Leone does not run anymore

[Lukas]

I wanted to drive my Leone (1,8 Boxer, carburator, absolutely simple) today. But it did not like to take a spin, I guess....

 

Started from cold without any problems with the Choke, drove the first few hundred meters like a dream, but suddenly, when the engine got warmer, the engine started to judder, lost power and almost died at idle. Smoked blue too, passing people started to look angry because it smoked so bad. I guess it did not on all 4 cylinders anymore too. It was a pain to drive the few kilometres home again. I made it home, but now I would like to know what you think.

 

After a few hours, I tried again. It smoked blue after starting for a few seconds, them it drove nice. Until it warmed up a bit and started to make trouble again. Does someone know what to check or what problem might be the reason for this? Never did this before.

 

Thanks a lot!

 

Lukas

[Rocket88]

Valve seals.?.............but being a boxer engine, I bet they're a 'mare to do

[Asimo]

Dirty carburetter / fuel.

 

Blue smoke usually indicates burning oil, check the engine breather pipes and valve, maybe dumping oily gunge into the intake somewhere.

[KruJoe]

Lukas, this is the Leone that was laid up, unused for a long time when you bought it, right?

Remind us what was fixed, and how much you've used it since it went back on the road - that might help.

[xtriple]

The rough running sounds like a choke issue. Is it staying partially on?

[Lukas]

Yes, it,s the Leone that was restored the last three years after being abandoned since2008. I collected it in April this year, drove ~ 1500km since. I had it garaged the last four weeks, with the tank full of petrol. Today I used it again, but only on very short distances. Started it cold without problems, drove it only 600meters, went shopping and the problems started when I drove away from there. Smoke at start, bad running, juddering. Made it home another kilometre, more wasnt possible because the engine got warmer and started juddering horribly.

 

At idle, its stays partially on, does not go out, but runs bad. I had to step on the gas a few times to get the revs up so I could drive off with slipping clutch and > 3000rpm. Not a nice experience, but I had to get off the road. It felt like it could not burn the fuel it got when stepping on the accelerator at idle.

 

What has been done while getting restored... the engine was out, all seals renewed, of course the complete ignition and the spark plugs too. I dont know if the tank has been out, but I drove it two or three tanks this year without running-problems. It worked fine before, today was the first time with these problems.

 

L

[Junkman]

What is currently the ethanol proportion of what was formerly known as petrol over there?

[Lukas]

No E10 here. Always normal "Super 95" used since I collected it.

[Rocket88]

Another thought...broken piston ring?

[Lukas]

Just by standing in the garage? I hope you are not right...

[KruJoe]

Thanks for the extra info Lukas.

 

Might it have pulled a lump of crap through and blocked the carb main jet?

(But that wouldn't account for the smoke, would it?)

[Junkman]

I think you should do compression tests, once when it's cold, once when it's warm.

[Lukas]

I really dont know why it smoked so badly parttime. It was blueish I would say, as far as I could see it. May it be that it could not burn the fuel it got and the unburnt fuel smoked away through the exhaust?

 

Especially at idle it felt lime that. I had to pump the accelerator-pedal a few times to get it revving higher to drive off. I will phone my firend and mechanic on monday if he could help me via telephone. Otherwise I must get it towed to a garage. Or should I leave it during winter and get it repaired when the new season starts in April 2015? I will have to think about it.

 

Hate it when a car gives me problems.

[KruJoe]

Blue smoke does indicate it's burning oil somehow.

[Talbotman]

Could be a distributor problem too. I take its electronic ignition on these? In old school terms most of the symptoms youve written would lead to a knackered condenser.

[dollywobbler]

If it's fine when cold, but gets worse, I also suspect an enrichment device failure. If you over choke a petrol engine, it can start smoking - though usually sooty rather than blue. If it's really choking up, it can start to carbonise the piston rings, which then allows oil to burn. Is it a manual choke? If so, is it actually shutting off when you close it?

[Lukas]

It´s a manual choke and it´s a carbed engine, yes. 

 

It does shut off I think, the light in the dash goes out. I´ll check the choke-linkage tomorrow, maybe that´s at fault. Thank you!

[Rocket88]

You can usually tell if it's burning oil, just by the smell.......................