I don't like using a pressure washer on any vehicle. It's been known for them to force water past modern oil seals.
A friend had a problem with wet carpets in his modern car. Found to be due to him washing it with a pressure washer. The water was being forced past the door seals.

Interesting that the engine ran ok or appeared to do so with a sump full of water and that the problem only came to light when drained and refilled with oil.

I suppose this must be due to the relative compressibility of the two liquids. I understand oil is more compressible than water. This being the case the water would keep the surfaces apart more than the oil so the 'can of marbles' effect would be suppressed.

Location: East Yorkshire

A mite pedantic but spalling usually refers to the flaking and consequent rough surface which is the usual failure mechanism of rolling bearings, although not Seven mains. Has this actually occurred or just grey worn tracks perhaps with rust pits?

It is always prudent to check oil level after lengthy standing in the same position. Any upward trend is a worry. Usually oil goes khaki after brief use. I have had other makes plagued by leaks. On occasions nothing could be immediately done. After about 30 miles all boils off with no apparent damage, but no rolling bearings involved. Mayonnaise like deposit in filler tube another symptom

Location: Auckland, NZ

Bob,
Yes, I think I should have referred to the damage to the outer race on the rear main as " a nasty looking grey depression" and on the front angular contact inner and outer races as " a series of grey threads". The next stage if I had left it would have been spalling of races and rolling elements ie flakes of alloy steel peeling off. In any case they are well and truly cream crackered.
Dave.

Location: Sheffield

And speaking of pressure washers, they have been known to do terrible things to caravans, forcing water under the sealing strips that cover joins in the exterior panels, and into the wooden framework where rot and decay sets in.
But that is a very long digression from the subject of Austin engines.

Location: Northumberland

Mayonnaise type deposits in the oil filler tube can also be caused just by condensation. After my mother died my farther got into the routine of taking his Fiesta out of the garage, driving 3/4 mile round trip to the paper shop, leaving the car on the drive all day then put it back in the garage in the evening, with maybe a couple of short trips out of no more than a couple of miles during the week and a 30 mile round trip to do his shopping once a fortnight.
He checked his oil and fluid levels fairly often and as the Fiesta never used any oil to speak off he never took the filler cap off. After a year or so he asked me to give the car a service for him, on removing the filler cap the rocker cover was full to the top with light grey sludge with the rockers and push rods having made their own little holes in it to move in.

Location: Pembrokeshire.