Oil Leak

[martsam]

Hi All,
I have my Cobra going now however I have a question. During running of the car there is a slight smell. It seems to be like oil burning but the exhausts do not emit any plume. It's a funny sort of smell. Do any others get this type of smell from their RV8? Also the valley gasket has what looks like an oil smear on the surface but I cannot see any leak. It's baffling me but the surface of the gasket is shiny after I have a run in the car. Any ideas where the slight smear of oil is comming from?

Regards

Denis

[wilf]

This may come as a shock to you, but despite rapid advances in technology, the ability to diagnose smells over the internet still eludes us.

[Happy Jim]

Denis,

Ignore Wilf, he hasn't loaded the correct drivers in his PC yet! pah!

From the smell I'd say it would be a good idea to check your PCV to make sure it's not blocked (of course my drivers may not be up to date and therefore my smellyvision may be incorrect)

Cheers

Jim

[martsam]

Sorry to hear you cannot receive the oily smell over the net Wilf, perhaps you need to update your PC. (Joke)
Jim,
Thanks for a more helpful response. I have not got a PCV on my RV8. I have "plumbed" the breathers from the rocker covers into the intake of the Edelbrock carb. Not sure whether that's correct or not. Anyway I have also fitted a filter to the breather from the crankcase (back of the engine). The smell is similar to a slight burning of oil but as I say the exhausts are clean even when the engine is reved. I cannot understand where the oil is coming from which is smeared on the composite valley gasket. Any ideas?

Regards

Denis

[wilf]

Denis- first place I would look is rocker cover gaskets.

[martsam]

Thanks Wilf,
Will check that they are sealing.

Regards

Denis

[Happy Jim]

Denis,

I had a very similar setup when I had the RV8 in mine - there will always be a whiff of oil from the crankcase breather filter (it's got to go somewhere after all).

Cheers

Jim