QUESTION
I am getting some exhaust smoke when I start my Lotus Elan S3 which has undergone a recent engine rebuild.
Could you offer an explanation and some advice to rectify this problem.
M.S - Albany, Western Australia
ANSWER
One common theme that results in exhaust smoke at start up is worn valve guides.
Another variation on this is where a Lotus twin cam cylinder head has been serviced, new valve guides installed but the valve stem to guide clearance has been machined incorrectly.
Also you may have an early production cylinder head where there is no rear cross-drilled gallery to allow the hot engine oil to drain away from the exhaust valve guides.
From experience, it is possible to install a simple external drain tube at the rear of the cylinder head to drain oil from the rear of the exhaust camshaft.
Copyright © 2021 Lotus Marques
I am getting some exhaust smoke when I start my Lotus Elan S3 which has undergone a recent engine rebuild.
Could you offer an explanation and some advice to rectify this problem.
M.S - Albany, Western Australia
ANSWER
One common theme that results in exhaust smoke at start up is worn valve guides.
Another variation on this is where a Lotus twin cam cylinder head has been serviced, new valve guides installed but the valve stem to guide clearance has been machined incorrectly.
Also you may have an early production cylinder head where there is no rear cross-drilled gallery to allow the hot engine oil to drain away from the exhaust valve guides.
From experience, it is possible to install a simple external drain tube at the rear of the cylinder head to drain oil from the rear of the exhaust camshaft.
Copyright © 2021 Lotus Marques