By Paul (203.96.111.201) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 01:15 pm:

I was comming home the other night on the motorway, just cruising at the speed limit..Hehe...Well maybe a lil over, anyway I got off the motorway, and stopped over at the local BP to check my oil, it had been using a bit of late, planned to do an oil change and everything in the next couple of days. I open my bonnet and there is oil splatter on the underside of the bonnet, right above the filler cap and a lil bit behind. And there was some oil that had run down the front of the engine. Ok, worst case scenario could be a head gasket? But my car hasn't blown smoke, and my car is running just above cold on the meter. I rekon it is a rocker cover gasket, or the guy at the same BP that put the last bit of oil in didn't close the cap properly?? Any thoughts?? The car seems to be running fine.

By quikrick (63.204.16.66) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 01:32 pm:

When you put the oil cap on... turn it till it won't turn anymore then back off about 1/8 of a turn or until you feel a little bit of friction. If I don't back mine off a tad... it makes a big mess.
On the rocker cover gasket, if it isn't seated just right or one of those little "fingers" isn't in the slot, same thing, big mess.
One moer thing, on CVCCs there is a O ring on the distributor shaft, when those fail you get a little leak, but not as bad as what you describe.

By Paul (203.96.111.201) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 01:38 pm:

Thanks, I am getting it checked out today anyway, just to be safe. Gotta look after the ol' girl. She has done about 106,000km, she is a stock EB3. I have a Ramflo filter on order, and I have my CD player and 2 pairs of 6" splits standing by : )

I was just reading some other posts about this sorta thing, she does blow white smoke first thing in the morning, but that is just cos' she is cold I think. I hope it is just the cap, I don't mind replacing the rocker cover gasket either, but I really don't want to take the head off.

By Zippy (Zippy) (152.163.213.176) on Thursday, August 02, 2001 - 06:05 pm:

The white smoke may be leaking valve guides. Nothing to worry much about. In regards to the oil, check your PCV system to make sure you're venting properly.

By quikrick (63.204.16.66) on Friday, August 03, 2001 - 08:42 am:

Yeah Paul, "gotta look after the ol' girl". There was a time in my younger days that I didn't give a hoot about any of my cars, they were always breaking down and dirty. I was alway complaining about the condition of them, when I was the one at fault! Then one day an old man said to me "Ya gotta feed yer horse"... funny thing is that now I probably over do it!

By John S. (209.176.132.125) on Saturday, August 04, 2001 - 12:28 am:

I once had a 90 year old man, who was driving a Corvair with an engine so quiet you had to listen close to hear it running, tell me that if the engine is making noise...it's trying to tell you something. Anyone who knows much about Corvairs would know exactly what that meant.

By Paul (203.96.105.120) on Sunday, August 05, 2001 - 03:41 pm:

Hey Guys, Thanks for all the responses. I think I found the problem...Duh! I replaced the rocker cover gasket....Was pretty old anyway. Then I noticed the oil filler cap seal had a crack. Geezzz....Talk about overlooking the obvious. Oh well...While I was doing all that I put my ramflo filter on...Hehe...Runs a bit smoother, no huge power gains. Nice throaty sound now though : )

Anyway...One problem down, just gotta tidy up all the extra tubes from the carbie. Anyone see a problem with removing them all together, and would I need to plug up the holes at the carbie?

Another thing guys, I do love my car, and if I had the money I would take her to a pro and get the engine totally recond. and the body stripped and re-done. then give her a totally sexy interior. But I do what I can for her...Next stage in the development: Headers, any thoughts??