3 Weeks into Ownership..

Sonic_160zr · 07-01-12, 11:45 AM

Ok so following on from my Introduction thread Ive managed today to give the car a bit of attention and as well as giving the car a quick clean ive made a list of the things that need doing to the car.

1. Repaint calipers.
2. Straighten the driverside exhaust.
3. Referb the alloys.
4. Repace fuel tank/ remove and treat for rust.
5. Fit Oil catch tank and detail engine bay.
6. Re-spray front bumper and bonnet.

Was just wondering about the fuel tank as it has began to rust and I know these are hard to come by. Would it be better for me to remove the existing one and get it treated or try and get hold of a new/good condition 2nd hand one and refit? What you guys recommend? Im guessing to treat it properly its a tank out job rather than treating in situ?

Also when the climate control is on it can make an almighty racket, the sound changes with the engine revs but if you turn it off and leave it a few minutes and turn it on it stops!?! Any idea what this could be?

The car is getting a check over next week from an independant MG-rover specialist so any problems can be fixed under the warrenty. (runs out in June)

Is there any ideal set up for the Catch tank? I was looking at a few on ebay and there are universal type ones and car specific ones. I was going to get a universal one and place the tank on the back of the drivers side head lamp as most others have done.

Have to say ive loved driving it around, Its been at my parents for the last 2 weeks so ive not been able to drive it until today, and it puts a smile on my face just hearing the engine idle!

Thanks in advance,

Cheers,
Matt

big_wasa · 07-01-12, 12:33 PM

re the tank have you seen this post

Sonic_160zr · 07-01-12, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big_wasa

re the tank have you seen this post

Cheers for that... I had looked on there site before but couldnt find one....

Just ordered one now!.... thats one thing off the list!

Cheers,
Matt

pheelay · 07-01-12, 01:19 PM

re the setup for the catch tank, I'm still a bit baffled by the how these are being plumbed in.

The tanks most commonly used seem to have one pipe in, one pipe out and are piped inline on the pipe going to the manifold (yellow). But the crank case also breathes into the air in-take (pink)? There was a post recently of someone finding oil in their manifold even with the catch tank fitted and catch tank was reletively empty.

On mine, a previous owner fitted a twin entry catch tank (this one) and all 4 exits from the crank case breathe into it. There's no return to the manifold or air in-take. I emptied about quater of a litre out of it a couple months ago after about 1.5 years of use. Think there's still an ongoing debate about wheather they do any good at all!

Sonic_160zr · 07-01-12, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pheelay

re the setup for the catch tank, I'm still a bit baffled by the how these are being plumbed in.

The tanks most commonly used seem to have one pipe in, one pipe out and are piped inline on the pipe going to the manifold (yellow). But the crank case also breathes into the air in-take (pink)? There was a post recently of someone finding oil in their manifold even with the catch tank fitted and catch tank was reletively empty.

On mine, a previous owner fitted a twin entry catch tank (this one) and all 4 exits from the crank case breathe into it. There's no return to the manifold or air in-take. I emptied about quater of a litre out of it a couple months ago after about 1.5 years of use. Think there's still an ongoing debate about wheather they do any good at all!

Thanks for the info,

I have been doing a lot of reading up on the catch tanks and although there are a few that believe that the catch tanks doesnt help the majority have the opposite opinion. Ive seen most have fitted the the 1st one you mentioned and most have said they have found varing amounts of oil in the catch tank with some finding none, so im not 100% that in every case they are effective but that could be down to the usage of the car and fitment of the tank... I Will fit one as i cannot see it making it worse, and could help prolong the life of the car. It sounds like yours is doing a good job, might have to look into the different types of catch tanks in more detail then.

Cheers,
Matt

caled · 07-01-12, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonic_160zr

Thanks for the info,

I have been doing a lot of reading up on the catch tanks and although there are a few that believe that the catch tanks doesnt help the majority have the opposite opinion. Ive seen most have fitted the the 1st one you mentioned and most have said they have found varing amounts of oil in the catch tank with some finding none, so im not 100% that in every case they are effective but that could be down to the usage of the car and fitment of the tank... I Will fit one as i cannot see it making it worse, and could help prolong the life of the car. It sounds like yours is doing a good job, might have to look into the different types of catch tanks in more detail then.

Cheers,
Matt

I wouldn't necessarily believe the 'majority opinion' on the internet... and you're assuming that the oil isn't supposed to be there to lubricate the butterfly arms et al. There was a LR technical bulletin about the internets somewhere where they state that tests of significant oil contamination of VIS motors doesn't result in premature failure.

/devils advocate. Personally, Im not decided either way.

peterzs · 07-01-12, 04:29 PM

Sounds like you have been busy, all good stuff, makes me feel guilty that I havnt even given my one a wash in the last three weeks!!!!

talkingcars · 07-01-12, 06:02 PM

Personally I feel that the VIZ benifits from some oil to lubricate the butterflies, unfortunatly most engines seem to provide to much.

Quadcam24 · 07-01-12, 06:15 PM

catch tanks are completely unnecessary on a zs 180 imo, folks just fit them because its easy , looks bling under the bonnet and its another box to tick on your spec list.
You might as well throw 40 quid in the bin for all the good it does. My zs did half its total mileage on track lapping flat out, kevs did 120 thou miles with only a single vis motor replacement and thousands of them were on track and many trips to santa pod.
Imo catch tanks will cause more vis problems than they prevent....has anyone done 120,000 hard miles with a catch tank and had less vis problems than 1 power motor change ?

Jay-ZS+ · 07-01-12, 06:16 PM

Circuit boards have no need for oil, the dust from brushes of the motor mixes with the oil making a paste which aids their failure.