Ben, I have an article of faith about motors,
and this is as good a time as any to share it.
As always, your mileage may vary, and it's
subject to the exigencies of life on earth.
If the head on your motor is tired, the rings
and bottom end are tired, too. Engines wear
in and grow old as a system - and each part
of the system affects all the other parts.
If you freshen the head on that motor, chances
are that nice tight new head will start sucking oil
past the rings that did not previously leak much.
If you do the rings and bearings without freshening
the head, the valve guides will leak. Any of the above
will cause seals and etc to start leaking like the
Titanic all over the motor.
It's generally easier to take the whole thing
down and redo it from top to bottom once
than to chase down each component as
it departs.
My tuppence,
JZ
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ben Willis [SMTP:ben.willis@bt-sys.bt.co.uk]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 1998 3:37 PM
> To: 'spridgets@autox.team.net'
> Subject: Engine problem
>
> Hello List,
>
> I am new to the world of Midgets with a 1973 MKIII 1275 in Blaze. The
> car has had a recent body restoration and looks lovely and hopefully
> will stay that way for a while despite the English weather.
>
> The engine however is not so happy and smokes pretty bad, getting
> through around a litre of oil every hundred miles or so. Sounds okay
> (well a bit clattery) and goes well though.
>
> I guess it is the valve guides or rings/bores. I plan to take the head
> off this weekend and take a look, but am not quite sure what to look
> for. What usually goes first in these engines? Any gotchas or tests I
> can do to help me work out what's up?
>
> Any ideas welcomed, so I can sort it out and go driving instead. At
> last
> we have some sun here (for only about the 4th day this summer) and I
> don't want to be stuck in the garage :(
>
> Thanks a lot,
> Ben
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