Out of curiosity, what compression readings did you get. I would have thought that a reading above 170psi would indicate other problems as that is about 11atm. And providing that they are even - no cylinders significantly below the others - that the engine should be OK. Low tech luddite - xflow and proud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve anning Posted November 13, 2002 Author Share Posted November 13, 2002 Graham The readings we were getting were from the front of the engine working to the back 1st 105, 2nd 85, 3rd 75, 4th 85 (hence the call to Roger King) tested one at a time with all remaing plugs in and turning the engine over by the starter motor Colonel Bogie all done in the best possible taste.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Griffiths Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 Steve good luck with you visit to Roger King, will be interested to know the outcome. See you @ Penn Peter 7 Rosina C7 PRG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve anning Posted November 13, 2002 Author Share Posted November 13, 2002 Will do peter Couple of Christmas wishing site for you to brouse at http://www.classic-car-accessories.co.uk/acatalog/ http://www.completeautomobilist.co.uk/online/index.htm They do some Great Horns say no more (ha,ha) 😬 Colonel Bogie all done in the best possible taste.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Sewell Posted November 13, 2002 Share Posted November 13, 2002 Steve - sounds like a possible method problem... compression tests should be carried out hot with all plugs out so the starter motor is only trying to get compression on the one cylinder. The slower the starter motor the lower the compression due to the overlap on the cam timing. Also ensure that the top of the compression tool is securely screwed into the spark plug hole as this was a cause on a minor panic for me a couple of years ago. In the time taken to get back to the ignition key, the tool had partially unscrewed itself. Finally use the starter motor for the same number of compressions (I normally count 10 coughs). If you are lucky, this may remove the need for the visit - otherwise good luck. Low tech luddite - xflow and proud! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve anning Posted November 13, 2002 Author Share Posted November 13, 2002 Thanks for that Graham, I will let you know what the outcome is on this topic site after my visit, I will past this info on to Oliver cheers Colonel Bogie all done in the best possible taste.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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