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Old 26th January 2018, 13:20   #1
KenR
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Default Perplexing 1.8 idle and smoke issues

Hi folks,it's been a while. I've had my 1.8 Cowley built 75 for a few months and love it. It's been a perfect runner and never let me down.

The PO was fastidious and spent literally thousands on the cars needs. This included a replacement Ivor Searle engine about 20 thousand miles ago.

I've been in hospital recently and hadn't started the car in a week and a bit as I am not able to drive yet. Normally a first turn of the key has the car purring into life. Nope, not this time. It was difficult to start and ran like an absolute pig.Idle would not stabilise and I had to blip the throttle to keep it running and this has become worse. Blue smoke (petrol smelling) is drifting out of the exhaust and the join at the exhaust manifold down tubes and where the cat joins the system. I thought I'd spilled WD40 on it and wiped it off but it reappears and causes quite the cloud of smoke when it is burning off. No coolant loss, no mayo on the dipstick or oil filler cap. No temp gauge woes prior to this, although I know it is heavily dampened. There is evidence of K Seal in the header tank although this was done due to a heater matrix leak at some point in the cars history.

The coolant cap is not pressurising either. No hose leaks seen.

The only minimal moistness I can see and it really is just that, is on the very top of the front of the exhaust manifold above the second N/S down tube.

Possiblity that the inlet gasket is leaking and seeping into the exhaust and down the remaining down tubes?

Is there a K series enthusiast who is near North London (Edmonton/Enfield) who might be able to have a look for me as I can't yet drive due to just having had a major stomach op and wouldn't be keen on the car driving anywhere due to the smoke being pumped out anyway. Obv petrol and food covered.

Thanks.

Ken
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Old 26th January 2018, 20:11   #2
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Thought that there might have been one or two comments at least
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Old 26th January 2018, 20:31   #3
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A failing inlet manifold gasket wouldn't leak coolant into the exhaust - it would leak externally, causing wet spots and/or crystal build-up on the back of the engine or it would leak internally, allowing coolant into the cylinders, resulting in lumpy running.

What's your coolant level like?

Blue smoke would usually indicate oil is being burnt.
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Old 26th January 2018, 20:34   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KenR View Post
Blue smoke (petrol smelling) is drifting out of the exhaust and the join at the exhaust manifold down tubes and where the cat joins the system ...
I can’t see how this can be the result of an inlet manifold leak. Blue smoke usually means burning oil and the smell of petrol indicates incomplete combustion. I hate to say it but I think that you may have head gasket failure.
Don’t attempt to start it again because petrol will destroy the catalytic converter.
Quote:
There is evidence of K Seal in the header tank ...
Oh dear. You’ll also need to flush the cooling system repeatedly to try to get rid of the devil’s potion.

Simon
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Old 26th January 2018, 21:22   #5
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If it has been standing a while in the cold/damp weather, it may be damp around the coil packs/leads. This may have led to a misfire and contaminated plugs. Remove them all, dry out thoroughly and preferably, fit a set of new plugs, gapped correctly. It makes a world of difference.
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Old 26th January 2018, 23:24   #6
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I whipped off the plugs/coil pack cover and everything in there was as dry as a bone. I didn't have a long reach plug spanner to enable me to check the plugs, that will happen soon though.

The leaking fluid onto the down pipes is an odd one as I simply cannot see a hugely obvious source.

I agree with the Devils fluid.

Arrghh, if it is the HGF then it's game over really as I have neither the time, ability or cash to sort.

Thanks for the responses guys.
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Old 27th January 2018, 09:02   #7
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I feel your pain on this one. I bought a 1.8 for £150 to save it as its an Arran white Cowley. I knew going in it could have HGF, but at the time thought I had the money to do it. I trusted a local specialist (supposedly) £750 later and its doing all kinds of weird stuff like yours! One minute oil loss, then random water loss. No mayo, no misfire, gurgles behind the dash, sometimes pressure under rad cap, sometimes not! Allsorts!

One of the experts on here had a quick look and explained there is insane pressure blowing out the oil cap and its pretty bad.

Could you find the nearest club expert to have a look. Might give you a definite answer?
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Old 27th January 2018, 11:01   #8
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It could well be an inlet manifold that leaks!
If the manifold leaks, it can leak to the outside and to the inside, via the inlet valves.
If the car has been standing for a long period, it is possible to have a bit of water in the cylinder(s).
That would make the engine difficult to start, the idle lumpy and produce some smoke (steam) but should clear as the engine runs.
Let us know what you find.!
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Old 27th January 2018, 11:27   #9
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Don't condemn the head gasket.
If the car has been sitting and not used for some time and it was fine previously I would look elsewhere first.
The inlet manifold gasket is a good point but examining the plugs would be my first thing to do, look for rust on the end of the threaded part and for oil contamination also for one or two that are unusually clean.
Report back once you have done these checks.

One other thing is the engine coolant sensor may be duff giving a very low reading (check on the on board diagnostics) there just might be too much fuel if the ECU thinks it is very cold and the rich mixture could be the fuel smell and smoke. May even be flooded.
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Old 28th January 2018, 12:35   #10
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Ok, had a look in good daylight, firstly, the down tube/CAT joint issue. That bit is pretty much soaked, although not dripping. It was enough to get a finger dab though and it smells and feels like oil. Not coolant which I originally suspected. However, I am struggling to see where the actual leakage is coming from, very puzzling.

The plugs. Obviously Sods Law means that each and every plug socket in my possession is the wrong one. I wasn't able to pop out any of the plugs, hopefully, my mate will have one that he can bring tomorrow. I will Google the size shortly. 16mm Hex, doh! However, the one that was slim enough to fit over the plug came up with a coating of lovely fresh looking oil at the first mm or 2 of the plug socket. That was the furthest O/S one and each subsequent tube appeared to have at least some amount of oil nestling at the bottom although the initial one seemed to have the most from what I could see, albeit somewhat restricted viewing 'cos long tube.

So, further ideas on a postcard? Not starting to look especially good methinks.

Thanks again for the responses thus far.
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Last edited by KenR; 28th January 2018 at 12:40..
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