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Today at Atelier Kaz - Private NSX Enthusiast, ex-Honda R&D engineer with F1, Indy/CART background

MX5 Engine Refresh 02

Rating: 3 votes, 5.00 average.



Making good progress although my hands and hair were covered in engine oil......








Overhauling the HLA.

After washing these in the parts cleaner, rinsed them in the brake cleaner and
then time to assemble them in the bucket of engine oil.


It’s been a while since last time my hands was covered in so much engine oil.....
No photos of course.......






One down, 15 more to go.






And although I was extremely careful not to shoot the engine oil at me when
inserting the internal sleeve into the outer housing of HLA, things happen when
dealing with 16 of them.
Last time when I carried out the same process, I didn't make this mistake so
bit frustrated in myself......

Managed to cover my hair in oil and this is the first time I have ever seen how
fast and how far the engine oil can shoot out from HLA.....

Actually, I couldn’t see it because it happened in the blink of an eye.....


Despite good compression, surprised to find that one of the HLA
(the last one at the back) at #4cyl intake side were getting bit tired and
probably not making perfect seal compared to others so ideally wanted to
replace it this time but no spare so may need to open the engine again
in the future.

Will see how it goes once oil pressure is applied.







The round shiny parts is the HLA.










Unlike NSX, this model of MX5 tends to leak the oil from the crank seal at
the oil pump.

So, quickly replaced it.
On the other hand, unlike our NSX, the oil pan gasket is well sealed on MX5 so
even after 19 years, the oil pan area is still very dry.












The engine was very clean thanks to regular engine oil change so
just wiped off the old engine oil from the surface and ready to install the
cam shafts back in place.








No time for the photo while dealing with the liquid gasket so
cam shafts back in place and punched in the oil seal.



Will be installing the WP and TB tomorrow and then properly tension it.

Hope to fire up the engine very soon.


Kaz


Comments

  1. m666 edd's Avatar
    I was smelling of gear oil as I filled my gearbox without any pump or long hoses. Managed it with the 3 bottles all horizontal squeezed between the drive shaft and rear structure. The first 2 bottles I ended up spilling some down my left arm and on my chest but managed the final bottle without spilling a drop. It wasn't a huge amount but enough to stink of the stuff!

    I need to replace my oil pan gasket but don't want to remove the manifold yet. I'm guessing there might be enough clearance to do it with the manifold in but would be pretty hard to ensure the surfaces were completely clean before replacing the gasket.
  2. Kaz-kzukNA1's Avatar
    Hi, m666 edd.

    Not sure whether you were trying to update your Ed’s DIY clutch replacement thread or not but thank you for sharing your experience here.

    Yes, MTF stinks. In fact, almost any MTF will stink.

    I think Sudesh has good way of pouring the MTF from top without making mess.

    I just use siphon pump.



    For the oil pan gasket, if you loosen the header/manifold/CAT nuts, you may be able to replace the gasket without completely taking the oil pan out but as you mentioned, you won’t be able to clean the mating surface thoroughly.

    In order to do it properly, you must remove the front down pipe.

    As the engine oil will continuously drip while the oil pan is off, you need to quickly clean the area and install the oil pan together with the rubber gasket before the mating surface is contaminated with the dripping oil.

    I prefer using the liquid gasket not just at the oil pump and left cover section but also all around the mating surface and to assist the installation, it is better to remove the stiffener bracket as well on MT model.

    I personally don’t follow the torque spec on the workshop manual.
    In my view, 14Nm is way too tight and not only squash the rubber gasket too much but also damages the oil pan resulting in oil seepage within a short period after the service.

    In order to tighten lots of these bolts and nuts at the oil pan quickly in three rounds before the liquid gasket starts to set, T-wrench is your friend.


    Kaz


  3. m666 edd's Avatar
    I was sharing my messy oil experience after reading yours so I intended the comment to be here

    In future I'll no doubt have a siphon pump as it is a handy thing to have, I just wanted to get it done so just went for it.

    On my next engine oil change I'll probably replace the gasket which I already have but I should probably get a gasket set and change a bunch of the engine gaskets at the same time or maybe get it done with the cambelt service that a garage will do.