loss of turbo pressure

[mickmick]

Hi all, Mick here again with another little problem:

my turbo pressure has dropped from the best i have seen it, about 0.7 to a max now of about 0.4, there also appears to be an oil leak dropping onto the housing to the right of the engine just below an octopus of rubber hosing, my thinking is maybe a split or loose pipe, however, any pointers at to which one it might be will be mostly appreciated and possibly deserving of a mention in my autobiography

IF i ever become famous of course

Cheers all

Mick

[Monty]

Mick,

the drop in boost could be something to do with u`r BSV which is at the back of the air filter box, or could be a sticking wastegate.

The engines is known for leaking at the cam shaft seals ie the end where the CAS is.

[lewtus]

Could be clogging cat(s), clogged fuel as well. Loose hoses after the turbo or computer senses fault and limits boost as well.
oil drips are not big deal even in the turbo inlet sincethe PCV valve mists oil into it anyway.

[mickmick]

ok, update time:

After getting it up on ramps and having a good scoot around i have found that i need to replace my head gasket, and quite probably a cam shaft seal too.

After that, its a steam clean, run it for a week, and see if anymore oil is coming out

another update when i have done that in a week or so

Mick

[Sy V]

Mick

What has made you decide you need a new head gasket?

I would attack the O ring behind the Cam Angle Sensor first. Let me know if you want one mailing over.

Gunk the engine by all means I wouldn't steam clean it though...they're notorious for damp-enduced electrical problems.

[mickmick]

had the chief tech mechanic have a look with me, he traced the oil leak to the area of the head gasket and the cam shaft seal.

That the problem with being in NI, no where to go to get folks who really know what they are looking for to get into things.

saying that, he has owned an elise for 6 years and does his own servicings

[John_W]

Mick,
I really recommend changing the CAS oil seal and the blanking plug oil seal next to it and checking to see if the oil leak has stopped before changing the head gasket. They cost about £4 each (quite a lot for a couple of "O"-rings 1" diameter), but it does stop the leaks and is a lot cheaper than a head gasket job.

Rumour has it that dealers replaced a few head gaskets before Lotus had a quiet word about O-rings.

John

[muley]

My car looked as though it had a serious failure, leaking oil, right mess. But it was only the CAS oil seal. Piece of cake to fix - do it first before doing anything drastic...

Good luck

Jim B a.k.a. muley

[mickmick]

righto chaps, the CAS seal it is then, i'll look into sourcing one tomorow

Cheers again for the input

Mick

[John_W]

Mick,
you will need TWO O-rings; one for the CAS and one for the blanking plug.
John

[mickmick]

sorry, i meant both the seals, but ty ty ty ty ty