Mag Article - Grit in The Engine

[Wheelz]

This article in the December issue of the mag tells a long story of how the author found grit in the engine, and what he did about it. It says that "it must have been the powder coating" which seems obscure for those who don't know about this kind of problem, or am I being pedantic? Power coating itself does not cause grit to enter the engine. I think a clearer warning against grit blasting of cam covers would be much more helpful.

A further concern is that if cam followers (buckets) were badly worn by grit which embedded itself in the (soft) aluminium bearings, then most likely the grit is still there and may continue to wear the new cam followers.

[MSmith]

I assume he means the cam covers were shot-blasted prior to powder coating.

[Goldstar]

I assume he means the cam covers were shot-blasted prior to powder coating.

That’s exactly what he meant, he may even have said it, I’d need to read it again.

[jbuckl]

I helped the owner.

The article may just help prevent this happening again.

Its incredible that it still happens though.

So expensive to fix properly too.

[Wheelz]

I won’t bore you with the stories of how I imagined I
could fix this and it hadn’t yet dawned on me what had
caused it. Shortage of oil? That’s seemed unlikely. So, I
put the cover back on and drove the car to the unit that I
rent where I keep my cars. I decided to change the oil and
filter. It was when I saw the oil that I realised that I had a
problem. Very fine grit. It was then that it dawned on me.
It must have been the powder coating.
I replaced the oil and started the engine and the oil
pressure immediately bounced back to 35psi. It must have
been grit in the filter

[MSmith]

The very fine grit is the shot blasting medium. This is actually a well known problem, as the grit gets caught in the flame trap gauze, which is impossible to clean out properly without removing the welded cover plate.

[Wheelz]

Yes I know it is obvious to many of us who are experienced, but the author clearly didn't know about it did he as it was he who got the cam covers refurbed. So if the article doesn't make it clear where the grit came from, those who are unaware can make the same mistake.

[marshman]

Yes I know it is obvious to many of us who are experienced, but the author clearly didn't know about it did he as it was he who got the cam covers refurbed. So if the article doesn't make it clear where the grit came from, those who are unaware can make the same mistake.

Just re-read the article in the mag and I have to agree the true root cause isn't actually mentioned, just an almost passing reference to powder coating being the cause - which it wasn't it was the cleaning prior to the coating that was the problem. Though from his point of view he just gave his cam covers to the powder coaters and they caused the problem - grit blast then powder coat! . Peter (the author) actually says he hadn't seen the "sob stories about other people discovery what he was about to discover" because "I can't read the small writing in the SOC journal". So I would have thought it would have made sense to have the warning or "DO NOT GET YOUR CAM COVERS GRIT BLASTED" or words to that effect in big letters somewhere in the article, preferably as a sub heading. As Wheelz says forum regulars should be well aware of it but new owner/members or infrequent visitors most likely are not.

Wheelz - he does say that "Head Techniques" who checked the heads did ream the bores to "clean off the residue" and new buckets fitted perfectly., so they should be OK.

[jbuckl]

If the gauze is attended to , media blasting is ok.

The gauze MUST be attended to !

Otherwise budget for expensive engine rebuild.

Maybe these points we’re missing from the article?

[Wheelz]

Yes it would ne good to see a clear warning in the magazine about the use of grit blasting on Stag cam covers, and how to prevent it getting into the engine.

[Goldstar]

Surprised the article wasn’t edited to be crystal clear although it was obvious to me what the cause was but maybe because I have seen the warnings before.

Maybe you should email the editor and get him to do just what you suggest in this next mag intro Wheelz

[NeilR]

Even though it is well understood by a lot of people, I also think it would be worth putting something in the next mag intro.

[Wheelz]

I have emailed the editor.

[MandM]

The majority of the club membership new and old do not use the knowledge stored and provided by all the experts on here, which would save them untold grief and additional cost, I don't think that the search felicity helps, think that could be improved ?, or may an interesting thread could be published in the mag?, to spark interest or at least inform the membership that the resource is here waiting to be used.

One of the ones where Edd modified his cam covers to have a draw system comes to mind??, that I have copied on mine

[MikeParker]

The majority of the club membership new and old do not use the knowledge stored and provided by all the experts on here, which would save them untold grief and additional cost, I don't think that the search felicity helps, think that could be improved ?, or may an interesting thread could be published in the mag?, to spark interest or at least inform the membership that the resource is here waiting to be used.

One of the ones where Edd modified his cam covers to have a draw system comes to mind??, that I have copied on mine

I agree completely. I have suggested having a section within The Technical Section which lists safety critical items that need checking/modifying. That would include diff nose re-enforcement, checks on drag struts, front/rear stub axles, wheel nuts, cracked/incorrect material fuel lines etc. To that you add a list of maintenance and modifications risks and pitfalls. This shot blasting issue is one. Replacing good water pumps with poor quality, new replacements is another. That applies to many "new" replacement parts (chain tensioners, chains, sprockets etc). There are many such things a new owner may well not realise, but are well known by those who have had a Stag for a few years.