Not a happy car

[Oneball]

We’re all three breather pipes disconnected from the tank when the oil came out?

 

[Gp79]

So oil is being blown out of the top of the dry sump tank?
The oil level must be very high then?

 

[jasst]

Yes, that is what seems to be happening
Cant see how, none has been added since it was serviced last year, infact due to the amount lost I would say it is low now. All this seems to correlate with oil pressure, at idle when pressure is around 2 bar all is fine, it is when you rev it up and so increase oil pressure to the 5 bar mark that it starts puking it out. been speaking to mechanic friend and he thinks the actual oil level is rising in the tank for it to come out like that, as if was a back pressure issue then it would just bubble up through the oil in the tank and come out as fumes, relly need to get someone around to help observe what is happening when you rev it as cant see when in seat pushing the throttle.

 

[Oneball]

If it’s coming out when all the breathers are disconnected it’s not crankcase pressurisation. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, I’ve no direct experience with these cars.

I’d suggest there are three options

Oil has been overfilled.

Oil level has increased either by addition of water from the coolant system or petrol from the fuel system.

The scavenge pump is pumping more oil than the delivery pump can supply. Either due to blockage, partial pump failure or relief valve failure

 

[Gp79]

If it’s coming out when all the breathers are disconnected it’s not crankcase pressurisation. Someone correct me if I’m wrong, I’ve no direct experience with these cars.

I’d suggest there are three options

Oil has been overfilled.

Oil level has increased either by addition of water from the coolant system or petrol from the fuel system.

The scavenge pump is pumping more oil than the delivery pump can supply. Either due to blockage, partial pump failure or relief valve failure

Very good points there.

The oil pump does have 3 filters installed but to check these is a very big job as manifold then oil pump need to be removed.

Does the oil smell of fuel and what is the level showing on dipstick when at hot idle?
I would also replace oil and filter to ensure it isn’t contaminated with water/fuel. Make sure the filter is correct part number for a 4200 as a wet sump filter from a QP is different part even though looks the same.

 

[Zep]

My understanding of what happened is the the breather from the rocker covers was disconnected from the oil tank and the oil came out of this pipe, not the tank, when the engine was revved. Is that right?

 

[jasst]

what is the level showing on dipstick when at hot idle?

It is very difficult to check as there is no definite line of oil on the dipstick as there is oil all over the dipstick.
The coolant level hasn't altered, so don't see how it can be water contamination.
Will see if I can smell anything in the oil next time I have a look

 

[jasst]

My understanding of what happened is the the breather from the rocker covers was disconnected from the oil tank and the oil came out of this pipe, not the tank, when the engine was revved. Is that right?

No, oil came from the tank as the breather pipe was disconnected

 

[Zep]

No, oil came from the tank as the breather pipe was disconnected

Ah - this is much better news!

 

[Zep]

It seems to be that you have a lot more oil flow than you want. When I checked my oil with the engine hot there was always a little bit of bubbling in the oil but it was always somewhere around the line. If you have it flying around all over the place then something is making it do that.

It seems unlikely to me that you would have the cats destroy themselves and then have a completely unrelated oil system failure at the same time.

I think Greg has a good point, you should consider changing the oil and filter as a kick off, maybe it has been contaminated with fuel and become too thin.

 

[jasst]

I've got oil and filter in stock, so will do that as next step.

 

[Oneball]

It might be worth cleaning the oil tank, while you’re at it, although I imagine it’s a right pig to get out?

Is part 8 in the oil system diag a filter? If it is I’d definitely have that out, I think it’s accessible from underneath???

 

[Gp79]

It might be worth cleaning the oil tank, while you’re at it, although I imagine it’s a right pig to get out?

Is part 8 in the oil system diag a filter? If it is I’d definitely have that out, I think it’s accessible from underneath???

Yes looks like a suction filter, well spotted.

Easy enough to remove and check while doing an oil change.

I’ll think about checking mine at next service as didn’t know that was there.

 

[masertel]

It is very difficult to check as there is no definite line of oil on the dipstick as there is oil all over the dipstick.
The coolant level hasn't altered, so don't see how it can be water contamination.
Will see if I can smell anything in the oil next time I have a look

I would be concerned that a defined reading is not showing up on the dip stick. I have purchased three 4200 over the years from dealers which I checked for oil as soon as I got home and they had all been overfilled. There are 2 oil plugs that have to be removed to drain the oil during a service so if only one is removed you will have a serious over fill problem if the garage puts in the recommended 8lts of oil.

When checking the oil I don't drive the car to warm it up as have found the oil gets very frothy on the dip stick and therefore hard to read. Instead I start the car and let it reach operating temperature on tick over then dip to check the level as there is less frothing and bubbles in the oil.

After all you have been through draining the oil out of both the oil tank and engine then putting a new (correct) oil filter on would seem like a good move- if only just to rule this out. If you decide to do and oil change best to keep the old oil and check the amount and quality that comes out. Too much oil and 5 Bar (75 psi) pressure is a bad combination.

Good luck getting it sorted. You need the heart of a Lion when a Maserati starts to play up - which obviously you have!!!

 

[jasst]

Thanks masertel, yeah, going to do oil and filter change next, (when I've got time) and se , but I don't hold out much hope that it will be the magic cure, but who knows?
Luckily I'm a pretty laid back sort of person, so I'm not letting it get to me (much lol ) but I wont be beaten.

 

[jasst]

Hi everyone, so to continue this saga I have drained the engine oil out, but do you think I can shift the oil filter? like f*** can I, bought this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-86mm...nless-Steel-/192317785761?hash=item2cc70886a1 as seems to be the correct one but it has just started going round on the filter without shifting it, Its not left hand thread is it by any chance? so now waiting for this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MECHANIC...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 to be delivered to see if have any more luck. As those of you who have done this will know, access is very limited to oil filter, so don't know if my usual trick of belting a screwdriver through the filter to 'persaude' it off will work,

 

[Oneball]

If you can get that on with a ratchet surely you can stick a screwdriver in it??

Have you drained the tank and had a look at the filter in there?

 

[Gp79]

They are a pain due to the access.

Normal thread! Just tight.

 

[jasst]

Have you drained the tank and had a look at the filter in there?

Tank drained, not had a look at filter yet, new filter says tighten to 30NM, seems bl***y tight to me, I've always worked on the 'tighten till seal contacts face then further 1/2-3/4 turn rule, and that has always been the rule for everything from large agricultural diesels, to any car I have owned over the last 40 years of doing it myself, guess I'm a bit old school!

 

[alfatwo]

I really think after all this supposed diagnosis, you really need to take the car to someone who knows the crack!

Stuart at Shiltech was the main Maserati man at Graypaul in the early days or there's Marois up in Manchester

I wouldn't trust anyone else!

Dave