timgarman
Established member
On driving back from my dyno tune I had a massive oil explosion in the engine bay. This has happened before and I've posted about it. But I may have some more clues now.
Here's some details that might help someone point me in the right direction.
I had just started a longish (1 hour) drive home. I'd recently done an oil change ready for the dyno tune. The dyno work had been done 2 days before.
I noticed that the oil pressure gauge on my Abarth style dashboard array had gone off the clock. It was reading a maximum of 8 bars. I had noticed this before but assumed it might be an intermittent problem with the oil sensor. However, I was expecting a problem this time, since I'd had this oil explosion before.
I couldn't pull over straight away. Before I could stop I noticed the pressure return to normal. When I stopped the engine bay was covered in oil – dripping out through the vents, as if there has been a rear end explosion – no curry involved
So the two things must be related. Huge oil pressure then a sudden drop and a big expulsion of oil. I've felt in the past that the dipstick was the source, but it was still in place, though could have been loose. Hard to really know where this is coming from. But what would cause a build up of oil pressure like that? (Note: I have the 3.5L Abarth sump.)
I also have an aluminium rocker cover, not fitted yet. The plan is to fit that so it can be screwed down more firmly and eliminate that as the source.
Any thoughts?
Here's some details that might help someone point me in the right direction.
I had just started a longish (1 hour) drive home. I'd recently done an oil change ready for the dyno tune. The dyno work had been done 2 days before.
I noticed that the oil pressure gauge on my Abarth style dashboard array had gone off the clock. It was reading a maximum of 8 bars. I had noticed this before but assumed it might be an intermittent problem with the oil sensor. However, I was expecting a problem this time, since I'd had this oil explosion before.
I couldn't pull over straight away. Before I could stop I noticed the pressure return to normal. When I stopped the engine bay was covered in oil – dripping out through the vents, as if there has been a rear end explosion – no curry involved
So the two things must be related. Huge oil pressure then a sudden drop and a big expulsion of oil. I've felt in the past that the dipstick was the source, but it was still in place, though could have been loose. Hard to really know where this is coming from. But what would cause a build up of oil pressure like that? (Note: I have the 3.5L Abarth sump.)
I also have an aluminium rocker cover, not fitted yet. The plan is to fit that so it can be screwed down more firmly and eliminate that as the source.
Any thoughts?