| Author |
Message |
Al Johnson (Bigal)
Junior Member
Username: Bigal
Post Number: 96
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, June 27, 2003 - 9:06 am: | |
UPDATE
I wanted to post an update for fellow 308 owners in case they encounter the same problem. It was a blown o-ring at the oil filter housing. After further investigation, a problem was discovered with the Pressure Relief piston and spring. Seems it had been sticking and that explained why the o-ring at the oil filter housing blew out. The oil pressure piston stuck in a position where the oil pressure could not relieve itself other than finding a way to blow out, i.e the seal to the oil filter. When the car was being diagnosed and repaired the mechanic encountered a no oil pressure situation when the piston stuck in the full bypass position. The part was replaced and things seem fine now. Keeping my fingers crossed, of course. |
Philip Airey (Pma1010)
New member
Username: Pma1010
Post Number: 43
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, November 17, 2002 - 9:47 pm: | |
I succeeded in pressurizing my tranny (separate story) so that oil was forced past the diff seals and sprayed out on to the rear exhaust heat shield thru centrifugal force. Lots of smoke, no flames and I was at the track so it was HOT. Maybe the same symptoms can cause a fire, but as someone else said, lift the bonnet, start the car and watch. It ought to be apparent quickly.
Philip |
magoo (Magoo)
Advanced Member
Username: Magoo
Post Number: 3540
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 17, 2002 - 8:36 pm: | |
Could there be a leak in one of the brake lines spraying out and hitting the manifold? Brake fluid is highly flamable and would certainly ignite easily. |
'75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Intermediate Member
Username: Peter
Post Number: 2193
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, November 17, 2002 - 5:19 pm: | |
The oil-cooler is mounted on the driver's side and yet you're finding tons of oil on the passenger's side... Hmmm...
Did you check the level of oil in your tranny? Its a far shot, but if a diff seal would happen to leak severely, or is blown altogether, the CV joint would whip oil all around and remember, the exhaust manifold is right above it.
I had a small leak from one of my diff seals and it left a neat stripe of caked-on oil on the underside of my exhaust manifold... |
Bill V. (Doc)
Junior Member
Username: Doc
Post Number: 199
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 17, 2002 - 3:24 pm: | |
Al--I would carefully gunk off as much oil as you can, let it dry and then have someone start the car while you observe the engine bay. Such a leak should be apparent right away. As soon as you see it, shut it down.
Re: cleaning the engine, be very careful not to get any solvent into the clutch breather holes or onto any of the critical belts. When I clean my engine, I spray a little gunk in a particular area, use a brush to spread it around and then hose it off carefully without a high pressure nozzle. Before I knew any better, I got my clutch wet a couple of times, resulting in difficulty shifting for awhile.
My first guess as to the oil spray would be an oil cooler line. They sometimes rub against the frame --mounted poorly in my opinion. |
stu cordova (Balataboy)
Member
Username: Balataboy
Post Number: 273
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 17, 2002 - 1:09 pm: | |
WHOAAAA...really scary story, Al. I can't believe you kept driving the car after seeing the flames! I would have freaked and pulled over immediately! And then you drove the car again the next day??? Wow!!!
Good luck with the fix and keep us posted! -Fellow QV Euro owner, Stu |
Brian stewart (Eurocardoc)
Member
Username: Eurocardoc
Post Number: 400
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 17, 2002 - 11:57 am: | |
I would guess the oil cooler lines, fairly common. You can reuse the fittings and install generic hose for very little cost. |
Al Johnson (Bigal)
Junior Member
Username: Bigal
Post Number: 90
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, November 17, 2002 - 11:41 am: | |
I was driving the 308 the other night when I thought I saw police lights in my rear view mirror, when it turned out to be a small fire. Luckily I was close to home so I made it to my driveway. The fire went out by itself almost immediately. I got a flashlight and braced myself for fire damage. I was lucky; there wasn't any fire damage as the flames came up through the black mesh. When I opened up the trunk I was expecting to see the remains of a gas fire but the engine bay had oil all over it, on both sides of the engine and on the inside of the tires. There wasn't any other fire damage to the engine or bay. I had driven the car that morning and to dinner earlier in the evening and it was running fantastic. No noises or problems before the fire and no symptoms previously. The next day on my way to work I could see a trail of oil in the middle of the street all the way to my house, kind of embarrassing. Checking several days later I saw that there was no accumulated oil in the engine block valley. There seemed to be more oil on the passenger side than on the driver side. The wheel well on the passenger side has an oil ring around it. There is more oil on the bottom half of the passenger side engine bay than the driver side. I checked the dipstick and it is up to the Full line. I was really surprised to see that level of oil on the dipstick considering how much was on the roadway leading to my house. Jeff E. thought it sounded like a possible leak in one of the crank case vent lines. He said these lines wear from the outside from scrubbing on nuts that secure intake manifolds. Do you concur? Could the lines from the oil cooler also be to blame? What side of the car is the cooler located?
What�s the best and safest way to check, start the car and look for spraying oil? As some of the hoses are covered, what�s the best way to check for leaks/tears?
I also want to give the engine bay a thorough cleaning. Anything to be careful of washing the engine and drive train?
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