10-03-2022, 10:04 AM
I had difficulty unblocking my jets with any sort of wire also a paperclip, though with perseverance the paperclip got the front one clear. I decided something a little more stout was needed.
I did toy with the idea of a small drill bit, but I was concerned about dropping it through. So using a spare engine I found a small allen key of suitable diameter, long enough to pass through the jet, but short enough so that it could be manoeuvred in under the water manifold.
With some moderate pressure from my thumb I got it through. When removed the muck was evident, thick black (and unfortunatley) gritty oil, much like the oil all over my steam engine ends up like. Yuk.
A 3 or 4 mile run confirmed this reduced the oil pressure to expected levels.
jet.jpg (Size: 69.98 KB / Downloads: 113)
Personally I believe this demonstrates the robustness of the Austin design, I've driven the car at least 30 miles like this since the transplant, with one single round trip of 20. The oil pressure was high from day 1, but it took that long run to convince me all was not well. So its done all those miles with sub standard lubrication.
It also demonstrates the soundness of using modern multigrade oil with some detergent. The other engines here rebuilt in farirly modern times, run on detergent oil, with regular changes are immaculate inside and seem to be long lived. Never any need to clean the jets.
This engine, which has clearly been knocking round for some considerable time, probably last rebuilt in antiquity (it has split pins in the big end nuts) was disgusting inside, was probably run on straight 30 all its life. And I guess cleaning the jets was a regular occurrence.
Can any of you who still run your cars on straight 30 confirm if you have to clean jets?
I did toy with the idea of a small drill bit, but I was concerned about dropping it through. So using a spare engine I found a small allen key of suitable diameter, long enough to pass through the jet, but short enough so that it could be manoeuvred in under the water manifold.
With some moderate pressure from my thumb I got it through. When removed the muck was evident, thick black (and unfortunatley) gritty oil, much like the oil all over my steam engine ends up like. Yuk.
A 3 or 4 mile run confirmed this reduced the oil pressure to expected levels.
jet.jpg (Size: 69.98 KB / Downloads: 113)
Personally I believe this demonstrates the robustness of the Austin design, I've driven the car at least 30 miles like this since the transplant, with one single round trip of 20. The oil pressure was high from day 1, but it took that long run to convince me all was not well. So its done all those miles with sub standard lubrication.
It also demonstrates the soundness of using modern multigrade oil with some detergent. The other engines here rebuilt in farirly modern times, run on detergent oil, with regular changes are immaculate inside and seem to be long lived. Never any need to clean the jets.
This engine, which has clearly been knocking round for some considerable time, probably last rebuilt in antiquity (it has split pins in the big end nuts) was disgusting inside, was probably run on straight 30 all its life. And I guess cleaning the jets was a regular occurrence.
Can any of you who still run your cars on straight 30 confirm if you have to clean jets?