A Fine Mist Spewed

[fiasco]

I was adjusting my carb today to try to even out a rough idle and dying at stop lights. I know I need a more professional approach to the problem, but until then I adjusted the mix a little leaner and increased the idle a bit. So while I was working I thought, "I wonder if a really dirty air filter will restrict the flow of air and cause rough idle." (ordered a new one - picking up tomorrow). So to test my theory, I took the air cleaner out, and started it up, and to my surprise a fine mist began spewing from the little nipple in the air filter holder.

You can see the mist in this pic.


Here's a closer-up view.


The mist was warm, but not hot, and smelled like fuel, though I don't know if that's because it was fuel, or if it is just because it was spewing out from a feul-ish place. It had the look of steam - but again, not hot. I sure would like to know what that nipple is and what the mist was that was spewing out of it, and why that particular mist would spew from that place.

BTW - it did run smoother with the air filter out.

-- se

[mdrburchette]

That's from your crankcase. Look under the air cleaner to see the hose that goes to the block.

[TulsaSpider]

Yea it's the large hose that connects on the underside of the air cleaner base plate, the vapor separator.

[lanciahf]

Looks like excessive crankcase blow by. Your piston rings are probably pretty worn. You should do a compression check and see what the readings are. Having said that I used to have an X1/9 that had a lot of blow by, motor was tired but it continued to run for a long time. So even if your motor is tired you could probably keep driving it until have have enough money for a rebuild.

http://www.misterfixit.com/blow-by.htm

[fiasco]

Looks like excessive crankcase blow by. Your piston rings are probably pretty worn. You should do a compression check and see what the readings are. Having said that I used to have an X1/9 that had a lot of blow by, motor was tired but it continued to run for a long time. So even if your motor is tired you could probably keep driving it until have have enough money for a rebuild.

Thanks - that makes a lot of sense - and as mentioned in the article you linked to, I do have oil in the air cleaner. All this stuff is getting sucked through the air filter, which may explain why it' so dirty.

I definitely don't have money for a rebuild right now, so I'll just hope that if it is worn piston rings that are causing the problem, they can hold on for a while, and I'll just keep replacing dirty air filters.

Thanks,
-- se

[ventura ace]

Actually, the 'mist' is already inside the oil filter (see where the fitting is?), so it needn't get pulled through the air filter. The inside of the oil filter may get a little oily, but the outside wouldn't be affected by the blowby. If the outside of the air filter is dirty, it's probably just due to whatever dust is in the air wherever the car has been driven.

Like you said, if you are getting a fair amount of blowby, this suggests that you are losing some of your compression past the rings. You may want to check your compression -- I wouldn't consider rebuilding unless your compression readings are less than 100 - 120 psi or so.

Alvon

[lanciahf]

Has anyone had luck with any of the "ring restore" products. I know,I know, they are BS but they might buy him some time.
http://www.restoreusa.com/
or

:B-2 Oil Treatment
Description : Often older engines need more benefits than regular motor oils provide.
B-2 supplements motor oil to restore compression and power, improving performance and fuel economy.
Designed for older engines or engines operating under high loads such as trailer towing.
Reduces oil burning and blow-by.
Contains BARDAHL’s exclusive “Polar Plus” formula providing Triple Protection against wear, power loss and fuel economy loss."
http://www.bardahl.nl/Oil-additions.69.0.html?&L=1

[SpiderHead]

I don't know about the "new high-tech" ones.. but the good old standby of "Motor honey", is simply an oil thickening product, that does pretty well, without creating long term clogging problems. Not just an increase in viscosity, because there is some... but rather an oil thickener.

If you don't push the little motor hard, it will build up in the low areas of the cylinder walls, and restore a small bit of compression. The compression check will tell you quickly and cheaply the condition of your cylinders, and rings.

Be warned though, if you do like to drive hard... and why would you have a Spider if you didn't? I would never recommend any kind of oil additive as a long term solution. Spirited driving will cook off any positive effects of any kind of compression increase. Maybe the whiz kids at one of the new company's new product development teams have really cracked it, but I doubt it.

My Granddad used "Motor Honey" in all of his equipment at his coal mine in Alaska during world war 2. I used it on my 83 thunderbird turbo coupe from 120k miles to well over the 250k mark, and without it I could not pass smog.

Chief Auto Parts used to sell it, they got bought by Auto Zone and I haven't looked for it in a long long time. My engines are all tight and have no need for it at the moment.

-Ryan

[fiasco]

Actually, the 'mist' is already inside the oil filter

You're right, of course. I realized my mistake as soon as I opened it up to put the new filter in. The old filter was really dirty anyway - probably just old - so the new one was warranted.

I'll have to wrangle up a compression check at a local shop next chance I get. When I do, I'll post my readings for feedback.

I still have rough idle, and dieing at stoplight problems, but I am going to start a new thread to ask for advice on that since my question on this thread has been expertly answered.

Thanks again!
-- se