VX Sump Foam

[bjw]

Ever since I bought my 1600 VX Classic the question over the condition of the sump foam had been nagging away at the back of my mind. The car is 20 years old and came with no service history - how often had it been changed ? Maybe never ?

An oil change was now due and it was time to bite the bullet. I've dropped a few sumps - how hard could it be to take a look?

Turns out it wasn't quite as straightforward as I had hoped: -

https://sites.google.com/view/bjw-caterham-seven/sump-foam

Cheers,

Barry

[ECR]

Hi Barry

A nicely explained and photographed job

I have a 2.00 VX but the sump arrangement is the same. Firstly. I don't use the foam and didn't when running a wet sump (I now have a dry sump) but that's your personal choice .... I didn't, and don't use the gaskets and use just a smear of silicone sealant or preferably loctite flange sealant being careful not to "string" it into the pan. It works fine....  WRT the oil pump pick up, a usual remedy is to file a half round slot in the end of the pipe so that even if it should touch, there is still a flow of oil possible.

Different strokes for different folks .....

 

[bjw]

Well thank you.

As a matter of interest - without gaskets the sump is likely going to sit ~3.5 or 4mm higher - how do you then deal the misaligned bellhousing bolts?

Cheers

[ECR]

Interesting question which I had not considered. In practice, it hasn't been a problem. All bolts line up with no stress.I'm fairly confident that I used this system on a wet sump but that was many years ago and perhaps I'm mistaken. In any event, its fine on the dry sump.

[Nigel B]

I went through the same process with my 1.8 VX a couple of years ago, though my approach was rather more haphazard! 

I had owned the car for 16 years & had no idea there was foam in the sump that needed to be regularly changed! I was very relieved to find the foam in a similar condition to yours, black & slightly compressed, but in tact.

[pellert]

Hi Barry, 

That was a very interesting read. As you know I have had my car from new  since December 2000. I assembled it from kit form. I have always changed the oil on a regular basis, and did consider changing the foam last year. But the £50+ from Caterham put me off (delayed me). So will be considering it as a job for this winter. 

However, the car has just gone over 12,000 miles, and hasn’t been driven since the MoT last October! So in reality it might be done next year now. 

Are you enjoying the 1600 8v?  It is just right for me.

Cheers Paul

 

[SM25T]

Paul ... 12k miles in 19 years. Must try harder !

[Paul Deslandes]

Great write up and pictures.

I'm intrigued that you managed to get away without the foam Roger and with no additional baffles.  However, as you say, the issue goes away when a dry sump is fitted.

There are differing experiences with the foam, some of us having had them break up/go soggy within a year or so and a few thousand miles, others who have run the same foam for 20,000 miles for several years or more without having a problem.

The most popular explanation has been differences in the oil.  In my case, before going dry sump, I was using Millers fully synthetic and regarded that as the cause.  Other have used different manufacturers' fully synthetic oil without issue.  On the basis of no knowledge whatsoever I suspect that semi synthetic would provide equal protection to the engine and not attack the foam.

Paul

[bjw]

Hi Paul (pellert)

Thanks. Yes, I'm enjoying the car very much indeed. Suits me down to the ground.

No doubt some find it inconceivable that anyone can be satisfied with a mere 100BHP..., but it takes all sorts and I refuse to condemn them for their beliefs. Quite enough power for road use as far as I'm concerned. A satisfying amount of low end torque. Live axle hops on bumps.  It's all good fun. I'm not racing.

I'm more a 'classic car' type  - I enjoy working on the car as much as driving it, and spend considerably more time doing the former!  The car was in pretty good condition when I bought it but things can always be improved. I'm excessively obsessive about detail, so it'll never quite be 'finished'.

Yes, I'm an old... tinkerer, polisher, whatever. I've also recently restarted rebuilding my '67 S3 Elan which I stripped down in 1979... I don't like to rush things. It doesn't seem that long ago, until I remember that I paid £800 for it having sold my Mk 1 Escort GT for £825 and bought a year's insurance with the left over! Those were the days.

Kids today...

Cheers,
Barry

[Lotus Boy]

A good little write up that and good to know the size of the oil pick up pipe o-ring.  I'll change that next time - thank you!

I have a 2.0VX and have changed the baffle eight or nine times.  I change the foam baffle every two years.  I remember when Caterham used to charge £14 each for them.  £50 is a joke.

You were lucky, when I bought my car, it was already ten years old and the previous owner knew nothing of the foam baffle.  When the sump was dropped I was greeted with what looked like crispy seaweed.  So thankful that none made its way up the pick up and blocked the oil ways.  Had to flush the engine though.

I also use the threaded rod trick to help line everything up and keep the gaskets in place but hadn't thought of the clothes pegs!  Great solution and better than my 'tin of paint under the sump' approach!

I was lucky enough a couple of years ago to get hold of a spare sump however the previous owner had installed metal baffles held on with brackets drilled through the sump.  Not the most elegant solution but I think I will try that when my car goes back on the road later this year, rather than using the foam sump.  I knew it was common practice to throw away the foam on a K-series but didn't think it advisable on a VX.

Thanks,

David