6 replies to this topic

[mickthefitter]

Model - 850 Saloon

Year - 1973 M reg

My Mini is a mostly mechanically standard 850 saloon with its original engine on 79,000 miles. It looks souped up with big wheels and spats but it isn't. In common with every other classic car I've owned for the past six years I can smell the engine when driving. This gives me a headache. I passed my driving test in a then-new Mini Clubman in 1980 with no problems so I know its not like some people have said, that all old cars smell of fuel and fumes and modern ones with 'cats' don't.

As far as I can ascertain it isn't burning oil. At idle speed if I take off the oil filler cap there is vacuum. It isn't blowing oil out of the cap or the dipstick hole. I've used a modern two-bolt downpipe to manifold clamp with some firewall cement to seal the join. The exhaust manifold gasket looks new and I know the previous owner had the engine out to change a clutch so that is probably why. I can't detect anything under the bonnet with the engine running yet it still pongs a bit when driving. It isn't terrible, but its there. Any ideas?

I put a brand new HS2 on it because the old one was knackered but this was a like-for like replacement. There is one breather pipe I'm aware of that goes from the carb to a cylindrical thing on the back of the block that I cannot shift in order to take off and inspect. But with the pipe off and engine running it is breathing out which is what I expect it should do.

Cheers,
Mick

[lrostoke]

Could just be general engine smell getting in through the speedo hole in the bulkhead.

Also have you checked the breather pipe is on the fuel tank, whilst at the fuel tank I notice I get a petrol smell if my tank is full to the brim

Any oil leaks that might be getting on the exhaust ??

Edited by lrostoke, 12 August 2010 - 08:51 AM.

[Gulfclubby]

Could just be general engine smell getting in through the speedo hole in the bulkhead.

Also have you checked the breather pipe is on the fuel tank, whilst at the fuel tank I notice I get a petrol smell if my tank is full to the brim

Any oil leaks that might be getting on the exhaust ??

Is the new HS2 properly set up? Are you running a new needle, is the choke set up properly or are your running too rich?

[SMP]

Is it definitely engine breather fumes and not exhaust?

Have you checked the boot seal?

When I got the SKY it was awful / dangerous to drive because of the exhaust fumes. I found that the boot seal was the wrong one and hardly sealed at all. With a door window open (which tends to be most of the time) I believe that gas was recirculating through the boot area back into the cabin.

It got massively better when I replaced the boot seal with the proper one.

It's still not perfect but the car is useable - I'll have to track down any other "leaks".

Cheers
Steve

[mickthefitter]

Could just be general engine smell getting in through the speedo hole in the bulkhead.

Also have you checked the breather pipe is on the fuel tank, whilst at the fuel tank I notice I get a petrol smell if my tank is full to the brim

Any oil leaks that might be getting on the exhaust ??

I've wondered about the engine 'smell' getting through the bulkhead speedo hole. There isn't much between the interior and the engine! There doesn't seem to be a lot you can do to ensure its sealed, either.

I've pretty much banished all petrol smells in the car, especially with the new carb, though I have noticed it can smell of fuel in the boot if I open it after driving. The breather pipe is on though and going out through the floor.

I'm pretty certain there is no oil dripping on to a hot exhaust.

Thanks for the reply.

Mick

[mickthefitter]

Could just be general engine smell getting in through the speedo hole in the bulkhead.

Also have you checked the breather pipe is on the fuel tank, whilst at the fuel tank I notice I get a petrol smell if my tank is full to the brim

Any oil leaks that might be getting on the exhaust ??

Is the new HS2 properly set up? Are you running a new needle, is the choke set up properly or are your running too rich?

I was assured by the supplier that the new HS2 was correctly jetted for my car and would just need the mixture and idle speed setting. It was completely brand new in a box. not a recon job.

I'm sure the choke is fully off when the control is pushed in, and I set the mixture with my Colortune spark plug. It might not hurt to have another go, though.

Thanks for the reply,
Mick

[mickthefitter]

Is it definitely engine breather fumes and not exhaust?

Have you checked the boot seal?

When I got the SKY it was awful / dangerous to drive because of the exhaust fumes. I found that the boot seal was the wrong one and hardly sealed at all. With a door window open (which tends to be most of the time) I believe that gas was recirculating through the boot area back into the cabin.

It got massively better when I replaced the boot seal with the proper one.

It's still not perfect but the car is useable - I'll have to track down any other "leaks".

Cheers
Steve

Well. I'm in some ways glad to hear I'm not the only one who has these problems, because sometimes I think I am! And it does seem to be worse with a window open, but in hot weather I have no choice. Maybe there is something in what you say. I have got problems with the boot seal and that was a subject of another posting of mine. Water gets in when it rains or the car is washed. I had purchased a modern body flange fitting seal but when I fitted it, 2 days ago, I couldn't shut the boot. I'd already wrecked the old lid mounted seal getting it off, and I hacked about with the new rubber till it was near useless. My boot lid seems to be a little too high in the aperture. I've now got no seal and the car is garaged till I get another and try to make it fit.

Thanks for the reply,
Mick