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Anyone got an oil leaky Rover V8?
mr henderson - 9/12/09 at 10:46 AM

I'm working on one at the moment, and I'm remembering a lot of stuff from way back when I used to do a fair bit with these engines.

Anyway, this one is showing the classic symptom of leaking when it's running, and not (virtually) when it's not. Diagnosis is simple, not enough vacuum in the PCV system. You need to keep below atmospheric pressure in the crankcase of older examples of these engines to stop the oil coming out all over the place.

I found the answer is to connect the breather on one of the rocker covers to a good source of vacuum*, after the carburettor, with a PCV valve in the pipe to stop the flow of vacuum when it's too high, at idle for instance, and then opens when the vacuum is lower . One early experiment I didn't use the valve, and the whole engine whistled, loudly too!

* the engine I'm working on had the pipe connected to the aircleaner, nowhere near enough vacuum there. American 4 barrel carbs usually have a dedicated port for the PCV system

Anyway, just thought this would be worth a mention in case anyone thought the leaky RV8 thing was incurable.

02GF74 - 9/12/09 at 11:01 AM

hmmm, inteeresting, not heard that before.

oil pressure on rover V8 is low, 30 psi, but high volume.

if it is leaking, then surely it is the gaskets are bad?

the early ones, 3.5, have breather at the rear of the block and then two take offs from the rocker covers via flame traps - no valves - to each of the twin carbs.

have you checked that the rear breather is clear?

from memory this went to air cleaner - possbily the valve was there? but on mine I have wee K&N style filter as I do not have the origianal air cleaner.

I used to get a poll of oil in the valley next to the distributor - when I fitted SD1 timing cover and new gakset, that fixed it.

where is the oil coming out from?

[Edited on 9/12/09 by 02GF74]

mr henderson - 9/12/09 at 11:17 AM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74

if it is leaking, then surely it is the gaskets are bad?



Damn right, but the gasket situation on these engines isn't brilliant. I've done this on a few of these engines so far.

Naturally I shall be changing the gaskets, well, all the ones I can get to (it's a long story, but basically the engine can't be removed from this car without some major major work.

When Rover bought the engine rights from GM they changed over to SU carbs and designed a breather system that was great for engines in really good condition, but when things age a bit the fix I suggest works really well, especially if it's been fitted with a 4 barrel, but will work on an SU equipped engine too.

scudderfish - 9/12/09 at 11:32 AM

Thanks for that, my engine is somewhat incontinent. The original builder plumbed the rocker cover vents straight into a catch tank so a little bit of plumbing work is on order.

Regards,
Dave

mcerd1 - 9/12/09 at 11:54 AM

isn't it just the BL 'engine bay corrosion prevention system'

Agriv8 - 9/12/09 at 12:58 PM

no its the :-

TVR chassis lubrication system, there is a comon fault with this system it does not do the outriggers !!

Regards

Agriv8

Paul (Notts) - 9/12/09 at 04:32 PM

Exactly the same set up on my RV8 solved the oil leak from the sump and valley gaskets.

Paul

scudderfish - 10/12/09 at 10:13 PM

If you connect one rocker cover via a PCV to the inlet manifold, what do you do with the other rocker cover?

Regards,
Dave

mr henderson - 10/12/09 at 10:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by scudderfish
If you connect one rocker cover via a PCV to the inlet manifold, what do you do with the other rocker cover?

Regards,
Dave


That will become the air inlet, put one of those dinky little K&N style filters on it.


And make sure the PCV is the right way round. Suck one side, and if you've got the manifold side you willl feel the valve closing when you suck harder.

[Edited on 10/12/09 by mr henderson]

scudderfish - 11/12/09 at 09:18 AM

Thanks

mr henderson - 11/12/09 at 09:26 AM

quote:
Originally posted by scudderfish
Thanks


You are very welcome, and be sure to let us know whether there is an improvement when you've made the changes.