on my series 3 (with 1725 engine) there is an oil overflow pipe from the side rear of the engine near the distributor.the engine bay has masses of oil around it now and i cannot find the said pipe in the rootes or haynes manual. any tips to help keep the engine bay clean(bromley pageant preperation on going!!!!)
many thanks in advance

If you are referring to an upward-pointing short pipe attached to the pressed steel pushrod cover, this is not an overflow; it is a breather. It should be connected by a plastic (or rubber) hose to a non-return valve in the top of the Stromerg inlet manifold balance pipe. If your 1725 doesn't have Strombergs, the pipe can be connected to the air cleaner.

chris thanks for the reply.
i have two breather pipes , one of which does not seem to have a connection to go to.
i have brought it up above the height of the rocker cover and am going to see if this stops the leaking oil.
as i said i am going to the bromley pageant and will be hoping to look under a few bonnets there!
look forward to seeing you if you are about along with v mad.
by the way my location is Marden in Kent (tn12 post code)
all the best
michael

i am still not having any luck on the breather pipe.The car is fitted with webber braviatas and a ?k and N ? filter.there is a breather pipe on the the manifold which would appear to be the one with a vacuum mechanism in it:::: i was wondering should i connect the breather pipe in to this or am i being daft.
A bit of advice would be appreciated.
many thanks #
mg

You say there is a breather pipe on the manifold with a 'vacuum mechanism' in it. If you mean a very small pipe which goes to the distributor vacuum advance - no. If you mean a valve which will accept a rubber pipe of about 3/8" to 1.2" diameter, then this is exactly what you want. The valve opens and takes in gas from the crankcase when there is suction in the manifold but won't allow flow to the crankcase. If there is no valve, you might be best advised to connect somehow to the carb side of the K&N filter.
Is there already a breather from a stub on the side of the engine oil filler to the air filter?

hi chris the breather pipe i am worried about comes from the stub at the bottom of the engine.
the one from the rocker cover to the manifold is as it should be (not vacuum advance) according to all the manuals.
some people have suggested fixing a bottle to catch the oil that blows all over the engine , apparently something which is common in track cars.
ideally i would prefer the oil to stay in the engine
all the bets

If you did as Chris suggested, ie fit a pipe on it and connect it up to the intake it would not blow oil around. The vent pipe you talk about is not designed to be left open without a connection.

I dont see what it has to do with track day cars, whatever they are.

Here is much better information - I took the trouble to look it up rather than rely on my memory.
The oil breathing system evolved to keep pace with legislation.
The pipe causing you trouble which is attached to the tappet cover started life on SI cars pointing down (extending almost to sump level) and exhausting to fresh air. This design applied up to the end of SIII. Later SIII tappet covers also had a further circular breather towards the front of the pressing.
SIII cars were the first to have the non-return valve in the manifold as well. On SIII this was connected to the neck of the oil filler - but, as far as I can determine, not via a flame trap. On SIV and SV the manifold valve was connected to a redesigned tappet cover which had the pipe coming UP, but only about 2.5". This meant that the oil filler was connected (via a flame trap) to the carb for SIV, and the air filters for SV.
I'm not clear which carbs you have on your 1725.
As you have a 1725, it would be best to find a tappet cover with the short upwards stub. Connection depends on the carb and air-cleaner type.
HOWEVER, the bad news is that if the tappet breather is expelling large amounts of oil, your pistons must be 'blowing by' which indicates worn or broken rings and/or worn bores. (Worn valve guides are a less likely but possible fault). I suggest you do a compression test. All four cylinders should be within +/-5psi of each other and perfection is >165psi. If one is much lower than the others, or all are below about 100psi, the piston problem is confirmed.
In the short term, you could, as someone suggested, put a catcher (tin/bottle) under the downward-facing pipe. If you can find a 1725 cover, then at least any oil pushed into the pipe will tend to drain back, and you can connect this to the NRV. You will still have to check the oil regularly, but you will not be leaving a slick as you drive!

Sorry - you did tell me that you have Webers - and you do have the manifold NRV.
The tappet cover pipe should connect to the NRV and the oil filler to the carb (filtered) side of the air filter - somehow. The latter will mean that 'suck' is applied to the engine which might reduce the tendency to expel oil.

i finally rectified (or more to the point spotted the problem.
there was a missing stud from the top of the block and when you hammered the engine ( i know ) oil spurted out,
any way the breather pipe is all correct as it is and all is running fair to middling.