13 replies to this topic

[OZMINI]

Putting together a fast road engine, looked at the design of a couple of central oil pick ups, which has raised some questions. 1. Small mesh area, Wouldn't it block up quicker? 2. It sits on the bottom of the gearbox, wouldn't it be in amoungst the the eventual sludge?

What about the standard pick up (that has been used for fifty years). Large mesh area, has it's own little well to sit in, and IMO harder to get blocked up. I do understand that under harsh driving conditions the oil can run away from the pick up on long fast right turns. But, is a road car going to encounter the same forces that contribute to this problem? And, if there were some frantic road use wouldn't an extra 1/2 litre of oil in the sump compensate for this movement of oil away from the pick up?

The bottom line is, Does anybody have a preference towards a standard oil pick up in their mini?

Thanks

[Cater_Racer]

Centre pick-up is mandatory, if you want throw the car into bends with confidence.

[david036]

Wouldn't even condiser building an engine without one!!!! A must!!

[Old Bob]

What's with 'The eventual sludge'? Clean oil and regular oil changes should prevent that.

And the centre-line pickup was developed to correct an inherent design fault. Would seem preverse not to use one now.

Bob

[OZMINI]

Getting the message! So is the Mini Spares one OK to use.

[solihullian]

yeah, use the minispares one, i used one from another supplier in the past and it fouled everywhere and didnt fit very well, the minispares ones fit properly.

[A-Cell]

In my opinion unless you are racing or rallying, the standard oil pick up is adequate for a fast road car. I use it with no problems. Take your pick. Large strainer versus better pick up in extreme surge conditions. Standard one has worked on plenty of minis, 1100's, 1300's, allegros, early metros.

[Guess-Works.com]

The centre pickup is a design improvement over the standard unit, not for any other reason other than the end of the pipe is always in oil.

The standard pickup pipe collects oil from the area near the sump plug, which is also the lowest part of the sump, so a collection point for unwanted debris. Obviously you don't want to be picking that up so there is a big strainer which it is inside, but also the pipe ends about an inch off the bottom of the sump, which means in any condition there must be at least an inch of oil in the sump before the standard strainer will actually pick it up, before you even consider the movement of oil left, right, forward and backward due to vehicle movement.

The central oil pickup collects oil from centre, as the name suggests, which is higher, but also the pipe is almost on the bottom of the sump, therefore is almost always guaranteed to be in oiil, especially under extreme driving conditions ( unless the cars upside down )

This means the engine will always be getting oil. For the cost of a set of main bearings, doesn't it make sense to fit one if you have the chance ?

Edit...

PS, if you do build your engine/gearbox all the silicon goop you put on the gaskets which is squished out into the sump, ends up on the strainer, and I've pulled central oil pickups out of old boxes which have been literally caked in silicon, so any benefit of the pipe is immediately wasted... If you must use an engine build paste on gaskets, use something which will degrade in oil.

Edited by Guess-Works.com, 23 February 2013 - 04:28 PM.

[OZMINI]

Guess-works

Thanks for the clear and consice answer to me question. I'll work on the sealant. I do use 3Bond and have never had an oil leak.

Thanks

[MRA]

I always use oil in my gearboxes, I think grease is far too thick......

And for sealing I use RTV or the darker colours of sealant, such as Black, Blue, possibly Orange, never never never clear or white as these are weaker.

And yes I have tested the strengths, you will find that most suppliers ie Loctite etc will always quote worse case scenarios on their datasheets. Black is the strongest..

[MRA]

Now that would be interesting to see, grease on the later gasketless boxes

Edited by mra-minis.co.uk, 24 February 2013 - 09:09 PM.

[SAL 821X]

Ive just got one to build into my new-ish engine.

Any ideas on how the hell you fit the thing?

I took the old one out and thought it was just a straight swop but the centre pipe wont fit.

[MRA]

You have to remove the large retainer plate at the pinion end of the gearbox then remove the locking plate (just slide out) and remove the layshaft and laygear, being careful not to drop the two thrust washers and any bearings that are within the laygear... the laygear and CPU have to be put together to fit wihin the case, its a little juggling act but not too difficult.

CPU = Central Pick Up pipe

[SAL 821X]

Nice one MRA will have a look in to that when I get home.

As you were.