My first "Tow Vehicle Required" experience
Discussion
Well, it had to happen sooner or later...
Driving along the outside lane of the M25, between J9 and J8, there was a sudden loud clatter, like a large stone rattling its way underneath the car. No unusual indications on the dashboard, but my rear view mirror was full of smoke!
I made my way across to the hard shoulder, stopped and killed the engine immediately. By this time, smoke was billowing up from the bonnet vents as well. Got out, and there was a very large puddle of oil growing underneath the car and spreading rapidly towards the carriageway.
I called the RAC, who were not terribly impressive IMHO, and then called the police to report the risk of oil contamination on the main carriageway. Within 5 minutes the Highways Agency were there, followed by two fire trucks. You can see one of them in the picture below physically blocking the lane while the HA guys mopped up the oil.
Eventually the RAC turned up and loaded the Chimaera onto their truck to take me home.
Once home, I nervously lifted the bonnet to find... nothing unusual. Reached underneath the car with an inspection mirror and a torch to look at the sump, and found that the sump plug was... still on the M25 presumably. So that explains the loud clatter: it was the sump plug making a bid for freedom. I can only presume that it wasn't done up tightly during its last service.
I really, really hope I killed the engine quickly enough. I don't remember seeing the oil light at any point, and there was still a HUGE amount of oil coming out after I'd stopped - so I'm praying everything's alright.
Driving along the outside lane of the M25, between J9 and J8, there was a sudden loud clatter, like a large stone rattling its way underneath the car. No unusual indications on the dashboard, but my rear view mirror was full of smoke!
I made my way across to the hard shoulder, stopped and killed the engine immediately. By this time, smoke was billowing up from the bonnet vents as well. Got out, and there was a very large puddle of oil growing underneath the car and spreading rapidly towards the carriageway.
I called the RAC, who were not terribly impressive IMHO, and then called the police to report the risk of oil contamination on the main carriageway. Within 5 minutes the Highways Agency were there, followed by two fire trucks. You can see one of them in the picture below physically blocking the lane while the HA guys mopped up the oil.
Eventually the RAC turned up and loaded the Chimaera onto their truck to take me home.
Once home, I nervously lifted the bonnet to find... nothing unusual. Reached underneath the car with an inspection mirror and a torch to look at the sump, and found that the sump plug was... still on the M25 presumably. So that explains the loud clatter: it was the sump plug making a bid for freedom. I can only presume that it wasn't done up tightly during its last service.
I really, really hope I killed the engine quickly enough. I don't remember seeing the oil light at any point, and there was still a HUGE amount of oil coming out after I'd stopped - so I'm praying everything's alright.
This isn't the first instance of this I have heard about. What seems to happen is the head on the sump plug gets rotated if the car is grounded out until it is able to work its way out of the sump.
Drill a hole through the head of the new sump plug and lockwire it in place to the chassis. Mine was done 6 years and many bumpy roads ago, and so far, so good.
Drill a hole through the head of the new sump plug and lockwire it in place to the chassis. Mine was done 6 years and many bumpy roads ago, and so far, so good.
Yes, I've heard that about the sump plug as well. I think there's a replacement available that's round, with an Allen key hole in the centre. That sounds like a better design!
I'll be phoning Str8Six this morning to see if they can collect it. It was due a service anyway. I'm not going to try refilling and starting it myself, because the oil pump may have become unprimed. I'll leave it to the experts.
I'll be phoning Str8Six this morning to see if they can collect it. It was due a service anyway. I'm not going to try refilling and starting it myself, because the oil pump may have become unprimed. I'll leave it to the experts.
Dr Mike Oxred said:
Yes, I've heard that about the sump plug as well. I think there's a replacement available that's round, with an Allen key hole in the centre. That sounds like a better design!
I'll be phoning Str8Six this morning to see if they can collect it. It was due a service anyway. I'm not going to try refilling and starting it myself, because the oil pump may have become unprimed. I'll leave it to the experts.
You can get the round sump plugs from Steve heath, I shouldn't worry about the oil pump being unprimed as the filter holds enough oil to sort that out, unless you have removed it that is. I'll be phoning Str8Six this morning to see if they can collect it. It was due a service anyway. I'm not going to try refilling and starting it myself, because the oil pump may have become unprimed. I'll leave it to the experts.
You can just about see it in this picture, and its very magnetic to boot.
My Dad was driving to Gatwick yesterday morning and said he spotted a Chimaera on the hard shoulder. He wasn't in the position to stop but it looks as though he wouldn't have been much help given the circumstances.
I hope you managed to turn the engine off in good time and that it'll be back on the road in no time.
I hope you managed to turn the engine off in good time and that it'll be back on the road in no time.
Well, I waved au revoir to the Chimaera this afternoon, loaded onto the back of its second low-loader in 24 hours!
It'll be away for a couple of weeks or so, because Str8Six can't do the service for a while. But they have promised to fill it with oil and try the engine straight away to let me know if it's alright.
I'm fairly hopeful the engine's going to be fine. I've gone over it in my head countless times, and I'm sure that the time between hearing the sump plug come off and switching off the engine was 20 seconds at the absolute maximum. And judging by the enormous puddle of oil on the hard shoulder I think there was at least a few litres still left in the sump when I stopped. But I'm still glad Str8Six are going to put my mind at rest ASAP.
I've also asked them to look at my mysterious star-shaped crazing.
It'll be away for a couple of weeks or so, because Str8Six can't do the service for a while. But they have promised to fill it with oil and try the engine straight away to let me know if it's alright.
I'm fairly hopeful the engine's going to be fine. I've gone over it in my head countless times, and I'm sure that the time between hearing the sump plug come off and switching off the engine was 20 seconds at the absolute maximum. And judging by the enormous puddle of oil on the hard shoulder I think there was at least a few litres still left in the sump when I stopped. But I'm still glad Str8Six are going to put my mind at rest ASAP.
I've also asked them to look at my mysterious star-shaped crazing.
To set your mind at rest
When I was young and foolish the seal on the oil filter of my 350I failed and started pumping out oil at 35PSI. I decided to nurse it until the pressure dropped which was about 5 miles and near a phone box (it was 1987!)When the mess was cleared up car fired up no problem and is still around somewhere
(E6969DEO)
I'd be surprised if your quick reactions haven't prevented there being any damage
When I was young and foolish the seal on the oil filter of my 350I failed and started pumping out oil at 35PSI. I decided to nurse it until the pressure dropped which was about 5 miles and near a phone box (it was 1987!)When the mess was cleared up car fired up no problem and is still around somewhere
(E6969DEO)
I'd be surprised if your quick reactions haven't prevented there being any damage
I don't know about the RV8 but I do know that some engines can survive for a time without a sump full of oil, fingers crossed it will be ok. (However always wise to stop if it happens, the hex head sump plug is available from Steve Heath and is less prone if not completely to being caught by speed bumps etc.). Glad all's well!
A.
A.
Back to basics chaps - the RV8 has hydraulic tappets which require oil pressure. No oil, no pressure, no tappet movement, big clattering from engine as( or 2ecs before ) it stops. If the lack of oil had toasted the engine the clattering would not have stopped as you were switching off - it would have been very loud with all those death rattle noises as the valves punched holes in the pistons......
Jasper Gilder said:
Back to basics chaps - the RV8 has hydraulic tappets which require oil pressure. No oil, no pressure, no tappet movement, big clattering from engine as( or 2ecs before ) it stops. If the lack of oil had toasted the engine the clattering would not have stopped as you were switching off - it would have been very loud with all those death rattle noises as the valves punched holes in the pistons......
DOh! (So embarrassing, me that's changed engines, gearboxes etc in the past 
)Edited by Argent on Thursday 3rd February 10:44
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff