Under the rocker

[That Ozzy Guy]

It's Sunday and that usually means play with the car day.

Today I took the rocker cover off to inspect the gasket as it was leaking some oil in a couple of corners. First thing I noticed was the bolts were loose (the handiwork of the gasket over time) and thought 'ok, the oil leak could be due to the loose bolts'.

Having a look at the gasket reinforced my initial thoughts about the bolts as it was still rubbery and not really worn out besides one corner where there was no leak anyway.

After having a good look around and taking some pics I put the rocker back and tightened them a little. I guess I'll know next week (I only drive my car on weekends) if the leak is actually due to loose bolts.

[That Ozzy Guy]

Under my battery. I think I'm going to treat this before it gets worse. There isn't any rust but surface rust is evident. I've also got some surface rust under the spare tyre so I'll get them in one go one of these weekends.

[That Ozzy Guy]

The Pipercross breather I just fitted. Threw out the hose and plugged the adaptor on the airbox.

[That Ozzy Guy]

Finally, I have a question. What is this lever type thing?

Thanks

[Rob]

It's the fuel pump actualtion lever. The offset thing on the front of the camshaft swings it back and forth as the engine runs, which makes the fuel pump work.

[That Ozzy Guy]

I see. Thanks Rob.:classic:

[biker]

I have wacked a breather on my rocker as well but have now noticed some fumes in the car.

Even though this sucks air into the engine, someone has mentioned before that the thing actually exhausts air as well hence the fumes.

[Alfadog]

I knew that !!!!!!!

Oh I do feel proud. I found out what it was when I took my fuel pump off

[Mr Camouflage]

Originally posted by biker

I have wacked a breather on my rocker as well but have now noticed some fumes in the car.

Even though this sucks air into the engine, someone has mentioned before that the thing actually exhausts air as well hence the fumes.

Its actually designed to suck air out of the engine into the air filter case, through the carbs, into the combustion chamber where the nasty crank case gasses are burned.

When you disconnect it and put on a breather the nasty gasses build up in the crank case and contaminate your oil, and leak out of the breather into the air where you can breathe them in.

I advise you to put the pipe back on.

Use a braded pipe if you still want it to look pretty.

[Mr Camouflage]

P.S Your compliance plate is in a weird spot.

Mine is forward of the strut tower, and not on its side like yours.

Did you move it or was it always there? What year car is it.

Mines a 72. Pics in my gallery

[That Ozzy Guy]

Thanks Mr C. I'll look inot it. But this problem will come up again when I replace the stock air box with a couple of aftermarket air filters. What do I do then?

My compliance plate has always been there, as far as I know. It's a '72 model.

[Rob]

Have to disagree with Mr C...

The fumes don't have to be sucked out, they will happily find their own way out through any breather holes you provide them, and they won't contaminate your oil as the fumes are mostly just oil vapour, unless you engine is clapped out.

The reason the pipe is attached to the air filter housing is to reduce emmisions. By running the crankcase fumes through the engine you are not releasing as much hydrocarbon into the air. The downside to this is that running crankcase fumes though an engine is not good for performance as the oil vapour in the fumes increase the risk of detonation (I'm not sure why this is but maybe it's a diesel - type effect?)

If you don't beleive me, take a look at almost any race car. The setup you will likely see is the breather hoses just attached to a catch can. The oil vapour just accumulates in the catch can and settles as oil. The downside to this is the catch can must be open to the atmosphere to work, so those nasty hydrocarbons are still being released, which is illegal for a road car.

The best solution is to make an oil-air separator:

http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&A=0338