Oil Everywhere!

[Brm Brm]

>>> Edited by brm brm on Monday 31st January 23:45

[big wedge]

Weird...

Exactly the same think happened to my SEAC last summer - though it seemed considerably more dramatic at the time... flat out in 3rd then a smoke-fest in the cabin and rear view mirror. I thought the engine had gone.

Transpired that the hose that runs between oil thermostat and filter had split, leaving a lot of oil on the underside of the car and the road. Fortunately the engine was OK as I shut it down asap - though it did need 4 litres of oil to get back to the minimum level of the dipstick...

Lesson to learn I suppose is that 14 years is probably old enough for most rubber hose. I think the underbonnet fuel hose could do with checking out before something similar happens with more potential for a blaze!

[350matt]

While your're replacing the hose take the opportunity to go up a size I went from the std 3/8" bore to 1/2" and gained about 0.5Bar of pressure.

Matt

[adam quantrill]

Brm - you could probably save the pads by cleaning them with tricloroethelyne. Wash the worst of the oil off with petrol first.

[shpub]

On the 520 I used a series of metal compression joints so that the rubber hose was effectively straight. I then used some hydraulic hose for the brake fittings. This is a bit tougher than the oil pipe. No problems since.

[danny hoffman]

I used to soak contaminated (brake fluid not oil though) brake shoes in meths and set fire to them to clean them (in my youth!)