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Car Forum / MINI / September 2003Illustrated questions
Considering I don't know the names of half the parts in my engine, and considering that an image speaks a few hundred words, I decided to illustrate my questions: http://www.photocritic.org/hidden/mini/ fig 1: What is the thing marked with "1"? It seems as though a duct should be connected to the bottom of it, but I cannot find a loose duct anywhere in the engine room of my car. I can't fathom what this thing is supposed to do - it doesn't seem to filter or restrict the airflow in any way. Wouldn't it make more sense to just take the whole thing off? What is the little nozzle-type-thing marked "2"? It seems as if something should be connected here as well, but once again, I can't find anything that could viably be connected. fig 2 1) What is this? 2) Why is it leaking oil? 3) How can I stop it from leaking oil? fig 3 1) Is this the petrol overflow thing that is loose, or is it something else? 2) Should I try to reconnect it? On the same picture, to the left of the image, is a black and white thing affixed in the middle of some black tubing. Is this the fuel filter? Sorry about all the questions, guys, but I'm a bit of a newbie. HJ And H.J. Kamps was sitting next to Elvis in the spaceship, which I thought was kinda strange, but then they turned to me and said: > Considering I don't know the names of half the parts in my engine, and > considering that an image speaks a few hundred words, I decided to [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > do - it doesn't seem to filter or restrict the airflow in any way. Wouldn't > it make more sense to just take the whole thing off? Warm air valve. There should be a short aluminized fibre duct that sits beneath it and connects to a tin shroud around the exhaust manifold. There's a thermostatic flap valve inside it that allows hot air from around the exhaust manifold to be mixed into the incoming air in cold weather. (It also allows exhaust fumes to be drawn in if the exhaust joint is leaking, causing the air filter to quickly clog up...) > What is the little nozzle-type-thing marked "2"? It seems as if something > should be connected here as well, but once again, I can't find anything that > could viably be connected. Alternative connection point for the crankcase breather, used on models where the SU carb doesn't have a fitting for the breather pipe. > fig 2 > 1) What is this? Oil pressure warning switch. > 2) Why is it leaking oil? Er.. Because it isn't sealed properly? > 3) How can I stop it from leaking oil? Refit it with a smear of gasket compound on the threads. > fig 3 > 1) Is this the petrol overflow thing that is loose, or is it something else? Yes, that's the overflow drain. > 2) Should I try to reconnect it? Yes, but be careful not to push any dirt into the carb float chamber. > On the same picture, to the left of the image, is a black and white thing > affixed in the middle of some black tubing. Is this the fuel filter? That looks like a one-way valve. I think from the photos that it's in the vacuum line to the brake servo. I can't see a fuel filter anywhere in your photos.  Signature(-AD-) <uniqueid 'at' lineone.net> http://website.lineone.net/~uniqueid/ This is your brain -> @ This is your brain on USENET -> . > Warm air valve. There should be a short aluminized fibre duct that sits > beneath it and connects to a tin shroud around the exhaust manifold. > > There's a thermostatic flap valve inside it that allows hot air from > around the exhaust manifold to be mixed into the incoming air in cold > weather. That makes sense. However, I live in England, and there is no such thing as cold weather here (not compared to Norway, where I used to live for 15 years). so: Should I reconnect this thing, or should I just leave it the way it is? > Refit it with a smear of gasket compound on the threads. Is this pressure switch below oil level in the engine? In other words, if I take it off to put on this compound, will there be oil flying all over the place? > I can't see a fuel filter anywhere in your photos. I would assume my car would have one, yes? where is it usually fitted in minis, and should I replace it? I don't think it has been replaced the past few years, unless it is part of a regular service. Thanks so much for the answers so far! HJ > > Warm air valve. There should be a short aluminized fibre duct that sits > > beneath it and connects to a tin shroud around the exhaust manifold. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > years). so: Should I reconnect this thing, or should I just leave it the way > it is? The duct is cheap enough. Just fit one and it will improve warm up times in the winter ahead. > > Refit it with a smear of gasket compound on the threads. > > Is this pressure switch below oil level in the engine? In other words, if I > take it off to put on this compound, will there be oil flying all over the > place? No, you won't get oil flying out. You will need to clean the threads of all traces of oil before using jointing compound though. > > I can't see a fuel filter anywhere in your photos. > > I would assume my car would have one, yes? where is it usually fitted in > minis, and should I replace it? I don't think it has been replaced the past > few years, unless it is part of a regular service. Carb Mini's never had a fuel filter fitted as standard. SignatureRgds Steve steve@dsnclassics.co.uk www.dsnclassics.co.uk > > Warm air valve. > That makes sense. However, I live in England, and there is no such > thing as cold weather here (not compared to Norway, where I used to > live for 15 years). so: Should I reconnect this thing, or should I > just leave it the way it is? On the one hand, Leyland Australia saw fit to use the same system on Aussie cars, which rarely (but not quite never) see snow. On the other hand I've never heard of problems from removing it. > > I can't see a fuel filter anywhere in your photos. > I would assume my car would have one, yes? Not from the factory, but very possibly fitted by a previous owner. The thing you're talking about looks a lot like the miniature petrol filters used on BMW motorbikes, which, like Minis, also have 1/4" fuel lines and not the more common 5/16". And Graham was sitting next to Elvis in the spaceship, which I thought was kinda strange, but then they turned to me and said: > > > Warm air valve. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Aussie cars, which rarely (but not quite never) see snow. On the other > hand I've never heard of problems from removing it. I live in Northern England, and I have experienced problems with carb icing in Minis with the flap valve removed. (Mind you, I live right by the sea, so there is a lot of freezing fog in winter). Some export BL models (Canada? US?) had an electric carb dashpot heater instead of the flap valve. Signature(-AD-) <uniqueid 'at' lineone.net> http://website.lineone.net/~uniqueid/ When you switch me off, will I dream? > > Warm air valve. There should be a short aluminized fibre duct that sits > > beneath it and connects to a tin shroud around the exhaust manifold. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > years). so: Should I reconnect this thing, or should I just leave it the way > it is? You can remove whole thing (keep the airfilter box in place though, just get rid of the metal bit) which will improce airflow slighty, if you are looking to improve airflow though you should look at buying a performance air filter although it will probably require that you change the carb needle. Try searching these forums for "air filter" or "stage 1" for more info on improving air flow. > > Refit it with a smear of gasket compound on the threads. > > Is this pressure switch below oil level in the engine? In other words, if I > take it off to put on this compound, will there be oil flying all over the > place? You may find a little leaks out but you wont get covered. > There's a thermostatic flap valve inside it that allows hot air from > around the exhaust manifold to be mixed into the incoming air in cold > weather. ... and if I decide to not connect the duct, shoudl I just take the whole device off? Would that improve airflow? HJ > > fig 2 > > 1) What is this? > Oil pressure warning switch. > > 2) Why is it leaking oil? > Er.. Because it isn't sealed properly? > > 3) How can I stop it from leaking oil? > Refit it with a smear of gasket compound on the threads. Personally i'd use a little bit of PTFE tape (plumbers use it) instead of gasket sealant on that. Phil "Phil Howard" <phil_howard@ntlworld.com> wrote in news:95i8b.695$sQ6.435 @newsfep1-gui.server.ntli.net: > Personally i'd use a little bit of PTFE tape (plumbers use it) instead of > gasket sealant on that. I was under the impression that PTFE tape had a habit of breaking down until long periods of high temperature? I just did a highly scientific experiement: PTFE tape held over a match seems to melt, but harden. I think that is a good thing, really. HJ > I just did a highly scientific experiement: > > PTFE tape held over a match seems to melt, but harden. I think that is a > good thing, really. > > HJ GOOD And H.J. Kamps was sitting next to Elvis in the spaceship, which I thought was kinda strange, but then they turned to me and said: > I just did a highly scientific experiement: > > PTFE tape held over a match seems to melt, but harden. I think that is a > good thing, really. Ouch! - NEVER burn PTFE. It gives off some *extremely* nasty toxic substances when burned. Signature(-AD-) <uniqueid 'at' lineone.net> http://website.lineone.net/~uniqueid/ When you switch me off, will I dream? > There's a thermostatic flap valve inside it that allows hot air from > around the exhaust manifold to be mixed into the incoming air in cold > weather. Does it just pull hot air, or does it pull actual exhaust into the air intake? I would believe that this air has a much lower oxygene content, and hence have an adversive effect on engine performance? HJ And H.J. Kamps was sitting next to Elvis in the spaceship, which I thought was kinda strange, but then they turned to me and said: > > There's a thermostatic flap valve inside it that allows hot air from > > around the exhaust manifold to be mixed into the incoming air in cold > > weather. > > Does it just pull hot air, or does it pull actual exhaust into the air It's designed to draw air, but if the exhaust joint is leaky it will draw exhaust gases in too. > intake? I would believe that this air has a much lower oxygene content, and > hence have an adversive effect on engine performance? Not as adverse an effect as an iced carb has! Signature(-AD-) <uniqueid 'at' lineone.net> http://website.lineone.net/~uniqueid/ Stick around, it gets worse. >And H.J. Kamps was sitting next to Elvis in the spaceship, which I thought >was kinda strange, but then they turned to me and said: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >It's designed to draw air, but if the exhaust joint is leaky it will draw >exhaust gases in too. it is supposed to draw air out of the engine compartment especially from around the exhaust manifold ( http://drcwww.uvt.nl/~bogaard/manual/tuneup/8.htm ) >> intake? I would believe that this air has a much lower oxygene content, and >> hence have an adversive effect on engine performance? > >Not as adverse an effect as an iced carb has! icing is not neccesarily related to cold temperature, see: http://drcwww.uvt.nl/~bogaard/ice.htm HTH, Theo van den Bogaard > > There's a thermostatic flap valve inside it that allows hot air > > from around the exhaust manifold to be mixed into the incoming > > air in cold weather. > Does it just pull hot air, or does it pull actual exhaust into the > air intake? It's just getting hot air. The exhaust gases remain sealed inside the exhaust system and exit at the back of the car. > I would believe that this air has a much lower oxygene content, No. It's still 19% oxygen, it's just hotter. > and hence have an adversive effect on engine performance? Being hotter, it's slightly less dense, which has a very slight effect on performance. But icing your carburettor has a much bigger effect. > There's a thermostatic flap valve inside it that allows hot air from > around the exhaust manifold to be mixed into the incoming air in cold > weather. Does it just pull hot air, or does it pull actual exhaust into the air intake? I would believe that this air has a much lower oxygene content, and hence have an adversive effect on engine performance? HJ > > There's a thermostatic flap valve inside it that allows hot air from > > around the exhaust manifold to be mixed into the incoming air in cold > > weather. I could be very wrong about this, so feel free to correct be if I am, but I thought the valve was to do with throttle and not temp. ie. Under part throttle it pull warm air to aid fuel economy and under full throttle it takes cooler air for performance. As I say I could be wrong, that's just what I always thought it was for. > Considering I don't know the names of half the parts in my engine, > and considering that an image speaks a few hundred words, I decided > to illustrate my questions: > > http://www.photocritic.org/hidden/mini/ Excellent! > fig 1: > What is the thing marked with "1"? It seems as though a duct should > be connected to the bottom of it, but I cannot find a loose duct > anywhere in the engine room of my car. I can't fathom what this > thing is supposed to do - it doesn't seem to filter or restrict the > airflow in any way. This device sources the fresh air for the motor from over the exhaust manifold when it is very cold, but then as it warms a little, it draws fresh air instead. > Wouldn't it make more sense to just take the whole thing off? Yes. I don't think I have ever seen one which works properly and most people remove the entire steel part back to the plastic air filter housing lid. > What is the little nozzle-type-thing marked "2"? It seems as if > something should be connected here as well, but once again, I can't > find anything that could viably be connected. It's an alternative point for the crankcase ventilation system to connect to. Since air drawn in through here gets filtered anyway, Leyland didn't bother going to the expensve of making a different mould for the top cover of the air filter housing for models such as yours which use a pipe at the carby instead. > fig 2 > 1) What is this? Oil pressure switch. > 2) Why is it leaking oil? It's got a tapered thread. If you pull it out (and yes, it is above the oil level inside the motor) and look at it carefully you'll see the thread is not in fact cylindrical (parallel sided) but conical. The diameter gets bigger as you screw it in further. > 3) How can I stop it from leaking oil? Clean both threads and use some sort of sealant and you should be able to seal it. > fig 3 > 1) Is this the petrol overflow thing that is loose, or is it > something else? Pass! I haven't seen an SU with an overflow, I think the Aussie emissions rules make have stopped them using them here. > 2) Should I try to reconnect it? Pass. > On the same picture, to the left of the image, is a black and white > thing affixed in the middle of some black tubing. Is this the fuel > filter? It looks like either a small fuel filter or a vacuum non-return valve. Where does the hose come from and go to? The two main applications for vacuum non return valves would be for a brake booster or for vacuum operated heater controls. It looks too small for a brake booster vacuum line and I've never seen a Mini with vacuum operated heater controls. Of course Austin Rover group had another 20+ years to introduce them after they built the last Aussie Minis in 1978 - can anyone else confirm that the heater never went to vacuum controls? My money says it's the fuel line and it's a filter. Of course if you pull one of the hoses off, it will either have air or petrol in it which will answer the question. > Sorry about all the questions, guys, but I'm a bit of a newbie. Ahh yes, but unlike almost any other newbie we've ever seen, you've got the nouse to take some pics and show us what you're asking about! Thanks for all the help! > Ahh yes, but unlike almost any other newbie we've ever seen, you've got > the nouse to take some pics and show us what you're asking about! Heeey - i am not a photographer for nothing ;) HJ i would be saying that the unidentified hose in the bottom pic is a vaccum hose particuarly since you can see the fuel line just behind it, my guess is that it goes to the brake booster (servo) if your a right hand driver that is. cheers steve > Thanks for all the help! > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > HJ > i would be saying that the unidentified hose in the bottom pic is a vaccum > hose [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > cheers steve Definately the carb overflow pipe...got the same set-up in my wife's 89 Mini (servo gives it away...) Phil And DROPBEAR was sitting next to Elvis in the spaceship, which I thought was kinda strange, but then they turned to me and said: > i would be saying that the unidentified hose in the bottom pic is a vaccum > hose > particuarly since you can see the fuel line just behind it, > my guess is that it goes to the brake booster (servo) if your a right hand > driver that is. It definitely appears to be coming from the inlet manifold in pic3. Also, if you look at pic2, you can see it appearing from under the ir filter box, and it looks like it's headed towards the brake servo. Signature(-AD-) <uniqueid 'at' lineone.net> http://website.lineone.net/~uniqueid/ When you switch me off, will I dream? > And DROPBEAR was sitting next to Elvis in the spaceship, which I thought > was kinda strange, but then they turned to me and said: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Also, if you look at pic2, you can see it appearing from under the ir > filter box, and it looks like it's headed towards the brake servo. The slightly larger pipe going across the bottom of the pic (with the inline non-return valve) is the servo pipe. Phil And Phil Howard was sitting next to Elvis in the spaceship, which I thought was kinda strange, but then they turned to me and said: > > It definitely appears to be coming from the inlet manifold in pic3. > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > The slightly larger pipe going across the bottom of the pic (with the inline > non-return valve) is the servo pipe. I thought that was the one we were talking about? Signature(-AD-) <uniqueid 'at' lineone.net> http://website.lineone.net/~uniqueid/ When you switch me off, will I dream? > And Phil Howard was sitting next to Elvis in the spaceship, which I > thought was kinda strange, but then they turned to me and said: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > I thought that was the one we were talking about? I was looking at the split hose identified by the red arrow (or rather the split hose adjacent to the pipe pointed to by the arrow)... |
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