Holy smokes!

[VenturaAlfa]

You guys and gals are going about this all wrong!!! :D

Those of us that drive British sports cars are well aware of the answer here. :mrgreen:

If you look on line you will find that there are folks who sell magic smoke in a can and/or magic smoke in a bottle. Lucas electronics don't work without the wiring and certain other parts being filled with the magic smoke. They call Lucas the "lord of Darkness" that just means your electronics have run out of magic smoke. Quite often you can see it dramatically draining out of a TR6, Jensen Healey or Jaguar parked on the side of the road. Some people have even tried using a fire extinguisher to stop the output of magic smoke. That does not work.

These motors that you speak of need magic smoke to operate, without it they will die. Your friend should rejoice in the smoke; it means the motor is running. (all said tongue firmly planted in cheek).

Now, with tongue out of cheek, I have mentioned in the past that I have had several of these motors that were brand new in cars that start off running very slowly for 2 or 3 laps around my track. They then smoke like crazy and immediately turn into absolute rockets :music-rockout: . They continue to run slow and smoke each time they are run but they are some of the fastest motors I have. I have never understood why that is and have found that they continue to do this even after having been cleaned in both alcohol and water and/or taken apart.

So, good luck but smoke is not always a bad thing and it is not always true that where there is smoke there is fire.

Ventura Alfa

[Ember]

(chuckle) Even funnier that this motor was destined for use in a Morgan. :D

[VenturaAlfa]

See, Magic smoke really is required. Morgans thrive on it. The more they smoke the better they run.

If you drive a British car and you don't find oil under it when you park it you have a real problem. You have run out of oil and better hope you have not damaged the engine.

Ventura Alfa

[ElSecundo]

[TuscoTodd]

Hey! The motor in the used Cuda I picked up is doing something very similar to what I am reading here! It smelled like it was burning down (and still does) - but it didn't seem to be slowing down?!? I stopped driving it as soon as I figured out that it was my car (and the motor was pretty darn hot!) - and assumed I was going to need an arm or complete replacement for it as it is clean as a whistle inside - but from the sounds of it, maybe I ought to just see if it is going to just keep doing it and live on?
I the only other motor I have had "let out it's magic smoke" was a Plafit Cheetah that picked up something off the track (guessing body pin or piece of braid?) - it through out whatever it had pickup up - but not before it was too late... :(
It still runs but is down on power roughly 15% based on lap times. Made for a REALLY easy to drive car - but considering it was in my JK Formula 2 car that I race at the track - it had to go to the damaged "spare parts" pile (at least for now) ;)

[RazorJon]

Ember, we use the CRC brand its called contact cleaner, flame off

[Foamy]

Any disc brake spray cleaner can be used to clean motors. The powered liquid of choice dip should be used only on new brush breakin.

[waaytoomuchintothis]

"The powered liquid of choice dip"
What is that?

[ElSecundo]

[Ember]

Next time I get CRC I'll look for the non-flammable option. Mind you, that's likely to be in 10 years time. It lasts for ages in this household.

On the run-in side of things. I know on Australian champion uses water with Spray'n'Wipe in it for motor break in.

[TuscoTodd]

[Ember]

Whoa mumma! Well. That didn't work. Gave it an alcohol dunk and dry. No change. Tried CRC NF contact cleaner. Ooh baby, that sure did something. This sucker now has a glowing comm and chugs out more smoke than an open cut coal mine in a bushfire. Yikes!

Nothing for it but to strip this baby down and investigate the problem.

[waaytoomuchintothis]

I'm interested. I never heard of anything like that!

[Ember]

If I was brave enough I'd plug it back in and video it. But I rather like having hair.

[ddyke]

I start the motor submerged. No oxygen = no fire. BUT don't be clumsy and knock over the jar with the motor running. You get a nice fire.