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Triumph TR6 - Cylinder Head Oil Feed

It's been suggested that I consider adding the Cylinder Head Oil Feed "pipe" as the Moss catalog p/n 821-360. It routes oil to the back of the cylinder head which may not be getting enough oil.

A good move or waste of money?

Ken
Ken Shaddock

That's an ongoing topic of discussion. I've used one for 15 years with roller rockers. The oil pressure reduction at the gauge was no more than 3-5 psi with the line installed. Only real issue with me was loss of oil out the alloy valve cover vent - so I made a baffle and have a separator to catch excess oil.

I've read some posts that have suggested the Moss line allows too much oil up to rockers thus starving the bearings. I would think that would show as low oil pressure, though. I don't recall where I got mine, but it was from one of the big 3.

Brent
Brent B

Thx Brent... Good point re starving other areas. You know, this old engine has been doing its thing without that extra oil line for 34 years with one rebuild. I gotta ask myself why I consider stuff to prevent events that won't happen in the remainder of my lifetime. I'll stay with 20-50, Lucas Oil Additive, and AC Delco's EOS.

Could be a short thread.

Cheers,

Ken
Ken Shaddock

Ken

When I rebuilt my engine there was definitely higher wear on the rocker arm at one end than the other- a sign of poor lubrication to the top end.

But for the cost of the rocker arm and the length of time it took for the rocker arm to wear I felt the addition of the external feed pipe wasn't of value for me.
Michael Petryschuk

Ken,
I considered this modification but decided to just replace my rocker arm rod with a hardened rod and see what develops. My 71 has original 74K miles and now 39 years of age so replacing all the working parts (except the tappets) on the head seemed to be the thing to do. I readdress the issue after up and running and a few K miles behind me and advise situation then.
db
Doug Baker

Mike/Doug... I'm in that same camp too at the moment although if I were to hear that my engine was in trouble after all this time and money would be disheartening if preventable with this option added.

The car's still in the old BL shop as I type this so I'm preoccupied at the moment with other problems. I'll get to the comfort zone where you're at in time. Thanks for the reassurance that I have not overlooked an important improvment.

Ken
Ken Shaddock

Ken, I don't know for sure but this might be one of those things that a racer developed for engines that routinly live over 6k revs. I think there are good arguments both for and against. I woundn't worry about if you don't have it.

Rob
rw loftus

Rob,

It may have been the opposite. There's lots of oil pressure at high rpm. At low rpm there may not be adequate flow up to the rocker arm area which is why so many find it "dry" up there.

From what I recall the normal oil flow to the rockers is by way of the cam "bearings". If those are a little loose the flow on to the head is diminished. The exterior line by-passes the cam to provide more oil to the rockers. As long as there is good pil pressure with the line in place there should be no starvation issues elsewhere.
Brent B

Brent, I doubt that most of us have Cam bearings. I don't and even decided not to install even though I upgraded to a much hotter cam when I did my rebuild.
db
Doug Baker

That's why I said "bearings" - most of us have cams that ride on polished cast iron. I'd still call that a bearing surface. Something's gonna wear there over time - either the cam or the cast iron "bearing" surface, or both.
Brent B

I decided to have one installed after all. Some pix to follow:

Ken

Ken Shaddock

pic 2

Ken Shaddock

pic 3

Ken Shaddock

pic 4

Ken Shaddock

Ken, don't be surprised if your oil consumption goes up. That is a side effect of this oil line with engines that have alum. valve covers. That's probably why Brent made a baffle and went to an oil separator.

Rob
rw loftus

What Rob said, I stay out of this particular discussions
DON KELLY

Lot's of high mile TR6's out there w/o them (including mine) Ckicks dig'em though : ) sorry, couldn't resist!
JT White

What's a Ckick?
DON KELLY

Whoops...er, you know.....it's a chick after she found out you refered to her as a chick then she's "kicking" your.....well, you know the rest
JT White

Yes - oil consumption may be an issue. What I've done with mine was (and I get ready for collective wincing) added a small end of a finishing nail to the inlet of the bango bolt to restrict flow. I left the head on so it wouldn't disappear down the line, but filed it down to fit. It's a flow restrictor. Alot of oil will go through there at 50 psi or so. Plenty for the rockers.
Brent B

Okay... thx, will keep an eye on oil consumption, puffs of blue smoke on start up, etc. Ken
Ken Shaddock

This thread was discussed between 25/08/2010 and 13/09/2010

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