Page 1 of 2

Oily Leak...updated!

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:35 pm
by Rich H
Looks like I have a weeping driveshaft oil seal :( Inboard LH tripod joint case is damp with oil. Anyone changed one? :scratch

I'll probably go for all the ball joints as well as the hub carrier will be off.

I also bought a PRRT today form landrover 48.80+vat and a expantion tank cap 3.42+vat, all ready for fitting. Got to get some coolant first.

Rich

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:38 pm
by Shug
The PRRT in yours should be a damn sight easier to locate than mine - 'cos you ain't running an oil cooler.

Check carlo's site (which I'm sure I've linked to in my engine thread) and you'll get some really clear install photos. 8)

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:13 pm
by Rich H
Thanks Shug seen that site, but my car is an ancient version (Like yours Simon) so the pipework is routed differently, I don't even have a front bleed point (Could be tricky to bleed later on). Did you move the temp sensors? I can't remember.

Any idea where to get coolant? Is it a unipart part?
Or fit an oil seal (More improtant really!)
TTFN
Rich

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:18 pm
by Shug
Oh dear.... Speak to Robin about the issues with remote stats and the old style pipework....

Sure you can work around it though 8)

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:19 pm
by Rich H
Looks straight forward.... just a few more ali pipes to cut.

Tell me more Robin.....(please!)

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:25 pm
by Shug
From memory, it may have been Geary's remoste stat that Robin used. I just know he turned up on the Yahoo list sooking through his teeth when I bought mine ;) :lol:

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:22 am
by Rich H
Feck it, I'm off to get some coolant, gearbox oil and a new seal (Hopefully!) from my friendly motorfactors.

Then I'll just have to spend hours under the car fighting with something I hadn't thougt of..... :roll:

Wish me luck, pics to follow.

R

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:14 am
by robin
Don't know much about the PRRT - you can convert your car to running the modern pipe work by buying the relevant hoses and alloy pipe from Lotus. The problem is there isn't enough space between the heatshield and the bulkhead for the coolant pipe and the studs that are present in the later cars for mounting the P-clips that hold the alloy pipe to the bulkhead aren't present in the earlier cars.

We happened to fit a new bulhead liner and bonded some home-made mounts onto the bulkhead for the P-clips at the same time.

An alternate way to do the conversion is to fit the oil cooler at the same time, as it comes with a new pipe or two that will make it easier to fit.

If I was doing it again I might be inclined to use Lotus's own lower coolant pipe (it has a bend at each end which allows much easier connection to the hoses) and reshape with an oval cross section in the middle 2/3rds to reduce the amount of space it requires behind the heatshield.

There is no doubt a way to mount this longer pipe to the chassis rail at the bottom by making some home-made clamps and using some of the holes that are already present in the chassis rail.

If you want to take a look at it all my car currently has the whole exhaust removed including the manifold so you get a good view of the pipework - it's sitting at Lawrences ...

Cheers,
Robin

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:56 am
by Rich H
I was going to leave most of the pipework alone. I was going to put a T piece at the engine outlet. A quick scetch of the plan:

Image
[Edit the PRRT outlest are actually the other way around, forgot to check :wink: ]

This will flow in exactly the same way as the other examples I have seen plans for and there is plenty of space, nothing will have to move. The only thing that might need modifying is the ali pipe form the rad might have to be cut down as I'm not sure the kit has enough hose included to remove it completely.

Anyone see a problem with this? :scratch The only problem may be bleeding it but that shoudl be all. I'm goign to try and get the PRRT mounted vertically to reduce the amount of trapped air, but it's down to the pipework I have really.

I'll buy all the stuff today and start when I get beck from 2 weeks hols. pics to follow.

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:10 am
by Rich H
Of the PRRT not the hols :roll:

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:16 am
by Shug
Only thing I'll mention is that the PRRT has a "jiggle valve" to aid bleeeding, which only works when it's vertical. (ie. not installed like mine, or yours will be)

That said, I don't see any problem - will just involve bleeding once more when it's up to temp and open, at worst.

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:29 am
by Rich H
This may help explain in place of my crappy sketch:

Image

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:09 am
by Shug
Ah so - should work admirably if all the pipes end up in the right place :thumbsup

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:14 pm
by Rich H
Drifting back to my oil leak, I have the seals form Rover (Got L&R as it's only a matter of time :roll:) but nowhere in dundee has any suitable gearbox oil :? Even the rover dealer didn't have any.

Halfrauds will have some tomorrow. £11.99 a litre! And you need 2.1, typical. Hmph.

Got coolant though.

Ahwell, a project to look forward to when I get back. (Unless someone wants to do it for me while I'm away? :wink:)

Rich

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:29 pm
by Rich H
Image