Plus 2 oil problem

[Nick Godfrey]

Hi all,

Last time I drove my Elan +2, which has a run in fully rebuilt engine, it felt as it it was about to stop, then burst into life, but smelt of buring oil. It drove perfectly though after.

Today, I started her up without any problem. Drove for about 10 mins and when I stopped, there was an amount of fresh engine oil (not vapour) that had come out of the oil filler cap. This explains the buring oil smell as most of it went over the exhaust - nice

I checked the oil once the car had stood for 20-30 mins and noticed that it is overfilled by about 1/4" above max on the dipstick. Could this be the cause of the oil coming out of the cap ? The head breather is clear. The car has a high pressure oil pump.

What if any damage could this have caused ? My initial thoughts are to simply change the oil+filter and refill to the correct max level ?

How sensitive are the twin cams to max oil levels ?

Any comments on the above would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks,

Nick.

[elans3]

Hi Nick. twincams are very sensitive to overfilling of oil. Even as standard, with a newly built engine they tend to build up too much pressure in the cam cover, and often push the air they can't cope with out of the breather pipe to the airbox. So overfilling doesn't help.
You are definitely not helping matters having a HP oil pump.
It's a common mistake to fit one, they really don't need it unless they're being used in the most demanding of competition.
All they do is find the weakest point in your engine gaskets and eventually leak like the Torrey Canyon.
The old, (Spalding based) Vegantune used to do a nice cast breather elbow to fit to the front of your cam cover in the 60's and 70's, particularly for twincams in competition. We just used to run a length of hose from this to a catch tank on the inner wing. It cut out a lot of mess in your airbox, and a lot of leaking rocker cover gaskets.
I used one on several Escort TC's over the years, and now have one fitted to my S3. I too once made the mistake of fitting a h/p oil pump, and all I got were leaks. soon went back to a standard pump, and have never had a problem.
I would say if you've got a 150 bhp and above competition steel engine that revs really high and is at those high revs for long periods, then I'd use one, but not for anything less.
Hope that helps,
ElanS3

[gordonlund]

Nick,

Have a look at the seal ring under the filler cap, !/8" (3mm) thk neoprene makes for a good seal, I cut mine out from a sheet of white neoprene rubber and has been in place for nearly 20 years without leaking. Prior to this, the original seal leaked badly. The twink exhaust cam box runs nearly full of oil most of the time, your high pressure pump will compound the problem but as long as the seals and cam cover gaskets are intact, should not be a problem.

Oil levels are not critical but major overfilling could flood the rear seal and put oil onto the flywheel with possibility of clutch problems. Otherwise oil leaks could get worse. Not many twinks are oil tight. Mine are after rebuilds but after 30-40 k miles will generally find a leak path from somewhere!

[1964 S1]

I agree with S3, I'd also check the gasket on your filler cap. After you've driven the car, check the leak with the bonnet open, rev the car some sitting still, does the oil drool out?
You can drain out just a little oil and stick the plug back in, no need for filter replacement.

[Nick Godfrey]

Thanks Gents .

I will change the oil and try a thicker seal.

Many Thanks,

Nick

[chrishewett]

I have a high pressure oil pump fitted to my rebuilt twincam. This was recommended by the engine man. The engine is now well run in and well used. I have no oil leaks at all anywhere.
I just post this as a matter of fact.
Chris

[hatman]

Not many twinks are oil tight. Mine are after rebuilds but after 30-40 k miles will generally find a leak path from somewhere!

Welcome (back?) to the forum Gordon. Really sorry to hear what happened to Custard - what was the end story? Did you rebuild? Replace? Settle for life with Rhubarb alone?

[gordonlund]

Sorry to say batman that my Sprint fhc (custard) was so badly damaged after being in colision with the German artic that I didn't want to engage in a rebuild which would never have resulted in the same car. It went to salvage and eventual auction. I believe it now resides somewhere in the west country where I think it is being rebuilt in the modern idium. ie non std drivetrain & suspension (each to his own). Meanwhile, Rhubarb is back. My old +2 I bought back off the guy who I sold it too. A good polish, a new set of chrome wheels from Stoneleigh, new boots and a new front bumber to finish off. (I always was annoyed with the old slightly bent bumper which was on the car when I bought it in 1981. I will post a pic when I eventually find out how to do it. See you all at Donington in March with the +2 and a friends gorgeous Pistachio over white Sprint dhc on my book stand. Lotus Elan RESTORATION GUIDE Author Gordon Lund, Published by Brooklands Books.

[dougweall]

Welcome (back?) to the forum Gordon. Really sorry to hear what happened to Custard - what was the end story? Did you rebuild? Replace? Settle for life with Rhubarb alone?

Hi Gordon,

I often wondered about Custard as well. I think I purchased one of your books just before the fateful day. Glad to hear you are fit, well and still in the Lotus fold, also I am grateful to your words on the wiring behind the dashboard on the window switches in your book.

Regards,

Doug.

P.S. sorry it's off subject.