<VV> engine cooling

Mon Dec 17 00:03:10 EST 2007

You probably get the mayo when the ambient temp is in the (a guess) mid 40s or lower.  I got it on a 140 that I bought in CA (headers - no shrouds) while driving back to IL at night in the high desert.  I suppose altitude might also be a factor?  Or maybe it is just the temp drop that comes with altitude.

There are LOTs of places oil can leak from, but a dropped valve seat would not really be one of them.  A loose seat will demonstrate occasional unexplained miss... like as if you just took on a tank load of bad gas or something.  Did you use the viton (usually a reddish brown color) O rings on the push rod tubes.  If so, the leak is likely elsewhere.

If you've seriously overheated the engine, then you have very likely set yourself up for a valve seat to fall out (if not at the time), somewhere down the road.  This can result in little or no damage (smiley face on the top of a piston) up to and including catastrophic failure at high speed - wiping out the upper end of half the engine.  Listen for (non-catastrophic) a miss after a brief stop - like for gas - and or a sound like a wedding ring bouncing on concrete.  That is a seat that is partially out and then re-seating itself. 

If I were you, I'd have a spare 110 head on hand that has been through the machine shop.  When symptoms occur, swap the offending head for the spare and send the removed one off to the machine shop - waiting for something to happen on the other side.

I'm sending a copy back to VV as others may have additional comments/suggestions.

Later, JR

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: daves69vair at aol.com 
  To: hmlinc at sbcglobal.net 
  Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2007 9:46 PM
  Subject: Re: <VV> engine cooling

  Jr, question i have no lower shrouds on my 69 coupe 110 auto w/ headers. on occasion i get that mayo substance on the in side of my oil tube cap and now i have a few good size oil leaks. im not sure if they are from the push tubes yet, could this be  the seats, the motor was all done brand new 2 yrs ago by a local machine shop i have never lost a seat on one of these motors and im not all that sure what to look for. the motor has about 2500 miles on it. it did get pretty hot last summer when i lost a belt and my idiot light did not come on. ya i know who is the idiot. i did get the light fixed. after the fact. i hope you don't mind me picking your brain a little bit, i appreciate any help. dave c.

  -----Original Message-----
  From: J R Read_HML <hmlinc at sbcglobal.net>
  To: shortle <shortle556 at earthlink.net>; virtualvairs at corvair.org
  Sent: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 12:51 am
  Subject: Re: <VV> engine cooling

  You are just not driving it hard enough <GRIN> 

  Obviously, they will open slower (and possibly not as far) in colder ambient temps. First the left one and then the right one. They will close in reverse order. Start the car five minutes before you are going to drive it if you are concerned about dropping a seat. If it is that cold, you are going to want the heater going anyway. Ping (detonation) leads to dropped seats. It is almost impossible to hear it in a Rampside - much easier in a car. If an engine is "too cool" the telltale sign will be a white substance, commonly referred to as mayonnaise, at the top of the oil filler neck. I doubt you will find that condition unless you are running with the lower shrouds off in the winter. Not a real likely scenario. 

  Later, JR 

  ----- Original Message ----- From: "shortle" <shortle556 at earthlink.net> 
  To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org> 
  Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 8:44 PM 
  Subject: <VV> engine cooling 

  > Is it possible for a Corvair to run "too cool"? After deflashing the 95HP > cylinder heads, using a 12 plate oil cooler with both side shrouds, using > the Otto Parts pan and valve covers, both of my rear doors barely start to > open and then close again very quickly when driving. I know both doors > move freely and both thermostats are operating properly. 
  > Is it dangerous for an Corvair engine to be operating in low temps (0 > degrees F to 40 F)? I have heard about starting an engine with cold temps. > and valve seats coming out of heads.I am getting ready to take a (long) > drive of about 600 
  > miles.Since losing an intake seat on my 140 PG Rampside I am now nervous. 
  > Anyone? 
  > Thank you, 
  > Timothy Shortle in Durango Colorado. 
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