Board logo

Pinto breathing - cap?
FASTdan - 8/6/09 at 07:40 AM

It seems that when you rag our pinto it is blowing oil out of the filler cap breather holes - its a universal item with wire wool stuffed into it. I think this may be because we dont have a breather off the rocker cover?

Question is, will one of the caps with the breather pipe outlet included fit under the bonnet? That is the reason i didnt get that type in the first place. it is located at the back of the engine - modified rocker cover.

Also, can anyone tell me what the dia of the cap needs to be? I forgot to measure it but could do with picking one up tonight on my way home from work.


DarrenW - 8/6/09 at 08:17 AM

2 things to look at.

1. You have modded the rocker cover to moive the filler to the back. Is there a baffle plate on the inside? if not it is poss that the oil that is being flung around inside might have an easy path out. Im not sure if other people have fitted a baffle when moving the filler location, but seem to recall that the std postion has a baffle.

2. Its worth trying a cap with breather hole. I have one piped to catch tank. I know other people with the same. You will probs find one in Halfords for only a few £'s so worth a try.

those are the simple bits. Pinto's seem to breath better when the crankcase and top end are both vented. Or at least mine does and some others ive seen. The only other check to do if that doesnt solve it is oil level. I fell foul (big style) of an incorrect dipstick. All sorts of strange happenings that all came good when oil level was corrected. Modded sumps dont change the oil level you need, it only affects the capacity. Some Pinto's with correct dipstick and tube breath heavily when oil is at top mark, however run sweet when oil level is about halfway. If you want to check the measurements (and i advise you do 1 and 2 first) then do a search for some of my posts about 2 years ago. I cant stress enough though - keep it simple at first. Your problem will probs be easy to solve cheaply.

What crankcase breather arrangement do you have? A pic may be useful.


Mr Whippy - 8/6/09 at 08:34 AM

as above, my pinto didn't have a plate under the filler cap and so at high rpm's the camshaft threw around so much oil the cap would spill out out the vent all over the rocker cover.

I simply welded a small plate inside, about 50mm x 60mm under the cap with enough of a gap at the sides for the oil to be put into the engine and that was the end of that problem


nick205 - 8/6/09 at 08:40 AM

Common issue with a rear filler cap set-up. When you boot it all the oil in the head is going to slosh towards the back (where the drain hole is incidentally) and up the filler neck. A longer filler neck and internal baffle will both help with this as will fitting one of the yellow filler caps with a breather take off (1/2 or 5/8" hose IIRC) plumbed to a catch tank.


FASTdan - 8/6/09 at 09:28 AM

thanks for the responses guys. funnily enough i'd wondered about the oil level, as it is currently topped right up, possibly a bit too high - and this problem has only just started happening. what actually happens, the level is too high to allow oil to drain back to the sump properly?

Also it does not have a baffle so this wont be helping. Whippy - when you say you welded a baffle in, was this actually 'in' the filler neck, or below?

The current breather set up is minimal - simply a pipe connected to the block breather (under carbs) running direct to a catch tank (with breather filter).

Anyone know that dia off the top of their head?


scoop - 8/6/09 at 09:48 AM

Had a similar problem recently so went to Halfords got a yellow cap for £3.99 and will be connecting this and the crank case breather to catch tank as soon as it gets here. My oil filler has been moved to the back of the cover but put on a 90 degree bend to avoid the oil problem.
Steve


Mr Whippy - 8/6/09 at 11:09 AM

quote:
Originally posted by FASTdan
Also it does not have a baffle so this wont be helping. Whippy - when you say you welded a baffle in, was this actually 'in' the filler neck, or below?



below, inside the rocker cover, bent slightly to follow the inner curve of the cover but still leave a gap either side of the plate to let the oil be poured into the engine


DarrenW - 8/6/09 at 12:03 PM

quote:
Originally posted by FASTdan
The current breather set up is minimal - simply a pipe connected to the block breather (under carbs) running direct to a catch tank (with breather filter).




In theory this will work as long as you dont have the original PCV in plave. This valve only opens when connected to the original carbs (low running vacuum opens it). When running to a catch tank you either need to replace it or remove the ball and spring bit. Even if you remove the ball and spring part of the valve you can find the outlet diameter is a bit restrictive. I pulled the full PCV valve and replaced with cortina style trap. Others have replaced with a fitting from Burtons or made their own.


FASTdan - 8/6/09 at 03:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by DarrenW
quote:
Originally posted by FASTdan
The current breather set up is minimal - simply a pipe connected to the block breather (under carbs) running direct to a catch tank (with breather filter).




In theory this will work as long as you dont have the original PCV in plave. This valve only opens when connected to the original carbs (low running vacuum opens it). When running to a catch tank you either need to replace it or remove the ball and spring bit. Even if you remove the ball and spring part of the valve you can find the outlet diameter is a bit restrictive. I pulled the full PCV valve and replaced with cortina style trap. Others have replaced with a fitting from Burtons or made their own.


Yeah we pulled that lot out and made a fitting to suit.

Think I'll drain a bit of oil, plumb a proper cap in and see how it goes. If that doesnt cure it I'll do a baffle.

Thanks for the info guys


goaty - 8/6/09 at 06:16 PM

i had to modify the halfrauds cap with the take off so it would squeeze under the bonnet (inverted the top and sank the internals further in). Nothing a bit of superglue cant help with