Nockin' Nippa

[Station]

My Nippa has been performing really well since I've had it. My friend has been using it for a couple of months and loves it.

About three months ago, I went to change the oil, and I noticed there was a large build up under the rocker cover. It was like waxy deposit.

I took the rocker cover off, and lo-and-behold, it was like the u-bend in a chippie shop sink. Solid, waxy oil that was everywhere, the rockers had cast their movement in it, and the two oilways in each corner of the head were free. The top end is a little tappety, which is probably normalish, considering the 850cc engine. The clearances probably need doing as well.

I cleared it out as best as I could using a small spoon (blocking the oil passages into the block), but I think a li'l bit of the waxy buildup got through. I ran it for a couple of miles, and then changed the oil again.

Over the next couple of months, after a long journey (about 60 miles - I used to drive it to work and back), the oil light would come on. If you turned the engine off (even with the car moving) out of gear, and then turn it back on again, the light would go out and it would be fine for another week or so.

 

I lent the car to my brother to stay at my house, and got a call saying the car had started knocking and he pulled over and got recovered on my AA card.

The car has stood for a few days, and when I came down tonight, I started the car, the engine knocked for about four rotations (less than a second) and then ran fine.

 

Apart from changing the oil and making sure there is no blockages, what could be the diagnosis here. I was told the car was run for a few seconds when the knocking occured (it 'conked out' near to my house) before it was recovered. The AA man said it might be the bottom end, but if there was damage, this knocking would be permanent, surely, unless there is damage to one of the bearing caps?

I want to keep hold of the car for as long as possible as it's tiny (easier to park), uses no fuel, takes a lot of abuse, etc. and is worth more to me than how much I'd get if I'd sell it. I'd gladly change the engine if it came to it.

Any ideas? Have I got off lightly?

 

[Cavcraft]

Oil starvation due to blocked oil ways? Maybe the shit thins (or thickens) out hence it knocking occasionally, rather than all the time?

[Junkman]

Well first of all, stop lending it to other people. Or do you let them use your fountain pen and/or partner, too?

[Station]

I think that's what it is Billy, I know there's remnants of that blobby stuff in the oil system. Multigrade oil changes viscosity when it warms up depending on what weather type it is.

I've read these engines suffer from the same problems with it solidifying in the rocker cover and blowing out of the dipstick, oil cap and breather pipes.

 

I will stop lending stuff out from now on, as it seems to have backfired on my spectacularly everytime.