96 replies to this topic

[Dan]

I have to say that I got about 3 lines into your first post before I thought headgasket.

[JakeJakeJake]

I will do a compression test ASAP and see what the results are.

Hopefully someone local will have one, asked a few friends they all have either never had it done or only had it done at the garage

Head gasket going is better than my dads suggestion "you've probably cracked the bores" *nervous smiley face*

[Dan]

Head gasket going is better than my dads suggestion "you've probably cracked the bores" *nervous smiley face*

And far, far, far more likely!

[JakeJakeJake]

Head gasket going is better than my dads suggestion "you've probably cracked the bores" *nervous smiley face*

And far, far, far more likely!

Haha that's good to hear, I think he was either joking or just being pessimistic

[jkjaxor]

sounds like a compression problem, headhgasket is the most likley, but could be added to by badly sealing valves. if youe doing the headgasket its woth chekcing the valves and seats. especialy if its a leaded head and has had a long time on unleaded.
jack

[JakeJakeJake]

sounds like a compression problem, headhgasket is the most likley, but could be added to by badly sealing valves. if youe doing the headgasket its woth chekcing the valves and seats. especialy if its a leaded head and has had a long time on unleaded.
jack

I will be taking the head off to do the head gasket, so might aswell check the valves and seats.

It is a "stage 2" head from minisport so I am pretty sure is unleaded, will check anyway whilst it is all apart.

[JakeJakeJake]

Right now my car currently looks like this






Head gasket was fine



Also check the valves and they are all seated fine and show no signs of any wear





Everything was very coked up but this I assumed was down to the misfire and also has been "idling" a lot whilst I tried to adjust the timing.

So what is the problem?

[samsfern]

those spark plugs look very sooted/oiled up to me, which definately wouldnt help it and could well be and id say they are the cause. and by the looks of it its running quite rich

Edited by samsfern, 08 December 2010 - 10:06 PM.

[JakeJakeJake]

those spark plugs look very sooted/oiled up to me, which definately wouldnt help it and could well be and id say they are the cause. and by the looks of it its running quite rich

Plugs were only oily from getting messy taking the head of, is just a bit of excess oil and water. Had them out before and they were sooty but not oily.

[1984mini25]

Still looks like it's been running way too ritch and/or burning oil tho.

[JakeJakeJake]

Pretty sure its so coked up due to so much idling recently and the misfire, so a result of the problems not the cause?

Just realised the photos of the head were taken after I tested the valves seats, hence they are so wet. Apologies if this was misleading

Don't think it was burning oil, did not get through any more than normal (I used about 5 litres in the past year / 6 k miles) oil pressure gauge hasn't been fluctuating. How would I know if it was burning oil?

[Southy]

The HG may look okay but from the looks of the block in the third pic, and also the second pic of the HG itself and also the pic of the head it certainly looks like its been blowing across 2 and 3 and also across 1 and 2 by the looks of the black marks on the surface of the block,HG and/or the head itself.

Also your engine is really over fuelling, the exhaust valves should be a nice brown colour not black as yours are.

[1984mini25]

Clean up the head as best you can and using a straight edge across the face and a torch from below, check to see if you can see any light between your straight edge and the head. It’s not a perfect way of doing it, but if you do see any light it could suggest that the head is warped.

[sonikk4]

If you have used 5 litres of oil / 6000 mile in the past year then i would say you also have have a problem with burning oil.
That is excessive, i take it you have not got a major oil leak??? As previously mentioned your head gasket does show signs of bridging between 2 and 3 which will cause a miss fire however did you do a compression test before you took the head off??

Burning oil is normally indicated by bluish smoke coming from the exhaust. On initial start up if there is a puff of smoke then this is normally down to worn valve guides/valve guide seals.
However if there is blue smoke when you rev the engine up when its warm and also on the over run then its the rings i'm afraid and this will need an engine strip down.

Have a look at the bores and see if there is a ridge at the top. This will indicate wear and will possibly need a re-bore, also try to move the pistons by pressing on the top of the piston and moving from side to side. There should be very little movement if any. If its moving a lot then again this will indicate all is not well and will need stripping down.

Back to the head was the head re torqued after it had been fitted previously?? if not then this could have been your problem. It normally states in the Haynes manual or which ever one you were using to do a re torque after so many miles or a time period. If not done then this can have consequences like the head gasket not sealing oil/water leaking etc.

[cooperrodeo]

So who gets the fiver?