Mustard coloured sludge

[mattd1984]

The vans been running a little rough over the last few weeks so decided to refurb the carb as have covered about 6000 miles since it was last done. When I took the air filter of the top (pancake type) there was this mustard coloured sludge stuff coming from the air filter to the top if the carb. The air filter breather pipe was full of it. I cleaned it all out and had a look down the oil filler to the engine and that had a load in it too. Cleaned it all out so it's better now. Does anyone know what this is? Or what's caused it?

 

[Matt_B]

sounds like the emulsification you get when oil and water mix. What carb have you got? and why the pancake filter?

 

[mattd1984]

Its a solex 30pict - 2 The pancake filter was there when i got the van. Its shit and am looking to go back to original but the bracket that hold the original style air filter box has been chopped off. Cheers

 

[Us2]

Hi Matt... the sludge is caused by the crankcase fumes condensing in the tube before they can be recycled back thru the system...it's more pronounced in colder weather and also in engines that are older, but if you are doing short runs this can also cause it to build up more quickly as the engine isn't warm enough to stop it condensing. Going to a conventional air filter system may help providing your engine is tuned ok..i.e. regular oil changes, plugs,points condenser...hope this helps?

 

[Bookwus]

Hiya matt,

Yes, the previous responders are correct.

What you are seeing is actually a mixture of oil and moisture. You need to drop the oil you have in the crankcase and replace it with fresh stuff. Clean the "mustard" out wherever you find it. And then make sure you are getting your engine nice and hot on a regular basis. Take 'er out on the freeway and do 60 to 65 for a while. A great excuse to drive the beast!

 

[K@rlos]

I'm pretty sure thats due to doing only short runs and not warming the motor up properly. as said above it's worse during winter months because the extra condensation is getting in the oil

 

[mattd1984]

Cheers for the help, yer i've put it down to short trips as that was all I was doing. The vans in rest mode now for the winter. So will give it a long blast every couple of weeks.