I'm getting my bus ready for its MOT it's due in tomorrow, my inlet manifold rubbers were leaking so i changed them out, took the van for a run and she had no power ,idled ok but would not pull very well, so I decided to check my timing and valve gaps, I took the cover off 3+4 and this is what i found, it's like a creamy gunk, I've never seen this before, can anyone help ? I need to get her to the MOT tomorrow, does this mean that either #3 or 4 cylinder is not firing I've checked the sparkplug caps are all on properly, I'm no expert but I get the feeling its not firing on all cylinders
Thats water and oil mixed most probably from condensation forming Clean it out before reffiting Btw you shouldent have any sealent on those gaskets a smear of grease will hold the seal in place and let it bed in properly If you had an air leak before and the carb was set up with the air leak then you need to reset the carb now the leak is cured
Thanks Paradox, the sealant is Hylomar Blue, it's a non setting silicone compuond, I've reset the carbs back to the basic setting, and also adjusted the fast idle cam, the lack of power is whats worrying me most , she used to pull quite well, shes a 1600 twinport AD engine, I've set the timing to 7.5 btdc, I'm not sure about a condensation build up as I have been running the engine regularly over the last week or so, could there be another cause, could there be a air leak between the banana tubes and the engine casing? would this cause this gunk build up ?
Bin the blue stuff you really don't need it and there is far too much on there Check the engine breather system is ok and not blocked
The gunk build up is just condensation dude nothing more If you saw that on a water cooled engine it would suggest a headgasket fault When you say adjusted the fast idle cam what did you do?
Ran the engine until the choke came off then scewed in the pin until it touched the lower part of the cam then a quarter turn more.
ref the hylomar - if you must use it make sure it is only on the outside. In that photo you can clearly see it is on the inside of the cover and in that oil. That is bad - the last thing you want is that crap in your oil blocking the galleys/cooler etc. Get all that crap off there, new gaskets (quality Victor Reinze £1 each?) and either fit them dry or fit them with a nice smear of clean engine oil on the engine side. The oil makes them swell slightly and keeps them moist. mmmmmm...... Make sure the bales are all nice and tight and they won't leak. The condensation builds up if the engine isn't getting up to full operating temperature, short journeys, just running the engine up etc. Take it for a good run once you have the MOT and it will burn all the water off
Thanks for the replys, hylomar blue ditched, so its idle screw just touching the lower part of the cam, then a quarter turn back, will do this in the morning
Update, after everything I checked, set the timing, set the valve gaps, tuned the carb, set the points, removed and cleaned the spark plugs, I took a hunch and decided to change out the HT leads, right away the engine sounded better, seems to me like one of the cylinders wasnt firing, anyway took her for her first run in more than 6 months this morning, initial start up seemed to be sluggish, with a bit of white smoke, but once I got her out on to the open road and opened her up the smoke cleared and she ran fine, thats the first and last time I will SORN my bus, from now on I will run her all year, took her to the garage for her MOT and she's fine except for few minor fixes......result, now I'm happy, roll on the summer ;D...... and thanks to all on TLB who have replied to my posts, without the help and encouragement I have recieved on here from you guys I would have been lost !!
The cigarette paper trick was taught to me over 50 years ago by one of my old mentors......use a ciggie paper in between the points, if you dont have a timing light handy, paper is about a one ane a half thou. thick. Fit it in, and turn the engine by hand, while trying to pull the paper out, when it comes out, the points are just opening. Tony
blue hylomar was developed by rolls royce( should say on the box somewhere) its non setting etc and fine stuff indeed
