Odd engine behaviour

[Johnny C]

Came to work as usual this morning. The engine felt a bit lumpy and lacking power, which I ascribed to the cold damp weather, it is like that sometimes and then gets fine after 5 mins when the oil warms up. I don't go over 3,000 revs when it's like that.

This morning it stayed lumpy for about 10 mins, and lacking in power in 6th. I looked at the temp, oil pressure and level gauges; the oil level seemed a bit high (it wasn't zero which it usually is until the engine warms up), temp gauge was on the 1/3rd way up notch (where it always is when it's running after 10 mins), engine pressure was 4-5. Al of a sudden the temp gauge drops to halfway to the first notch, the oil level drops back to zero, the temp guage slowly climbs back up to normal and the engine started going smoothly again and power returned.

It was fine for the rest of the journey.

Any ideas?

If it happens again I'll get it checked out, it was damp enough for the fan belt to squeal a bit when I first started it up (it's not covered at night and a bit of squeal usually tells me it's been rainy in the night) so I'm wondering (hoping) it's just a bit of damp has got in or something.

 

[clyde]

How full is the oil tank? I tend to run mine at half to three quarters (using the dip stick) but have noticed that if it's nearer the max then it will show a bit on the gauge when it's running at a low rev, especially when it's cold.

The temp gauge was doing what it does. The lines to the front oil cooler open when the thermostat reaches a pre-determined temp (not sure what that is). This releases the cold oil that is sitting in the pipework and cooler, causing a "sudden" drop in the temp gauge. As this oil circulates it heats up and the gauge settles into its normal position.

The poor running may be down to something as simple as a bit of damp on the plug leads. Or perhaps an injector not quite right being exagerated by the cold?

Don't think it's anything to worry about.

 

[Pickled Piper]

Sounds like an ignition problem brought on by the dampness. I would check HT leads, distributor cap 7 rotors as well as the coils.

pp

 

[Johnny C]

Cheers

It's been fine since. The clutch squealed a couple of times as well that morning and that should be fine (it's less than 2 years old) and that's not made any noise since, I will put it down to odd weather and dampness and snow the previous night unless it recurs.