Cam cover off, can you run the engine?

[jack&mle]

Hi

I've been asking that to myself for a few days, and I cannot really answer it.
Can you run an VVC K series engine with out the cam cover on to check that everything is working?

By running I mean using the engine at it should, but with out the cam cover.

I cannot see why it could not be done theoretically, but practically I' don't know.

Could someone enlighten me?

Cheers

Jack

[Mikey G]

The cams would fling oil everywhere unles they are totally covered by something else underneath the cover.

[jack&mle]

that's a fairly good reason why not to do it

but if it had a transparent top there is no reason why it could not be done?

Jack

[SneakyNeil]

There might be some breathers between the cam cover and the intake that you'd have to deal with, but apart from that I can't think of any reason why not?

I made a mistake once when I'd been checking / shimming valve clearances, I'd finished but still had the cam cover, throttle body and upper half of the inlet manifold including plenum removed. I wanted to spin the engine on the starter for a sec just to hear that everything sounded normal before I put it back together, it never occoured to me that the bloody thing would actually start in that state! It started instantly, and immediatley pinged off the limiter and sprayed oil for a great distance

[mds automotive]

i was told to teach the apprentice the k16 head gasket job and all was well until i told him to start it , it started but the noise was deafening , switched off right away and pulled the rocker cover off , the tt had left my 13mm spanner inside the cambox , thought it would be ok and started it again .. but no .. cracked cambox.. maybe a "see through" rocker cover isnt such a bad idea..

[chassis 33]

Some old Vauxhall engines you had to check the valve clearances with the engine running, which of course meant with the rocker cover off. You get some but not gallons of oil spattered everywhere, just think of it as extra rustproofing

Regards
Iain

[rev-erend]

I've done it on a ford pinto .. pulled of coil lead and turned
it over to check oil comes out of the spray bar for all tappets .. it was a known weak point of the engine but like others say - you do need to get plenty of towling / paper all around as the oil does get splashed around a bit !

[That Daddy]

Vauhall CIH engines i,e old carlton,used a shaped bit of metal to cover timing chain so you could adjust the hydraulic lash/preload while the engine was ticking over,worked too but you dont get much oil fling from rockers alone.

[tribbles]

I did it with a Crossflow engine - was very nice to see everything moving up and down as expected!

[richb]

I think some people are confusing rocker covers on pushrod engines with cam covers on ohv engines.

[tribbles]

Probably right...

[Pigeon]

The point remains that if you take the thing on top of the head off and run the engine oil goes all over the place...

[That Daddy]

richb said:

I think some people are confusing rocker covers on pushrod engines with cam covers on ohv engines.

I wasent

[richb]

Pigeon said:

The point remains that if you take the thing on top of the head off and run the engine oil goes all over the place...

NOt wishing to get into an argument but that's simply not true on pushrod engines, indeed it was standard practice to adjust the tappet clearances on MG engines and then give it a run to see if "sounded" right, oil would not go all over the place. As I say, I have no idea what happens if you remove a cam cover and do the same!

[richb]

That Daddy said:

richb said:

I think some people are confusing rocker covers on pushrod engines with cam covers on ohv engines.

I wasent

I can tell that...

[jack&mle]

I have asked the question because I haven't seen a VVC mechanism in operation.
And as my engine was in bits I thought I could have been a good idea, but maybe it wasn't.

Do someone has a little video clip of the VVC mechanism in operation?

Jack

[Avocet]

It was the only way I could get the tappets quiet on my old Essex V6 in the Scimitar I once had. It did make a fair bit of mess but nipping the adjusters up until it was quiet worked for me!

As far as an OHC engine is concerned, no, can't see any reason other than mess and crankcase breathers.

[that daddy]

[quote=Avocet]It was the only way I could get the tappets quiet on my old Essex V6 in the Scimitar I once had. It did make a fair bit of mess but nipping the adjusters up until it was quiet worked for me!

Should have used the Ford method on that Essex,worked every time,wish i spoke to you sooner