7 replies to this topic

[GreenMini17]

After a load of money and time and effort put into refurbing my engine and a few usefull mods, I had it on the rolling road being set up. All was well untill we noticed there was alot of coolant over the passenger side front wing. After a bit more of a look it seemed to be coming out of the rad cap, but not leaking around the side, actually out the top (there is like a brass rivet in the top) We assumed this because the coolant was on top of the cap, so how could it have got there? After mopping up, and checking it wasn't leaking from the rad or hoses (which it wasn't) the chap fired her back up and did the third run. The coolant leaked again exactly the same as before, then when running down it made a loud whistling noise and water was ******* out the right hand side of the engine just above the engine steady. It looked like a head gasket failure (but I've never seen anything like that though!) The water temp was fine by the way.

We did have the head off to have unleaded valve seats put in (done by Slark Race Engineering) it was skimmed at the same time too.

Replaced the head gasket, studs and nuts all at the same time. Torqued down very carefully in the correct order to the correct torque too.

The car has moved about 1/4 mile with the engine running, but due to it running to rich I did not drive it anywhere.

I have not taken the head off yet (due to work commitments) but I would dearly like some help. I do not understand why this would do it?

The chap who was tuning it said its only another half hour away from being spot-on. Just always something got to come along and ruin it eh!?

Could anybody enlighten me on what may cause a thing like this?

[Cerberus]

I believe the 'brass rivet' on the top of the cap is part of the pressure valve. Cooling system caps are rated at different pressures to allow the cooling systems to work correctly, something to do with the fact that under pressure water boils at a different temperature.

ignore this, I was apparently wrong, the rivet just holds the bits underneath the cap on.


Do you know what the water temps were at?

Edited by Cerberus, 10 September 2010 - 06:50 PM.

[GreenMini17]

I believe the 'brass rivet' on the top of the cap is part of the pressure valve. Cooling system caps are rated at different pressures to allow the cooling systems to work correctly, something to do with the fact that under pressure water boils at a different temperature.

Do you know what the water temps were at?

Well the chap doing the rolling road said there was nothing wrong with the water temp. So I guess it was normal temp?!

[WiredbyWilson]

if water is coming out near the steady it could be a split bypass hose (if fitted)

when mine went the temp shot up though........

[GreenMini17]

if water is coming out near the steady it could be a split bypass hose (if fitted)

when mine went the temp shot up though........

No the other side, where the standard engine steady is fitted (onto the master cylinders)

Anybody got any help?

[jonny d]

engine core plug?

[WiredbyWilson]

engine core plug?

This man could be onto something - think there are 2 on that side of the block!

[GreenMini17]

engine core plug?

This man could be onto something - think there are 2 on that side of the block!

No its not a core plug, it was coming out of the join between the head and the block!