240,gl oil blow back from filler cap

had this problem a year ago, advice was spot on, ie change flame trap, drill out slightly the nipple in intake and flush well the engine, but problem is back.
i have noted the advice to take out the flame trap from the y piece, as it is not really necessary, but. "what about the oil trap," plastic box it all connects to. can't get to it or get it off to see if there is a blockage, any suggestions please as this is a great car with a small but v messy problem.

* box seems to actually be a BREATHER BOX bolted to engine, can this get blocked?

[Peter Milnes]

Yes it can get blocked and is well worth a clean. . Unfortunately I have no idea how to remove it from a 240.

Just a small point, if your 240 has no turbo then you should replace the flame trap element in the "Y" piece. Only turbo-equipped cars do not have the funny little gauze bit.

All the best, Peter.

hello peter,

thanks for a quick response,

already changed the flame trap. gone through all the pipe work, it's this little box that seems blocked, will try today without the trap in the y piece. and see,

thanks. alain

[sheerwater]

Hi, One thing woth checking if all hoses etc on the flame trap are clear. You obviously have a ''worn'' engine. I dont mean worn out only some engines get gummed around the rings if cheaper oil has been used sometime in its life. Might be worth trying the old redex treatment of pouring a little into each cylinder and leaving overnight to ungum the rings. When you do restart it do it at night as your neighbours will complain at the smoke. !!! Cheers Nigel PS its not just a case of a poor seal on the cap is it?

hi nigel,

got a new breather box, need to unbolt and lift the injector set up aside, which i can do with out too much trouble to get to the bolts, i'll try this and see what happens. as for the seal i cahnged that first,not that. all seems to work well with out the flame trap. if i blow back through b/box with cap off there is no flow, so hope fully that is problem. will keep all updated as it seems a commen problem from what i hear.

thanks, alain

[Clifford Pope]

I have a 240 with injection, and I got the black box off without having to disturb the rail. It bolts on (one bolt, I think) and then is a tight press fit in the block. It can be done, but is very awkward. make a note of where all the hoses go first.
But it is well worth doing. Mine was blocked solid, and that on an engine that had been flushed, redexed, oil-changed etc from new.
Soak it in parafin, poke in skewers etc. The gung inside can harden into something that looks remarkably like black plastic.

success, many thanks to all who have replied, eventually had to take off complete injector unit as breather box well and truely stuck fast, but only an hour and a half.
hopefully many more trouble free years with this,

cheers. alain