4 replies to this topic

[Tornado99]

Out and about the city today. Had to make an emergency stop when some fool pulled out in front of me. Not quite squealing the tires, but almost. All good ,no crash, but when pulling away, throttle revving as clutch coming off, saw a bluish puff of smoke out the back of my '88 Mini with single HS4 carb. Quite a lot of smoke, disappeared moment revs dropped, but another puff happened as I continued up a small hill. Then nothing more throughout rest of 30 minutes driving. Stopped and popped bonnet to see if something had come loose or if oil was spilling anywhere...nothing appeared out of sorts. 

 

What could explain this? A bit of oil getting sucked into carb via the crankcase breather hoses? 

Edited by Tornado99, 19 April 2024 - 09:40 PM.

[Spider]

What could explain this? A bit of oil getting sucked into carb via the crankcase breather hoses? 

 

I'd say almost certainly it was just this. I've experienced similar.

[Steam]

The oil vapour filter canister on top of the clutch housing (ccv/ breather circuit) has a filter like steel wool or a scourer in it and it can drop or get knocked and emit oil vapour into the carb via the pipe.
I had it happen on a fast left hand bend and I would think an emergency stop would also do it.
Looked like a 007 DB5 smoke screen.

[DeadSquare]

I once over filled the oil in our 1600 Montego before a day trip to London.

 

Nothing undue happened on the way or the return until we turned off the M4 at Swindon and I pulled sharply away from the first roundabout by the hospital. 

 

The white cloud of smoke filled both lanes and when I overtook a lorry 1/2 a mile up the straight road, nothing had emerged.

 

I have always felt a twinge of guilt that no emerging vehicles was probably due to a nose-to-tail shunt in the gloom.

[Tornado99]

Thanks for the assuring replies that there is nothing going wrong in the engine. Had thought a gasket or valve had gone. 

by the way, the 1275 engine in this '88 car only has one breather oil trap canister fitted...timing side. A hose is fitted to the clutch side on a flange where the other trap is meant to be. I will source another canister and fit it soon.