M20 cam oil spray bar

Post Mon Sep 19, 2005 5:57 pm

Is the spray bar above the cam an oil spray bar as OHC fords, or is it as "oil drip" bar? Mine car started to sound a bit tappety so I've had a check, just a bit of a drip from the feeder holes on the bar, not coming out under any pressure at all. I've run a couple of oil flushes through the engine and blown the bar through with an air hose just in case it was getting a bit gunked up but everything seems clear. From the noise I'm suspecting that the cam may be on the way out because of oil starvation but not sure. So is this bar supposed to spray oil under pressure, or just drip oil out?

Cheers
brian

Post Mon Sep 19, 2005 5:59 pm

not sure how much pressure but think it should be more than a drip
have heard these do clog up

Post Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:49 pm

its supossed to spray

Post Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:37 am

Thanks. Not sure what the score is as the oilways should have been cleared by the engine flush if the bores were being restricted. I'll see what Mr Haynes has to say about the oil routes.

Cheers
Brian

Post Tue Sep 20, 2005 8:58 am

Based on practical experience rather than knowledge, I've never seen one do more than a fast drip. Certainly nothing that I would describe as a spray.

Post Tue Sep 20, 2005 4:46 pm

Thanks Brian. I'll have the cam cover off again Thurs to do the tappets, I'll fire the car up and check that there is oil to each lobe. After that it's just a can of molyslip and fingers crossed I think!

Post Tue Sep 20, 2005 11:26 pm

This might sound really stupid but.... is it safe to start up an engine without the rocker cover on???? or how do you check wether it's spraying or dripping???

Post Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:06 am

You can run the engine with the cover off. Will splash oil around a little bit and idle rough because of the open breather pipe.
Keep an eye on the rocker shaft locating/locking plate at the front of the engine. Tends to work its way out with the cover off.

Post Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:22 pm

I have the same problem.
Engine, while warm and inding, I pulled off the oil cap (idle become slow and rough, but it kept running), and had a look at my spray bar, and I tell you it was not spraying/dripping. It was wet drops of oil on it, but not actually dripping from it. I revved the engine little bit - no change.

I cleaned it out last weekend and it appears clean inside. I was wondering what might be other problem there ? not getting oil press form the cam bearing ? how would I check that ? what else to try out ?

I could fabricate custom oil feed to that line, but still i need to know what's broken...

Post Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:08 pm

I drained the oil out and left a gallon of diesel in overnight, have done this to a few different cars as its a really good way of dissolving gunk off things like the pick up filter that may be restricting flow. (Not sure that it'd ever be recommended in an owners manual tho!) Did an oil change and set the tappets, sounds a lot better now and the oil bar is back to "fast drip" mode rather than intermittent drip mode. Mops, couldn't find any info on the path for the oil feed to the bar, but clearing out with the diesel has definitely improved things.

Cheers
Brian

Post Thu Sep 22, 2005 9:11 pm

Hang ok, If I get this right....
You drain the oil, put the sump plug back in and fill the engine with diesel ?

When the diesel is comming out, is it really dirty or what ?

Is the diesel usable for use in diesel engine after all that ?

Brian28 wrote:I drained the oil out and left a gallon of diesel in overnight, have done this to a few different cars as its a really good way of dissolving gunk off things like the pick up filter that may be restricting flow. (Not sure that it'd ever be recommended in an owners manual tho!) Did an oil change and set the tappets, sounds a lot better now and the oil bar is back to "fast drip" mode rather than intermittent drip mode. Mops, couldn't find any info on the path for the oil feed to the bar, but clearing out with the diesel has definitely improved things.

Cheers
Brian

Post Fri Sep 23, 2005 1:52 am

Thats the first time I've ever heard of that Brian, sounds like it might work tho.
Do you run the engine for a bit with just the diesel in then, to get it round the engine? And how long for?

Post Fri Sep 23, 2005 8:09 am

I crank the car over for a bit to get it circulated, but don't start it as I'm not sure how well crank etc would be lubed with just diesel (mixed with a bit of oil left in the filter) so never wanted to take the risk. But if you want to start your car up, then report back if the big end are knocking afterwards I'll know if I want to try it next time

.... . Mops, yup thats exactly what I meant. Comes out like treacle tho, so not sure I'd put it back into a fuel tank. But a gallon of diesel taken to the oil dump afterwards is still cheaper than an oil flush.

Cheers
Brian

Post Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:09 am

Does all the diesel come out, or would a flush with some cheap oil afterwards be advisable?

Post Sat Oct 01, 2005 8:28 pm

I flushed with cheap oil leaving the original filter on, then swapped oil for decent stuff and fitted a new oil filter. To be honest no idea whether this additional oil change is strictly necessary, but with cheapo oil for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£2.50 a gallon just seemed a bit daft not to!

Cheers
Brian