Ok, I think I have an oil leak in my rear rotor housing.

There is no oil on the outside of the engine, but if the car sits for 4-5 days it is really hard to start, and once it does it only runs off the front rotor for about 30 seconds. Also, it smokes a lot for a couple of seconds, but I think I remember reading that is normal.

I pulled the rear spark plugs, and they are black and gummy (the front ones are fine). when I clean them the car starts without a problem for a while, but they get really bad again in less than a week.

The car starts ok if I start it every day, but it does the one rotor-lawnmower thing unless I clean the spark plugs.

This is a streetport 12A with 20k miles on it.

I really hope this isnt too serious of a problem, i cant even afford new spark plugs!

~Nate

 

It sounds like the rotor oil seals are leaking. Mine is doing the same thing, except its not fouling the plugs. I just dont let it go more than a couple of days between start/warm up cycles or it gets REALLY hard to start. Keep cleaning the plugs, and watch the oil level. When the engine was apart for the SP, were new seals put in? And who ported it? template? Hopefully they didnt go too far and cut into teh oil seal track.

 

When the engine was apart it got a complete set of new seals and springs. wackyrotary did the porting using racing beat templates.

I suppose there isnt aything I can do to fix this? its really a pain for me to start the car every day, its parked >1/2 mile away.

Looks like ill have to park it for this winter and drive the minivan for a while...

 

Perhaps one or two of the oil seal springs were installed backwards.

 

Drain a quart of oil and replace with MMO. Should dilute it a bit and keep it running until you can get it fixed. You do however, have a seriouse problem that needs attention.

 

Are you sure it's not water seals? If the oil seals were so bad they fouled the plugs every time you started, it should be blowing smoke all the time -especially at high rpm shifts etc., which you should be doing a lot with a SP.

It's worth a check, anyway.

Also, it wouldn't hurt to change the plugs, though I know you said you can't get new ones right now, maybe you could swap them front to rear to see if maybe the problem is related to poor plugs not burning the intake charge completly...

 

If the oil seal springs were installed backwards, wouldnt this have happened a while ago?

anyway, i will switch my front and rear plugs in a little bit and see if that has any effect.

since i have no money and no job, it is going to be a while before i can afford to tear down the engine how long can i drive it like this (its already been at least 2 months )

 

ok, i took the plugs out and cleaned them with a wire brush untill they looked like metal again. I put them back in with the old rear plug in the front housing. only difference i have noticed so far is that it idles a little smoother (the plugs are like new now ).

Ill let it sit for a few days and see what happens