Inlet manifold questions

[jacksocket]

I’m about to remove the inlet manifold due to some oily mist exiting through both exhaust pipes.
I’ve been through removal of vacuum pipes from the plenum , PCV, servo etc. so things are pointing to the manifold at the moment. Also a compression test shows a good 180-190 on each bore too, so that’s a relief.
On removing the plenum, the interior was mucky but not oily, however the base and its gasket was.
can anyone advise on these items……

1/ is there an oil-way through the manifold? I can’t find a drawing/photo showing this detail. ( I’ll probably know myself this coming weekend!!).
2/ it looks like the inlet manifold can be removed without disturbing the injector valves, ie taken out in one piece. The Ford ‘head removal’ guide http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/manual/engines/12v/V6... explains the splitting of the unit – I’d rather keep it intact if possible.
3/ this guide then describes the 4 stage torque down, with last round being done with a special cranked spanner (which I don’t have). This is to get around the plenum as the engine has to be run to temperature before this last nip-up. Does anyone have any advice on this? My current thoughts are to install the plenum on the old gaskets, run to temp. – then whip of the plenum off again to quickly nip-up the manifold. Is this the way forward?

Ps – the lump is a 2.9
Any advice welcome….
Thanks.

[tozerman]

As far as I can remember there is no oil supply to the inlet manifold, if there is "oil mist" coming through the exhaust then surely it is a breathing issue, I would check all your breather pipes and the little pcv valve in the os rocker cover are all ok and not blocked. My ten pence worth is removing the inlet manifold is unecesary and a bigger job than you may think as to do it properly involves the removal of the dizzy and the fuel rail (there are bolts hidden by it which need to be accessed) and when you refit it with a new valley gasket the slightest movement of the new gasket will cause a leak, which means taking it all apart again. I personally can't think of a reason why the manifold needs to be removed unless you have a leak of some sort (vacumn or coolant) willing to be proved wrong though.

Cheers.....Tony..

[jacksocket]

Thanks for the prompt response Tony,
I understand where you are coming from - I couldn't think of a reason for having an oil feed up there ( no moving parts). I was half hoping there was a loop oil-way though there or something...
I'll park the manifold removal for now - I certainly don’t need the agro. or the level of difficulty increasing.
I should try explaining the fault better - she starts first time on the key and runs at tick-over (slightly lumpy). There are whitish cloud gasses at the exhaust and spitting a damp residue on the floor, if you put your hand in the fumes it feels wet and slippery as a fine oil spray... The plugs get black and sooty.
The head of the exh. pipes (at the joint where they meet the exh. manifold) both are dripping a darker oily residue, which runs down the outside of the pipes and onto the floor.
I've removed the PCV valve - all clean - still spitting .
then removed brake vacuum pipe , again that’s clean - still spitting .
then removing all other pipes to the inlet, other than the ones from the air meters - still spitting .
I don’t have the crankcase breather attached to the air cleaner anymore ( it was rotting the filter from the inside), I have a small filter fitted to the filler tube - even with this removed - still spitting .
I'm now thinking I should do the removal of all pipes let it run - and see if it clears up , as it just might be hanging around in the exhaust . Then re attach systematically to see what brings it on...

[ketvrin]

Take it for a good run as it sounds a bit like under-use... how often do you get a good run in and does the engine get up to full temp ? some moisture from the exhaust is expected if you do short runs and condensation builds up as it never gets hot enough.

it certainly doesnt sound terminal to me

good luck

K

[tozerman]

jacksocket said:

Thanks for the prompt response Tony,
I understand where you are coming from - I couldn't think of a reason for having an oil feed up there ( no moving parts). I was half hoping there was a loop oil-way though there or something...
I'll park the manifold removal for now - I certainly don’t need the agro. or the level of difficulty increasing.
I should try explaining the fault better - she starts first time on the key and runs at tick-over (slightly lumpy). There are whitish cloud gasses at the exhaust and spitting a damp residue on the floor, if you put your hand in the fumes it feels wet and slippery as a fine oil spray... The plugs get black and sooty.
The head of the exh. pipes (at the joint where they meet the exh. manifold) both are dripping a darker oily residue, which runs down the outside of the pipes and onto the floor.
I've removed the PCV valve - all clean - still spitting .
then removed brake vacuum pipe , again that’s clean - still spitting .
then removing all other pipes to the inlet, other than the ones from the air meters - still spitting .
I don’t have the crankcase breather attached to the air cleaner anymore ( it was rotting the filter from the inside), I have a small filter fitted to the filler tube - even with this removed - still spitting .
I'm now thinking I should do the removal of all pipes let it run - and see if it clears up , as it just might be hanging around in the exhaust . Then re attach systematically to see what brings it on...

The white cloud is just steam pure and simple, it will disapear once warm.

I think you are just running rich, would explain the lumpy idle and the sooty plugs.

regarding the "oily residue" leaking from the exhaust manifold, that will just be moisture mixing with the carbon residue in the manifold giving the appearance you described, take the joint apart and reseal the joints, (should stop that problem).

If the car is running rich then rectifying that should remove the problems you have,

sounds to me like a bit of TLC and a good run is all it needs.

Cheers.....Tony..

[Barkychoc]

tozerman said:

The white cloud is just steam pure and simple, it will disapear once warm.

I think you are just running rich, would explain the lumpy idle and the sooty plugs.

regarding the "oily residue" leaking from the exhaust manifold, that will just be moisture mixing with the carbon residue in the manifold giving the appearance you described, take the joint apart and reseal the joints, (should stop that problem).

If the car is running rich then rectifying that should remove the problems you have,

sounds to me like a bit of TLC and a good run is all it needs.

Cheers.....Tony..

I agree it just sounds like you may have some condensation about but otherwise all sounds good to me.

In the words of Basil go and give it a damn good thrashing!

[jacksocket]

Ok gents - I'll re-build and give this a try.... My son has offered to follow with oil and water!!
Although I need to sort out the radiator first . it's weeping ( me too!).

steveS