not all as it should be

N

neandethal

New member
Location
oakham
Hi, went for a legal speed trip to Skegness and back as the first proper run out on the Mirage, approx 170 mile round trip. When i got there is noticed the oily spatter shown inthe photo. It hasn't got any worse with the return trip. It looks like the header pipe is leaking on that one pot, don't think it is the head gasket as oil above the joint and particularly present around the chrome pipe. You know it was slow, i got 38 mpg!!
2 questions really:
a. Is this common, assume fix is remove aforementioned header and fit new gasket and ensure torqued down, perhaps some exhaust paste?
b. More concerning, it looks quite oily, is this just the nature of the rich mix, i was dawdling, or is there something more sinister to investigate?
 

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ok, stopped being lazy and now done a search and found 2 very interesting articles about negative pressure sucking oil down perfectly good valve guide/seal. so i now know its new copper gasket and high temperature sealant. Top forum, but happy to have other opinions expressed.
 
neandethal said:
ok, stopped being lazy and now done a search and found 2 very interesting articles about negative pressure sucking oil down perfectly good valve guide/seal. so i now know its new copper gasket and high temperature sealant. Top forum, but happy to have other opinions expressed.
Click to expand...
Had exactly same problem which was solved by new copper gaskets from Phil Todd. They were the crush type with the asbestos ? inner. Fixed it a treat.
 
If you need some kind of sealant, something's wrong.
I would have simply tightened it down without changing gasket because now you're going to need to check those nuts regularly until it's all settled down.

Paul
 
Loosen the whole system and get it wiggling and slipping about, then (with new gaskets) tighten the whole thing up, but start at the front, be sure everything is ssettled and nipped up, be harder at the front and repeat about three times in progression, no sealing shit needed or desirable, I always fit exteneded domed nuts and wire them, but you need to do about three heat cycles of (maybe) ten miles, and retighten each time when cold, then (if that your poison) wire the suckers. They do cme lose occassionally and inevitable when a long way from home, the first thing you notice is the exhaust blow and you have lost a nut (7mm) carry some spares! If you try to tighten that one nut, to stop the leak you will crack the rose.
CLEM
 
The other oil leak issue that’s been talked about a lot here, is the cam cover. Tends to leak at the left front when parked on sidestand.
Could that be a possibility here by any chance? It’s easier to fix 😁
 
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