Build Day 41- First Start Up

Day 41- First Start Up

Start Up Prep   

Before we can start the engine it needs filling with coolant and oil. After our research we have decided to run in the engine using mineral running in oil, and thus have decided to go for Millers CRO 10w40 Running in mineral oil. Initially we put in the 6trs the manual says to put in for starting. Also before starting we turned the engine over to circulate the oil properly. (http://www.millersoils.co.uk/automotive/tds-automotive.asp?prodsegmentID=187&sector=Motorsport)

Letting the bottle drain. Not a drop seems to come into the tank, evidently it requires turning over to circulate the oil.

Running in oil.

We then filled the cooler bottle, and the radiator through the top plug, with a 50/50 mix of de-ionised water and the supplied coolant. This was only filled to the minimum fill line then topped up as required. Finally we filled the petrol tank with roughly 15ltrs of petrol.

Be very careful, over fills very quickly.

Before putting the car on the floor we gave the exhaust bolts a quick torque, put the wheels on, then dug out the keys.

Primaries looking great with the wrapping off.

Certainly an unexpected surprise unveiling these when the car arrived.

Car rolled out ready to go.

Start Up

As instructed we initially disconnected the fuel inertia cut off switch on the bulkhead, then proceeded to turn over the engine for 30 seconds in order to circulate oil and coolant, and to get to 4+ Bar of oil pressure. Then we reconnected the switch, primed the fuel line with the ignition, then started the engine. This started straight away, however, as the idle hasn't been set yet the engine requires some revs in order to not cut out. We kept the engine at 2000 revs for a few minutes to allow for proper bedding of the heads.

This process quickly stopped however as we noticed that the catalytic converter had become cherry red and only two of the primaries were discolouring. After this we decided to allow the cat to cool, then we wheeled the car back in and not do anything more until we have talked to Caterham.

Only primary 1 & 3 being heated. Evidently not firing on all cylinders.

We have made a guess that the two misfiring cylinders are dumping fuel into the catalytic converter, which was burning from the exhaust gasses, thus heating the cat and eventually spitting flames out the exhaust.

Each of the light specks is a small blister where the heat was starting to damage the shield.

While the cat was cooling we decided to put the adhesive foam strips, supposed to be fore the cycle wing fitment for the protection of the paint under the bonnet. This is only going to be a temporary matter until we get some different foam.

Foam along front edge and underside.