Oil pressure problem on cross flow!

[Chriscooper1]

When I'm going around long right hand corners at speed I lose all oil pressure, also when flung to the left the pressure is fine but I'm getting a lot of oil through my crank case breather back to the catch tank, any advice would be welcome, cheers Chris.

[BillyPee]

I'm going to assume this is on a track? Do you have a dry or wet sump? If wet, has it been modified? Assuming it's an unmodified wet sump, it sounds like oil is being flung to the side of the sump away from the pickup by the cornering speed. Consider a baffled sump (if its not already) or go to dry sump if you have a lots of grip/money. Sounds like something you need to sort out, as its very important to maintain good oil pressure for the health of the engine.

[Chriscooper1]

Yes it's on track, it's a wet sump, I don't no about modification, all I no is its shortened, I'll have to take it off and see if anyone can baffle it for me, would you no anyone? I don't mind posting it. Cheers.

[Pistol Pete]

What oil are you using? You really want to be running something nice and thick like Valvoline 20w50.

A good baffles sump should be fine for a xflow on a track.

[alexander72]

Check oil level and the obvious routing of breather pipes - does yours come off the top of the rocker cover to catch tank and one off the crank case?

[B.RAD]

As BillyPee & Pete says, plus fit one of these if you're on an electric fuel pump:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fuel-Pump-Blanking-Plate-with-deflector-Ford-X-flow-/161896831459?hash=item25b1cd99e3:m:muzvDKetBhUyI4nNfjBh_vg

Running the valvoline 20w50 made a big difference to my oil pressure.

[Kevin (Mr T)]

Had exactly the same problem. Catch tank was too low and the feul pump cover plate had no deflector on it.

Fitted a cover plate with deflector (from Burton Power), new catch tank on the scuttle and ran the crank case breather to the front of the rocker cover and then from the rear of the rocker cover to the catch tank.

No issue since.

Haven't yet ascertained WHY there was so much pressure in the crank case, but suspect some blow by and that all it is really doing is recycling the oil.

[Chriscooper1]

Thanks for all the suggestions/Help everyone, I'll check the deflector plate this week hopefully, I have a pipe from crankcase breather and also end of rocker cover to the catch tank, ive always used the valvoline 20/50 but this last time I tried millers classic 20/50, would this make such a difference? My catch tank might also be to low but that's just where it was when I bought it, is there a certain height?

[Kevin (Mr T)]

Thanks for all the suggestions/Help everyone, I'll check the deflector plate this week hopefully, I have a pipe from crankcase breather and also end of rocker cover to the catch tank, ive always used the valvoline 20/50 but this last time I tried millers classic 20/50, would this make such a difference? My catch tank might also be to low but that's just where it was when I bought it, is there a certain height?

When I bought mine the catch tank was level with the sump! It's now level with the rocker cover

[B.RAD]

Yes level with rocker cover, although if it is fed from the crankcase breather then anything higher than the feed will suffice.

[Pistol Pete]

Thanks for all the suggestions/Help everyone, I'll check the deflector plate this week hopefully, I have a pipe from crankcase breather and also end of rocker cover to the catch tank, ive always used the valvoline 20/50 but this last time I tried millers classic 20/50, would this make such a difference? My catch tank might also be to low but that's just where it was when I bought it, is there a certain height?

 

Millers 20w50 should be ok, it's more of the case the a lot of the modern oils are just too thin for the xflow.

[jeff oakley]

The reason you get crank pressure in any engine is the action of the pistons being pressurised on the stroke. On a normal car there are pipes that are designed to create vacuum that then sucks the pressure out of the sump and crank case and partially reburns it.

When we fit twin carbs etc. we remove the pipes and stick it in a catch can, where there is no vacuum. If the engine is good and has large enough pipes to allow this excess to go into the tank then all is fine.

Baffles will help with surge and the position of the tank also helps. On the crossflow there are also differing crankcase breathers that are more or less effective depending upon the tune of the engine and the plumbing.

[Olliebeak]

I have a similar issue on my crossflow, I get a small amount of oil coming from the hole in the top of the oil filler cap, there is a hose from the breather on the block  to a t piece where it joins a hose of smaller diameter from the top of the rocker cover, and then to a catch tank on the scuttle. I took the hoses off to clean them out but they contained no oil deposits, the oil seems to prefer escaping via the oil cap, any ideas, thanks. 

[geoffd]

"the oil seems to prefer escaping via the oil cap"  

 

Mine does this too!  No oil gets to the catch tank.  I'm experimenting with a large rubber bung to seal off the oil filler.

 

Geoff

[Olliebeak]

It is not a major problem, after a run some oil collects around no1 spark plug and I just wipe the surround with a rag, I could just remove the catch tank and the breather hoses and go back to the standard breather from the side of the crankcase.  I think my car has an enclosed breather system only because it was used on the track in a previous ownership.   I was concerned that the loss of oil via the filler cap meant that there was excessive pressure in the crankcase which my damage the engine., I will probably just live with it.