avivalasvegas Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 On a weekend recent drive, we noticed an acrid burning smell in the cabin. "Tooting has gone downmarket" was my first thought. But the smell followed us into Clapham, and so we pulled over only to discover this smokey smelly vapour. Initial thoughts were an oil leak, reminding me that I need a new valve cover seal. But then I remembered that I had just turned the heating from "cabin" to "off" position. The symptoms have since subsided by switching the heating back to "screen". A couple questions: 1) Assuming this is the heater valve, any recommendations on a replacement unit? https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID007995 <- rimmer option 2) Anyone recommend rocker cover seal for square alloy covers? I was tempted by silicone but hear that cork suits the alloy covers better? 3) I need new hoses - any known silicone replacements? Many thanks in advance! IMG_1892.MOV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1969Mk3Spitfire Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 My (limited) experience of leaking antifreeze is that it has a sweet smell. I’ve recently replaced my heater valve with a generic sold as “Herald/Spitfire” and it’s actuation is opposite compared to the original (blocked by 50 years of accumulated crud). It can’t easily be reversed. Not a big deal but now not per the owners handbook 😩 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanMi Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 I can't see how a heater valve would lead to an acrid burning smell coolant is just not hot enough, my first thought would be to check if the heater cable is causing an electrical short when pulled on as acrid burning smell is often the Lucas loom smoke escaping. I think that the club shop do silicon houses and gaskets for alloy rocker covers. There are indeed 2 heater valves the early spit and I believe herald pull for on whereas spit mk4/1500 pulls for off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 yes club shop for alloy gaskets and silicone hose sets Ive used the neoprene gaskets for years no problems ( and like to think we started the idea of making them available for ally covers ) and are certainly easy to reuse over and over again , i have a spare hanging up its been hanging for years . as for screen or footwell air distribution its all the same air the crude flap just deflects it up a pipe or out the footwells if the bonnet to baulkhead seal is poor you get engine fumes escape and go down the heater intake and you get the pong !! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 siliconE silicon is transistors and would make quite a crunchy gasket Club shop have gaskets and hoses. I fitted one of these, much easier action than the original unit. However. agree with Dan, I'm not convinced the problem here is down to the valve. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 edit E added i was just being economical with the typing Hmmmm !!! Pete 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 We all appreciate the wit and wisdom of Uncl Pt with or without Es db 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 11 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: We all appreciate the wit and wisdom of Uncl Pt with or without Es db Aren't Es bad for you ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 That looks like a lot of escaping smoke from the manifold areas; possibly a blowout at the joint but it may also be dripping coolant landing on the manifold, so check coolant levels too. What heater do you have currently fitted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 4 hours ago, Chris A said: Aren't Es bad for you ? The food ones yes, and very occasionally, the others Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted April 10, 2022 Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 6 hours ago, Chris A said: Aren't Es bad for you ? I thought The Shamen said they weren't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avivalasvegas Posted April 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2022 Looks like I’m not the only one experiencing this! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted April 11, 2022 Report Share Posted April 11, 2022 On 10/04/2022 at 10:15, avivalasvegas said: On a weekend recent drive, we noticed an acrid burning smell in the cabin. "Tooting has gone downmarket" was my first thought. But the smell followed us into Clapham, and so we pulled over only to discover this smokey smelly vapour. Initial thoughts were an oil leak, reminding me that I need a new valve cover seal. But then I remembered that I had just turned the heating from "cabin" to "off" position. The symptoms have since subsided by switching the heating back to "screen". A couple questions: 1) Assuming this is the heater valve, any recommendations on a replacement unit? https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID007995 <- rimmer option 2) Anyone recommend rocker cover seal for square alloy covers? I was tempted by silicone but hear that cork suits the alloy covers better? 3) I need new hoses - any known silicone replacements? Many thanks in advance! IMG_1892.MOV 14.43 MB · 16 downloads Wouldn't this more likely be the heater return hose leaking than the valve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avivalasvegas Posted April 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2022 The plot thickens. The car began sputtering and died a few times on my way home. Could be ignition or fuel related but my first thought was “I’ve run out of coolant” and I intentionally entered the bus lane to limp home. Coolant looks fine. Oil level looks and smells good. What on earth is going on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 11, 2022 Report Share Posted April 11, 2022 its the breeding season for rubber slivers in the fuel lines tend to float and block the back of the float needle valves wonderful culprits for stop go erratic behavior as do duff spark plugs HT coils polarity reversed wiring poor condensers closed up points if you have them Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted April 11, 2022 Report Share Posted April 11, 2022 6 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: its the breeding season for rubber slivers in the fuel lines tend to float and block the back of the float needle valves wonderful culprits for stop go erratic behavior as do duff spark plugs HT coils polarity reversed wiring poor condensers closed up points if you have them Pete If the condenser actually had an electronics type capacitor in it (which used to be called condensers, don't know why that changed) then they can and do fail producing a very acrid burning smell and usually smoke. If that was the case, the condenser would then have failed which may be causing the poor running. Easy to replace and test before diving in deeper. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted April 11, 2022 Report Share Posted April 11, 2022 go to dizzy doctor and have read about fake condensers with sod all inside the can orange wires are of concerns Delco condenser: 829111,829107,1861709,1866049,18655972, 1869704,1882239, Lucas Condenser 484249, 400308, 407044, 54411935 / DCB105, 54413006, 23D4 22D 23D DM2 25D DM6 DM4 lucas distributor, Lucas condenser number 423871, GDC101. Condensor 405833 for Ford 8 and Ford 10, Lucas condensers from Distributor Doctor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted April 11, 2022 Report Share Posted April 11, 2022 1 hour ago, cliff.b said: which used to be called condensers, don't know why that changed Also Condensators, but always were capacitive with capacitance. Were the people who made the condensatorists? And I've had the dread rubber slivers, water in the fuel recently too. E5/10 absorbs water until it can't any more and then separates, this happens if left standing and will not aid good running! db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted April 11, 2022 Report Share Posted April 11, 2022 37 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: Also Condensators, but always were capacitive with capacitance. Were the people who made the condensatorists? And I've had the dread rubber slivers, water in the fuel recently too. E5/10 absorbs water until it can't any more and then separates, this happens if left standing and will not aid good running! db Yes indeed, so the more pertinent question is, probably, why do we still call them condensers on cars 🙄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avivalasvegas Posted April 11, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2022 The car is officially in trouble. I was able to get it to the petrol station despite idle dropping to <500 rpm (It was a healthy 900 rpm before these symptoms began). After filling up, it's almost as if the car entered "limp home" mode. Throttle did nothing except what sounded like flooding. Releasing throttle meant the car died instantly. It did get me home though. There's no way I will make it to a garage - it'll need to be recovered. Plugs are new, as are the Magnecor leads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 9 hours ago, avivalasvegas said: The car is officially in trouble. I was able to get it to the petrol station despite idle dropping to <500 rpm (It was a healthy 900 rpm before these symptoms began). After filling up, it's almost as if the car entered "limp home" mode. Throttle did nothing except what sounded like flooding. Releasing throttle meant the car died instantly. It did get me home though. There's no way I will make it to a garage - it'll need to be recovered. Plugs are new, as are the Magnecor leads. Did you notice if the temp was still normal when it was like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avivalasvegas Posted April 12, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 Yes. I do have an auxiliary fan that kicks in when the temperature gauge needles crosses into the dangerous half. It did kick in and stayed on earlier when I was stuck in traffic fearing a breakdown. It did not the second time when I fueled up the car as the drive was too short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 11 hours ago, cliff.b said: Yes indeed, so the more pertinent question is, probably, why do we still call them condensers on cars 🙄 Because we are OLD ? Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 ALV, OK, rubber slivers are a real thing, I' have, on occasion, had to take my carbs apart twice in quick succession to get clear of them. This can be done without removing the carbs from the car. Take the bottoms off the reservoirs, (5 screws on each) undo the valves, ensure they are clear, pump some fuel through and ensure floats are free moving. Put it back together, you may have to do it again. Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted April 12, 2022 Report Share Posted April 12, 2022 18 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: Because we are OLD ? Doug Hence the large text... saves me having to find my glasses. The original problem does sound like fuel - running rich / flooding? Hence the smokey overflow onto the manifold? My 13/60 stank when running last year, far too rich and there were also fumes coming from the engine bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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