15 replies to this topic

[swfk]

Hi everyone I'm in the middle of sealing the seams underneath a brand new Mini shell and I've got a question I'm wondering.

As we all know there are six sill vents on each side of the Mini. Is it wrong, useless, or is it a good idea to seal these seam vents with brushable seam sealer? Also, what are the sill vents really for? What I want to do is to stop water from entering the sill from the vents. But then I wonder if I'm actually blocking the moisture from ventilating the vents.

I am doing this...


To these...


Much help is appreciated!

Edited by swfk, 21 July 2011 - 06:20 AM.

[CLM]

No, bad idea, standing water is more of a rust trap then open sills, if condensation / leakage from the rain / etc can't get out then it's going to start rusting faster as it pools in your sills.

Chris

[swfk]

No, bad idea, standing water is more of a rust trap then open sills, if condensation / leakage from the rain / etc can't get out then it's going to start rusting faster as it pools in your sills.

Chris

Where does the water get in if not via the sill vents though?

[mike.]

Condensation is where it comes from.

There is access to the sills from inside the rear bins in a mini as well.

All you need to do is get a waxoyl tin and the extension probe attachment, then you can fill the sills with waxoyl through the rear bin access and also, you can undo the bottom seatbelt mounting and fill them there too.

[Tamworthbay]

WHS^^^^ except I would user Dynax S50 from Bilthamber.com. It creeps into seams and self repairs, plus it stays fluidish unlike waxoyl.

[Tommyboy12]

Ive heard you can pump them full of expanding foam. Its been said to slow rust quite a bit although I am not convinced. Also I imagine there is a possibility of it expanding too much and damaging the sills.

[Cerberus]

WHS^^^^ except I would user Dynax S50 from Bilthamber.com. It creeps into seams and self repairs, plus it stays fluidish unlike waxoyl.

I got some for mine.

Seems to have been pretty awesome.

Might try using it on my subframe for this winter instead of waxoyl.

[CLM]

No, bad idea, standing water is more of a rust trap then open sills, if condensation / leakage from the rain / etc can't get out then it's going to start rusting faster as it pools in your sills.

Chris

Where does the water get in if not via the sill vents though?

Yes, condensation, have you ever gotten into a car with the windows all fogged up?

Well the metal is the same way with a temperature difference inside and out the water will condense on the metal and drip.. More or less like sweat.

If you could build the car in a completely dry environment and seal the sills, the area at the base of the window posts, up in the cantrails, and everywhere else the box section is open to so it was an air tight void, then yes they could be sealed as there would be no way for moisture to get in there. But unfortunately it's not that perfect of a world.. and vents in doors and bodies etc are there to help prolong the life of our cars.

Instead of sealing them up, a better way would be a regular scheduled maintenence of checking to make sure all the drains are clear and free of mud or leaves or other gunk so the liquids could easily and quickly leave the area.

Chris

[lrostoke]

Anybody else noticed on really hot days they get waxoil seeping out of the sill vents onto the floor

[swfk]

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

[ado15]

Ive heard you can pump them full of expanding foam. Its been said to slow rust quite a bit although I am not convinced. Also I imagine there is a possibility of it expanding too much and damaging the sills.

The factory did this on very early cars and it was a disaster! The moisture still forms, but it sits between the foam and the steel and this, as we have established, equals rust!

[Frog]

Yeah I wouldn't recommend putting expanding foam in sills, just acts like a giant sponge. Holds the water in & rusts everything out. I would spray all inside the sills etc with Dinatrol, Somerfords keep it in stock although I expect there are other suppliers as well.

[jinja chin]

hi there sorry to hijack but how many tins ? ltr of dinatol do you need to do sills thanks

[jayjay31]

Hi im part of another thread as my mini got new over sils on at present no rust But no vents could i just drill some small holes to make the vents ?

[myredmini]

The only way to stop the oversills damaging the floors and Rusting it is to remove them and fit proper ones. You drill holes, the water will enter and drain in and sit there as it cannot escape. Causing a rust trap.