Not So Dry Air Filter!

[simon]

I'm a complete beginner, so i apologize in advance for not knowing many technical terms.

Yesterday I opened the housing on top of the carburetor (where the air filter is -not sure what to call it) and found that the air filter is soaked in what looks like it could be oil. There was quite a bit of an oily liquid inside the entire housing. This seems like a bad thing. I did some reading and found the Positive Crankcase Ventilation System. In that system is a Cyclone Liquid/Vapor Separator. If this weren’t doing it’s job would it cause something like this? Not sure if I’m on the right track – I’m not even sure my engine has this (the Chilton’s guide I have covers 1969-78 for the 850, 124, 128, 131, x1/9, Brava and Super Brava – so often the pictures aren’t even of the engine in my ’78).

* I thought I should include that I have a 1978 spider 1800

[Danno]

you are on the right track. It's coming out of that trap. do some searches and you'll see what you need to do to fix it.

[racydave]

If the hoses are split ( esp the smaller hose [trap to block] ) it can cause this! Mine did, and new hoses fixed it.

[TulsaSpider]

Or too much oil in the crankcase. I wonder how long it has been since it was changed? What happens when you rev the motor with the seperator hose off?? Do you see oil spitting out?

[simon]

Or too much oil in the crankcase. I wonder how long it has been since it was changed? What happens when you rev the motor with the seperator hose off?? Do you see oil spitting out?

I will try this tomorrow and see what happens. How do i locate the seperator hose? I tried looking in the manual i have...and googling... but didn't come up with anything. Sorry to ask, but i don't have access to anyone who could answer this.

[rlux4]

Do Not Be Sorry For Asking!
You have people to ask, right here, so ask away. That's one of the great things about this forum, it's so active (popular) that you can usually get an answer right away.
Have you ordered any repair manuals yet? There is a lot of information on maintenance at Brad Artigue's site:
http://www.artigue.com/fiat.php
Look in the first manual.
Keep us posted.
Ron

[So Cal Mark]

first, check the oil level. If it's a quart overfull oil will get pushed into the air cleaner at 4k rpm. If the level is overfull, get down on your knees in front of the car and look at the bottom of the oil pan. If it's dented or crushed the oil pump is probably broken off. The extra qt of oil is to compensate for the broken pump. That's the poor mans repair method

[mdrburchette]

The oil separator is the thing that looks like it's hanging from the bottom of the intake, above and to the right of the oil filter. There will be a little elbow shaped hose that goes from the block to the left side of the separartor and the big hose goes from the right to the air cleaner. Hope this helps.

[manoa matt]

If you pull off the hose from the air cleaner and look down inside it do you see a small wire thingie? That is the flame trap, if the oily air mixture were ever to catch fire the flame trap prevents it from burning up your air filter, but it also helps to keep some of the oil down.

What kind of carb is that? Holley 5200??

[So Cal Mark]

the flame trap works the opposite way; it prevents a backfire from igniting the oil vapors in the crankcase. If the flame trap has been replaced with steel wool or anything restrictive, expect lots of pressure in the crankcase and oil leaks everywhere

[mdrburchette]

What kind of carb is that? Holley 5200??

It's a Holley 350.

[simon]

The oil separator is the thing that looks like it's hanging from the bottom of the intake, above and to the right of the oil filter. There will be a little elbow shaped hose that goes from the block to the left side of the separartor and the big hose goes from the right to the air cleaner. Hope this helps.

Yes. That helped quite a bit. I'm finding that i'm very much in need of a more accurate shop manual.
thanks for all the suggestions - i'll keep you updated on what i find.