Smokey Air Vents

I have a 1985 Mini Mayfair 998, standard apart from a stage 1 kit (engine wise) - lately I have been driving around and after 10 minutes or so I start getting headaches - yesterday after about 20 minutes of driving when I pulled up I notices a small amount of what appeared to be smoke coming from the screen vents - it didn't smell of burning smoke - more hotness (if that makes sense)
I turned on the blower and a mass of this 'smoke' came out and continued to come out - I turned her off and stood outside awaiting the smoke and flames to engulf her.......

Luckily nothing - today after 10 minutes I arrive at work and more smoke - another headache!!!!

Any ideas at all.......

Many Thanks



Jon

The ducts for the screen vents come directly from the heater under the dash, so look there for the source. Is it actually smoke, or steam? check the heater matrix is not leaking and that there are no other problems with the heater itself.
If all is well, then look at the heaters intake. Early minis dont have an external intake, i believe they all just recirculate cabin air, but later ones have a thick duct that runs under the dash rail to the inner wing, where it draws in outside air. Check the engine bay for smoke sources that could be drawn in - either a leaking exhaust or manifold or an oil leak.

If it's smoke then that is potentially very dangerous seek help urgently and don't drive until you are sure it is fixed, as this could be a fire waiting to happen

I had a little look tonight, I does seem to be steam? although quite bluey - but it does smell of coolant and Carbon monoxide.....My coolant isn't going down, my engine isn't overheating so I assume I have good circulation -

Might this happen if my Head Gasket was on it's way out????

Power seems down alittle and it's rough as hell in the morning when cold - choke is needed to excessively long periods of time???



Many Thanks
Jon

Not being clever but you cant smell Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide is one of the most dangerous gases because it is colourless , odourless and tasteless.

Hey Jonny,

Im interested in this problem as for about 4 months before i took my mini off the road i was unable to drive it for over 30 minutes without getting a headache and feeling really sick for hours afterwards, i was sure it was carbon monoxide (which incidentally is a odourless, colourless gas) but i had no idea where it was coming in, i checked and re-checked:

Manifold
Gear gaitor
boot seal
any holes in firewall, (there were a few grommets missing)
exhaust (replaced and refitted several times with pots of sealant)

I hadn't thought of my heater causing any problems, but i used to have it on quite alot to aid cooling of the engine.

For the record mine is a 1992 spi, it had a stainless dtm exhaust which i changed to an RC40 after i thought that it was the cause.

I never really got to the bottom of the problem, which is one of the reasons my mini looks like this at the mo:



If it does it again after this.. i will have to set fire to it!
It nearly litterally killed my dad and I on the L2B last year, we had to go to hospital after...

Edited by kitroxin, 08 March 2010 - 10:51 PM.

I know CO is odourless etc, but all the symptoms are there. I'll be checking my Oil etc today see if there are any signs of HGF.

My thoughts is that when a HGF is a possibility, then CO gets into the water - hence you can buy test kits to sample the water which tells you whether there is a leak of engine gases into the water - under pressure these may be getting boiled off(although boil is the wrong word) and they find there own way out via a bad heater matrix etc.....

Looks like the whole lot will be pulled out tomorrow (

Jon

kitroxin......that is a sad sight - I wish you well....never give up and never speak of setting fire to your mini especially if you are in it's earshot!!!!!!!

Catch some in a glass jar - smoke doesn't condense. It could be related to a blown head gasket but the heater matrix would need to be rotten also. Try squeezing the radiator top hose to see if it pressurises before the engine gets warm.

Smoke could only really come from the motor, turn it off to test - simples

Carbon monoxide is odourless, try putting one of those Carbon monoxide sensors you put near a boiler? Does using any electricals affect it?

No electrical issues at all -

Putting the blower on blows an amount onto the window which condenses and wets the screen, so I believe it isn't really smoke, more steam....

Just getting the screwdrivers out to pull it all out!!
(

Just to conclude this - I took the heater out, cleaned everything rebuilt it will silicone sealant and hey presto no vapour at all....

There was a definatly a leak from the pipes entering the heater matrix, so I assume Ive fixed it - I must say at the moment I think I ha
Ive an air lock so im not 100% sure yet!!!!

Thanks for the advice though...

Jon