Speed Humps - Beware

[AJs Cerbie]

Well I had an interesting experience whilst driving my Chim home last night.

Clonking noise from under bonnet followed by smoke in rear view mirror.

Pulled over (A road) immediately and switched engine straight off where upon exiting the car I was greeted by an ever increasing puddle of engine oil from under the car.

Turns out my sump plug had disappeared and engine contents emptied itself on the side of the road / layby.

Well as my access road at home is currently blocked due to new hideous new gas main being installed, my only route to house and garage is via 12 / 14 varying sized and shaped speed humps.

I could hear a slight scraping noise when going over one or two yesterday morning but was not overly concerned as was moving so slowly and used to happen with my ole Cerb depending on hump design.

Turns out that I must have hit the sump plug and it started to loosen the plug which after some mile eventually worked it's way completely loose and popped out, much to my horror.

So just a quick word of warning to any TVR's who regularly encounter damn speed humps, tread carefully and maybe also check your sump / plug regularly to ensure its always fully tightened.

I know I will be.........

[Timja]

I think this one of the ideas behind steve heaths sump plug (think others also available) which is round with an allen key hole in the centre to loosen - as it would be less likely to loosen if you hit it whereas the standard sump plug has a hex head making it much easier to catch.

Might be worth getting one as they are only about £8.

Mine just has the standard plug but was thinking about changing it...

[.Mark]

Had exactly the same on the Chimaera. Speed hump at wifes work must had caught it. She reversed in to the drive one evening as normal, I went out the following morning to put something in the passenger side and noticed a puddle of oil. The sump plug was hanging in by the last thread, it must have deposited the contents of the engine one stopped.

Really lucky because if I hadn't gone out there she'd have jumped in and gone...........as far as the end of the road is my bet!

[Stevie_P]

This is a known problem as, I believe, they have a hex head.
David Batty lock wires them for this reason during a service.
Steve

[AJs Cerbie]

Yep, I'd seen the Steve Heath one before and was going to buy it, famous last words, instead I bought his nice header tank cap and shiny red magnetic cover along with some heat shields, but not the sump plug one which is more important I guess, that'll teach me for putting engine bling before more practical items. Will be ordering that sump piece this evening!

[ruaricoles]

Yes, have got a Steve Heath allen key sump plug on the Griff and at the last oil change noticed a small scrape on the underside of it, so loosening the standard plug must be easily done (and therefore well worth fitting a round one!). Also has a little magnet on the end to help pick up rubbish from the oil.

Ruari

[haircutmike]

ruaricoles said:

Yes, have got a Steve Heath allen key sump plug on the Griff and at the last oil change noticed a small scrape on the underside of it, so loosening the standard plug must be easily done (and therefore well worth fitting a round one!). Also has a little magnet on the end to help pick up rubbish from the oil.

Ruari

Also available from Clever Trev.

HCM.

[scotty_d]

I fitted SH one last year for this reason i have to go over a good few when going anywhere and heard it catch a few times with the car fully loaded.