Ash-Kennard Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Winner. Minimal work needed to the brace - I've got one sitting here at home but won't be doing anything with it until I've stiffened up the rear end considerably first. On that note, don't suppose the seller had a rear ARB going?! I think not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 (edited) I've had another offer, £100 based in Lichfield - just waiting on details as they're the same journey, just opposite directions. If it's lower mileage and described as better condition / recently used, I'll go for that instead. Looks like I have options anyway, that's cool - £100 isn't bad at all. Mike, you do know you're going to Lichfield in March don't you? Probably worth the diesel down the bores trick is it not before shelling out for a new motor? Edited February 9, 2015 by forteh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted February 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Yeah I'll look at solving the problem before buying a new one... I wish I was better at this kinda thing! And yeah I know that's where we're going, but my mechanic is 45 minutes from Bristol in the other direction, plus I'd need to borrow a van for it, so it wouldn't coincide with our visit anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 An old curtain or towel and you passenger seat removed should do the trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skoze Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 So what's wrong with it? Rings or valve stem seals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Who's voting for a tartybikes sponsored engine swap trackside at curborough? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Adam can provide the lolz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted February 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Rings are the main suspect Skoze, as it lasts 5 to 10 minutes before the smoke goes, would indicate that the rings expand when hot, thus stopping the leak... That's my understanding of it anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Silly question, is the crankcase breathing properly? My old golf gti had a collapsed breather and smoked loads due to blow past by the rings. Unfortunately I was too lazy to fix it and it failed the mot on emissions after the cat got clogged with burnt oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Car is clean and finally starting to look tidy, rear sus raised 30mm, lights working all round and exhaust is in the (close to) right position. Finally got that splitter on there, a real LCR again! Someone do me a favour and shop me some different wheel colour combos. Black, Anthracite, Chrome or anything else you may think looks acceptable Cheers, Ash 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Who's voting for a tartybikes sponsored engine swap trackside at curborough? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 I'm £40 an hour, plus VAT. Ash - car looks sweet! Still got a soft spot for the Leons... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Should only take 20 mins with your expertise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 I wish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Today I got a £50 ticket for being an absolute hooligan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Rainbird Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted February 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Silly question, is the crankcase breathing properly? My old golf gti had a collapsed breather and smoked loads due to blow past by the rings. Unfortunately I was too lazy to fix it and it failed the mot on emissions after the cat got clogged with burnt oil. Good question, honest answer is I'm not sure. I recently removed all the bits to take the cover off, when I replaced the cover gasket, but I was pretty careful putting them back on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrayvon Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 Today I got a £50 ticket for being an absolute hooligan Saw the snap chat but couldn't read what you've done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted February 9, 2015 Report Share Posted February 9, 2015 The crankcase has to be able to breathe as well as the rocker cover, on the golf it was a plastic pipe that ran from the front of the block up to the rocker and then into the inlet manifold. The pipe was collapsed and blocked, not saying it's the case on yours but another thing to consider; Mr tart should be able to tell you where the breathers are Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted February 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Bizarrely it was fine this morning, no smoke whatsoever. Perhaps the temperature was high enough already? Strange car... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartMini Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Saw the snap chat but couldn't read what you've done? driving in a car share lane by himself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Bizarrely it was fine this morning, no smoke whatsoever. Perhaps the temperature was high enough already? Strange car... Temperature difference between a frosty morning and a normal one shouldn't make enough difference to the ring clearance in this case. Another thought, when you've changed/topped up the oil could you have over filled it? Not sure on the mx5 but some engines will typically throw excess oil into the airbox/inlet manifold. Hypothetically as the engine heats up the oil expands and gets dumped into the inlet and burnt off, when you stop the car there might be some residual oil left that isn't burnt immediately (as there isn't enough air flow to pull it into the motor), this standing oil could then be burnt off when you start up the car; it may well be more apparant in the colder weather - my golf would plume out visible light white smoke when it was chilly/damp but when the weather was warm it was invisible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted February 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 I guess it's possible, but I usually only top up when the car is cold and only in small amounts, checking the dip stick frequently. I'm pretty careful not to overfill. I'm soaking my cat in PlusGas this week, I'll be getting under the car at the weekend to try and get it off again so I'll have a hunt for additional leaks... I guess I just need to keep driving it and see what happens for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamR28 Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Perhaps wide of the mark... but I've read a blocked PCV (the reddish thing shoved in the top of the rocker cover on the drivers side, that goes to the inlet manifold, been removed in this pic: http://www.mx5unleashed.com/1-pix-mx5/tech/timing-belt/IMG_9877.jpg, here's one: https://www.rspeed.net//v/vspfiles/photos/NA00121150-2T.jpg) can cause oil to be sucked into the inlet manifold and then burn off, meaning blue smoke...Wondering if it might have some water in there which is (or was) freezing it shut, now it's above zero again it works as it's meant to?As I said, might be completely wrong But it's worth an investigate I think:http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=319322The valve should allow air to flow one way, but not the other (can test it with your mouth).Also, worth doing a compression test? Maybe one with a cold engine, another with a hot engine, and another with 5ml of oil down each bore? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigjames Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 I'm soaking my cat in PlusGas this week, I'll be getting under the car at the weekend to try and get it off again so I'll have a hunt for additional leaks... PlusGas should work in 2-5 minutes, never had to wait any longer for it to work it's magic. If it doesn't shift after that, then it probably won't move. I'd get a decent blowtorch at the ready too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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