#ZedShed Project Sharkey...

[smartbear]

I think a good way to put this one to bed would be if I bring my compression tester next time you all get together again. That way you can rule things out or as the case may be confirm a few things.

Lee

Hmm, not sure a compression tester would pick much up if it was only the oil scraper rings that had gummed up?
It could still have good compression & perform well, yet burn oil past the rings.
If it was the valve stem seals, that's usually given away by a puff of smoke on start-up as the oil has a chance to run Down past the seals after a period of not running.
I suspect the ccv function, especially the dipstick tube oil return oil way, just my opinion of course.
Regards

 

[Brian4]

When cleaned our ccv last year the hose from the cam cover was nearly blocked as was the drain to the dipstick. I managed to get them off and flushed through at work. Difficult at this time of year as they get to be very stiff/brittle in this cold weather.

 

[smartbear]

I've heard the pipe to the dipstick can be clear yet it's often the dipstick tube itself which blocks up, it has a passageway separate to the hole inside the dipstick (it's double skinned) the only real way to clear it out is to remove the dipstick tube from the engine.
Regards

 

[oldcarman]

Interesting about the dip stick. This thread is starting to look like Gaz's from a while back. This could be choose an A-B-C or all of the above scenarios from a test in high school shops class. I'm sure that everyone working collectively will solve all the problems this poor Zed has. It's just one of the things that separates this forum from others. JIM

 

[zedonist]

I think personally you just got to strip the whole lot and then flush the engine just to be sure

 

[Lee]

I would go with Zedonist, there is so many things it could be now a full strip and clean would really benefit.

Lee

 

[miller1098]

The car has been off the road for a while now,

Old oil standing in the engine,the easy fix,engine flush,see what it does and then take the next steps it may be as simple as that "are you feeling lucky"

 

[billz]

I too would go for engine flush and possibly new valve seals. It is nice to see forum members assisting each other and not just via threads. Keep up the good work lads n gals

 

[TaffZee]

OCR? could well be, but I would stil go toward the Valve Seals, seems to be a lot of Carbon on the Vanos, this indicates excessive exhaust gasses are entering the chamber and with oil entering the cylinder the other way through the valve seals causing plug contamination.. I thing the seals can be changed without removing the head but not 100% sure, and if you can do it yourself the valve seals are very cheap around £20 for a set.

 

[Zeti]

Usually that's been about a litre of auto trans fluid in the oil run through the oil galleries for about 1/2 hr and oil drained and filter change, if it was one of those new fangled engines that had one, repeat. Sometimes after an engine had been sitting for 30-40 years it might take two even three attempts to loosen everything clogging things up. Again, you can hear the engine smoothing out. Ask me sometime to tell you about my 56 Pontiac that had been sitting since 68. JIM

I think the winter is the best moment for this kind of stories Jim!
Why not open a thread somewhere? Maybe some procedures don't match anymore to our Zeds, but my God, I like these stories!

 

[Zeti]

OCR? could well be, but I would stil go toward the Valve Seals, seems to be a lot of Carbon on the Vanos, this indicates excessive exhaust gasses are entering the chamber and with oil entering the cylinder the other way through the valve seals causing plug contamination.. I thing the seals can be changed without removing the head but not 100% sure, and if you can do it yourself the valve seals are very cheap around £20 for a set.

Does anybody knows what is the average lifetime of the piston rings? What if this rings are kaput? We are talking about 175k miles!
The compression test should show something!

 

[FRANKIE]

Here at ZRoadster.org we like to try and help each other out. This time we have picked up a Topaz Blue 2000 2.2 Auto Z3 belonging to @marcusmartin. @Ben Nylk has kindly stepped in to the breach to help diagnose excessive oil consumption, and generally look over his car. The car has been off the road for a while now, and Marcus really wants to get it sorted but doesn't have the know how!

I said I would pop over and say hi, so met up with @BMBabe and @Ben Nylk and headed over to pick Marcus up and have a look. What we found was what looks to be a neglected Z3 with a lot of potential.

The issues as they stand:

• Leaking from hood, most likely a-pillar. The interior is soaked, and badly covered in mould. Thinks it's bad enough to remove the carpets to resolve the interior problems once the leaks are fixed.
• Excessive oil consumption. Blows smoke and can use a litre of oil really quickly.
• Split induction hose pipes.

With these fixed Marcus can then focus on getting the car looking right too. He has access to a friends garage, which is complete with a 2 post lift, although not needed for tonights tinkering. Ben had already sourced some parts after spending time researching the issues.

Where the car had been stored for a long period before Marcus got it, the engine bay had been a popular place for field mice. The nest had long been removed, but the remnants remained:
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The mice had dined out on some of the softer rubber, and cable sheathing but obviously didn't like the taste of the cables themselves
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Moving on rapidly to other things, the air intake boot like most Z3's had split badly. New ones had been ordered by Ben ready for this evening...
View attachment 11563

Fiddly work to fit these intake pipes, and probably consumed the majority of the time this evening...
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Even @BMBabe did something helpful
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The spanner monkeys... (Ben on the left)
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Still taking ages to fit...
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...and done...
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More to follow:

Did they understand you when you spoke English? (inside joke)

 

[FRANKIE]

Can I come too?? Sounds like fun and I can use the money!! Life in a Dutch prison has got to beat winters in Canada. You in Frankie?? JIM

Can I bring my dogs?

 

[FRANKIE]

Does anybody knows what is the average lifetime of the piston rings? What if this rings are kaput? We are talking about 175k miles!
The compression test should show something!

Generally speaking, when a car blows blue (oil) smoke when running, it more often than not has one of two, if not both problems. If the car continually blows the smoke while running, the rings are bad. If the car only blows smoke when, lets say, after sitting at a light and starting to go forward, or just sitting stationary and then starting forward, but not while actually running down the road, then the valves are at fault, such as bad valve guides. Frankie

 

[FRANKIE]

Generally speaking, when a car blows blue (oil) smoke when running, it more often than not has one of two, if not both problems. If the car continually blows the smoke while running, the rings are bad. If the car only blows smoke when, lets say, after sitting at a light and starting to go forward, or just sitting stationary and then starting forward, but not while actually running down the road, then the valves are at fault, such as bad valve guides. Frankie

PS. The sitting stationary time allows the oil to drip down from the valves into the cylinder while idling slowly and quickly burns this as the rpm increases when starting to move. It doesn't drip quickly enough while driving to show in the exhaust. Frankie

 

[oldcarman]

Can I bring my dogs?

Of course, why would you even think you needed to ask? They can dig the holes to bury the money till things cool down and the Dutch love their dogs. Take them everywhere with them, just don't take poop bags with them so tread carefully. JIM

 

[BMBabe]

Wow thank you all for the advice @marcusmartin unfortunalty has no internet for a few days to reply but I have spoken to him and he would like to thank you all
@Lee and anyone else that's up for a visit to come and find out what's really going on that would be amazing

 

[zedonist]

Generally speaking, when a car blows blue (oil) smoke when running, it more often than not has one of two, if not both problems.

Or the turbo oil seals have gone, or has a cracked head oil galley, or the CCV is stuffed and sucks oil into the intake.................no one expects the spanish inquisition...........

 

[smartbear]

It's always best to start with the simple things first before you start pulling engines apart
Regards

 

[BMBabe]

Or the turbo oil seals have gone, or has a cracked head oil galley, or the CCV is stuffed and sucks oil into the intake.................no one expects the spanish inquisition...........

To be honest this car needs looking at properly by you Zed guys as you know what you are talking about and also know what you are looking at @marcusmartin has a little cash ready for the next stage but needs more help and what he needs to do next