Ian:
1. Is your breather system (emissions) intact? The engine is designed to
have a vented crankcase that dumps blow by into the carbs where it is
burned. If this has been capped off, or altered, the crankcase may be
operating with positive pressure from ring blow-by. This would force
oil vapor out of the hole. Make sure your crankcase ventilation system
is intact and not clogged. Plugging the hole might help, but if you
have a problem elsewhere, this would probably result in a leak somewhere
else as the pressure would need to go SOMEWHERE. It is also possible
that you have excessive blow by, and your crankcase ventilation system
simply cannot handle it, hence the leakage.
You could try plugging the hole, and then drilling out the rivet
if
the results are unsatisfactory. Kludges like a rivet have a way of not
working out, however.
2. DOT5 fluid is amazingly controversial. It seems that those people
who use it have had good results if they are careful when they convert.
(purge the DOT4 thoroughly, repair any worn seals, etc). There are lots
of stories about failures attributable to DOT5 when used with seals
designed for DOT4, but there are also success stories about converting.
If I spent $3,000 on a paint job, I would be very motivated to try DOT5.
3. You can certainly look for spares on the list. eBay is a decent
place,
but if you don't want to mess with bidding, waiting, etc, you can try
my favorite place, British Auto Works. They run a salvage operation
and can get you a used one at a good price. www.britishautoworks.com.
They respond to emails, and do lots of internet business. NFI, etc.
Cheers,
Vance
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-6pack@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-6pack@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of Ian Breyer
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 8:22 AM
To: 6pack@autox.team.net
Subject: leaking valve cover
I have a few of questions for all of you people who know a lot more than
I.
1) A month or so ago I purchased one of those aftermarket valve
covers
from Moss. It leaks oil through the pinhole in the oil filler cover.
They
told me this is because I have too much oil pressure. I dont really buy
it.
Why is the hole there anyway? The stock valve cover didnt have one.
Furthermore I would think the oil would rather go out through the hole
for
the emission systems anyway. A friend of mine put a rivet through the
hole
in his Spitfire oil filler to close it up. Would anyone recommend I do
the
same?
2) What does everyone think of DOT 5 brake fluid? I am not currently
using it but my same buddy has it in his Spitfire. I have read its a
bad
idea but I have to admit I like the idea that it wont wreck my paint in
the
event of a spill. Also the brake fluid in my master cylinder reservoir
is a
little dirty. Is this a sign of a problem or is it fairly normal?
3) I know this is supposed to be a technical forum. Whats the etiquette
I
should follow if I was seeking some spare parts? I backed into a
telephone
pole the other day and could use a rear bumper. I know I could try ebay
but
I thought maybe someone out there has one in their garage.
Ian
72 TR6
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