1986 turbo

[esprit22]

Thought it best to ask you guys first as maybe you've had the same thing.

Took car out for a spin yesterday, parked it on my drive with engine still running, and could smell something that did,nt seem quite right. Lifted off engine cover (engine still running) to see smoke comming up from under the left of the engine. It was,nt constant, more like oil dripping onto something hot and being burnt.

Had a quick look but unable to see anything from top and looking under wheelarch could only see the wastegate/manifold.

Is there any oil pipes around that area that could be leaking and causing this?

[molemot]

Probably oil leaking from the exhaust camshaft cover and dripping on to the manifold. have a feel around the edges of the camcover and see if you get oil fingers! Could also be a leak from the bottom of the camshaft assembly where it fits on the head. Probably not anything too awful, most likely just needs the cover joint re-sealing.

[esprit22]

Probably oil leaking from the exhaust camshaft cover and dripping on to the manifold. have a feel around the edges of the camcover and see if you get oil fingers! Could also be a leak from the bottom of the camshaft assembly where it fits on the head. Probably not anything too awful, most likely just needs the cover joint re-sealing.

I did do as you suggest but I will check again, It,s yonks since I removed the wastegate, but I can recall there being a pipe on top of it that connects to the turbo, oil pipe?

[markt]

There is an oil return pipe on the turbo (I know 'cos a supplier lost the original and I waited 3 months for a new one). Wont be the source of the leak if smoke's coming out the top left of the engine.

As Molemot, mentioned, camshaft oil seals (behind that heat shield plate beside near the turbo - really easy fix), or cam towers leaking - not the end of the world... Annoying, but not terminal, just get it sorted at service time.

[esprit22]

There is an oil return pipe on the turbo (I know 'cos a supplier lost the original and I waited 3 months for a new one). Wont be the source of the leak if smoke's coming out the top left of the engine.

As Molemot, mentioned, camshaft oil seals (behind that heat shield plate beside near the turbo - really easy fix), or cam towers leaking - not the end of the world... Annoying, but not terminal, just get it sorted at service time.

Smoke was comming UP from under the left of the engine which is why I suspect that oil pipe. Tell me more about the camshaft oil seals and how to change if needed.

Cheers.

[matk]

Chris

I had exactly the same symptoms on my S2 (smoke coming UP) and was losing about 1/2 litre of oil under the car each time I ran it after switch off. It was the cam cover gaskets. As the engine is canted over oil collects inside the cam tower, was leaking out of the defective gasket, dripping onto the hot exhaust and then smoking upwards.

Quick and easy fix (by PNM!)

[dazmans3]

Hi

Have you checked the rocker box covers, they tend to leek, the bolts vibrate loose, easy fix, Bit of grease round the gasket/s, & a bit of sealant on bolt threads does the trick.

Check the Oil filler cap, the seal in there tends to perish, & as that

[markt]

Smoke was comming UP from under the left of the engine which is why I suspect that oil pipe. Tell me more about the camshaft oil seals and how to change if needed.

Cheers.

I reckon the oil's dripping onto the bottom of the exhaust manifold, from the Camshaft oil seals, so that's why smoke appears to be coming up from the engine...

Have a looky here...

Remove the heat shield plate circled in green - 4 nuts - 13mm/half inch. Be careful the studs don't come out and ain't stripped

Once that's out the way, the end plate/s will have to be persuaded to come off - probably stuck with some gasket compound.

When the end plate's off, you'll see 2 rubber oil seals approx 50mm?? in diameter.

Replace 'em and add a dab of appropriate sealant on the faces for good measure.

If you have the right rubber replacement seals, and the sodding studs haven't been stripped by a DPO, shouldn't take you more than 5 minutes

I did this over a year ago, so a bit hazy about the details - I'm sure Kato's got a guide posted on LEW somewhere.

Hope this helps - Mark

[esprit22]

I

Thanks Mark, sound advice.

That's one clean engine you have there.

[markt]

Happy to oblige Chris

Engine didn't always look like that though...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

From the dark early days of Esprit ownership

- Look middle left and you'll see the ends of the cam towers and the bits I'm talking about