Good news & Bad News ??

[elbon50]

Car passed MoT last week & is performing very well at the mo.

BUT

Have found a small amount of mayo inside the coolant cap

And the engine oil level is slightly low

Will check compressions ASAP

Have a nasty feeling that the well known top of cylinder problems are starting

60K miles from new

[Martin F]

If you do a lot of short Journeys then the mayo might not be worst case scenario

[elbon50]

If you do a lot of short Journeys then the mayo might not be worst case scenario

I hope so Martin

Never seen mayo before in 12+ years of ownership though

[un1eash]

My old mk1would always burn a bit of oil and have mayo in the cap at times, especially in wet humid conditions.

[elbon50]

My old mk1would always burn a bit of oil and have mayo in the cap at times, especially in wet humid conditions.

I have Mobil1 (0w30) in it at the mo. Chris

Perhaps that is escaping round the piston rings more

Will keep closely monitoring the oil & coolant now

& test the compressions

[Lauren]

Sounds a bit thin oil for a 4AGE. That'd explain why you are using more.

10-40 or 50W is more suitable.

[elbon50]

Sounds a bit thin oil for a 4AGE. That'd explain why you are using more.

10-40 or 50W is more suitable.

I agree Lauren

If I was using it as a normal road car I would use recommended grade

I have automatic transmission fluid in the g'box for similar reason

[Lauren]

Why are you using an oil that is simply not suitable for the engine?

[elbon50]

Why are you using an oil that is simply not suitable for the engine?

Using light oils to reduce rolling resistance to the min Lauren

[Lauren]

What exactly are you doing with your car Peter? Do you race it, sprint it etc?

I'm not going to stand here and criticise you, but honestly you'll do your engine more harm than good and you will gain absolutely nothing. I'm just not convinced it's worth it, though there's a part of me which is unsure what you are trying to achieve.

Fuchs do a 10/50W IIRC. This is a pretty top oil and pretty much ideal weight wise. You have to remember that back in teh 80's this car would originally have used 20/50W Duckhams QXR and the like. Putting in such thin oil is just not what the engine was designed for.

[SuperRedMR2]

Why are you using an oil that is simply not suitable for the engine?

Using light oils to reduce rolling resistance to the min Lauren

When I was running the race engine built by rogue I was still using Mobil super 10-40

Even they suggested using standard oil.

[elbon50]

What exactly are you doing with your car Peter? Do you race it, sprint it etc?

Small amount of local running & testing Lauren

Otherwise track & competition

I'm happy with the Mobil oil. No plans to change at the mo.

After re-dipping several times am satisfied that any oil loss is minimal

BUT was shocked to suddenly find mayo under the coolant cap

Never had that before in all the time I've owned the old dear

Will check the compressions & keep monitoring coolant & oil levels

[SuperRedMR2]

So were you just giving us an update of your life as the advice Lauren gave you, you have ignored...

So what was the point of the post?

[PW@Woodsport]

At the risk of being accused of picking on you Peter

Exactly how does.....

I have Mobil1 (0w30) in it at the mo. Chris

Perhaps that is escaping round the piston rings more [Think]

.... oil getting past the rings result in mayo in the cap?

Any excess oil bypassing the rings would simply be burnt off and you would have blue smoke from the exhaust. Mayo in the cap is the result of condensation due to short journeys, frequent short starts and lack of getting up to temp etc.

If your oil is normal colour in the sump then the Mayo is just condensation, although i have to say running the incorrect oil and also automatic transmission fluid in your gearbox is madness, you're just asking for trouble.

But hey, we've been here before and not a single word i or anyone says will change your mind.

[AW11mike]

I use 10/40 Castrol in my AW11. the grade of oil you are using is for more modern engines. I would listen to the advice given mate.

[SuperRedMR2]

At the risk of being accused of picking on you Peter

Exactly how does.....

I have Mobil1 (0w30) in it at the mo. Chris

Perhaps that is escaping round the piston rings more [Think]

.... oil getting past the rings result in mayo in the cap?

Any excess oil bypassing the rings would simply be burnt off and you would have blue smoke from the exhaust. Mayo in the cap is the result of condensation due to short journeys, frequent short starts and lack of getting up to temp etc.

If your oil is normal colour in the sump then the Mayo is just condensation, although i have to say running the incorrect oil and also automatic transmission fluid in your gearbox is madness, you're just asking for trouble.

But hey, we've been here before and not a single word i or anyone says will change your mind.

Thought you weren't going to comment mate? Lol

Perhaps you didn't torque the oil cap sufficiently?

[elbon50]

Mayo in the cap is the result of condensation due to short journeys, frequent short starts and lack of getting up to temp etc.

Mayo is a mixture of oil and coolant

Probably the result of the well known top of cylinder damage to which the 4AGE is prone

10 mile test run today at town speeds:

About a pint of coolant disappeared

Fully heated engine failed to remain running each time foot removed from throttle

Any ideas why that would be so ?

[SuperRedMR2]

Mayo in the cap is the result of condensation due to short journeys, frequent short starts and lack of getting up to temp etc.

Mayo is a mixture of oil and coolant

Probably the result of the well known top of cylinder damage to which the 4AGE is prone

10 mile test run today at town speeds:

About a pint of coolant disappeared

Fully heated engine failed to remain running each time foot removed from throttle

Any ideas ?

Peter I hate to say this but this eventually happened to my race engine... It blew up spectacularly as I had cylinder no 4 pitting.

I only found out i had Mayo after it blew up on a very brisk drive.

It kept cutting out up to temp etc

[elbon50]

Mayo in the cap is the result of condensation due to short journeys, frequent short starts and lack of getting up to temp etc.

Mayo is a mixture of oil and coolant

Probably the result of the well known top of cylinder damage to which the 4AGE is prone

10 mile test run today at town speeds:

About a pint of coolant disappeared

Fully heated engine failed to remain running each time foot removed from throttle

Any ideas ?

Peter I hate to say this but this eventually happened to my race engine... It blew up spectacularly as I had cylinder no 4 pitting.

I only found out i had Mayo after it blew up on a very brisk drive.

It kept cutting out up to temp etc

That's interesting Alex

Looks like my engine may be developing the same problem as yours did

I should be able to avoid the spectacular blow up though

Trying to decide what is occurring is the whole point of this thread

Must admit I did suspect top of cylinder failure when I started the thread

You are the first to say something relevant

[SuperRedMR2]

I don't see how it is avoidable Peter, unless you remove the head, block internals and have it decked