8 replies to this topic

[victorludorum]

Hello everyone

 

My 2000 Cooper has almost 45,000 on the clock now and I think the head gasket might be going. There's water leaking from the cooling system which seems to be trickling down the front and side of the engine from the water pump area. There are tiny bubbles in the oil and it's blowing white smoke when revved. I haven't done a compression test yet, but I guess that that's the only sure way to know. Am I right in supposing all of this, or could it be something else?

 

If it is the gasket, I'll be doing it myself, so I'm also wondering what else is worth doing at the same time. A lot of people seem to have work done on the head itself at this point...

 

Thanks all

 

Gary.

 

 

[MatthewsDad]

I'd do a compression test before driving it again, and take it from there.

[racingbob]

make sure you get a BK450 head gasket not a rubbish one that a lot of places sell

 

theres a genuine 1275 one as well from minispares thats what i got on mine now 

 

as the BK450 has a bit more cc in it

[RooBoonix]

make sure you get a BK450 head gasket not a rubbish one that a lot of places sell

 

theres a genuine 1275 one as well from minispares thats what i got on mine now 

 

as the BK450 has a bit more cc in it

 

I have also had success with the Minispares GEG300. Recently taken my head off (after only 7000 miles however...) but the gasket is still in perfect shape with no signs of blowing.

 

Everyone seems to love the BK450 though...

[Steve220]

BK450 is a good gasket.

Whilst the head is off, worth getting it reconditioned i.e. Valves lapped, decoked, faces cleaned up. Water pump is worth doing at the same time too. Has the car ever overheated?

[victorludorum]

Some time ago the thermostat went, but in general it's been rock solid and runs perfectly. Even now it's running ok, but I think what I'm seeing might be the first signs of the gasket going, so I'd rather get on and sort it now if I can.

[victorludorum]

I've just done a compression test and they're all coming in at about 210.

 

I'm going to take it our for a run in a sec as my wife reckons it was making a rattling noise before the leak started, so I really just want to hear what that is all about. It's definitely blowing a bit of white smoke on revving the engine, but the compression numbers seem ok don't they?

 

Cheers all

[Steve220]

Steam is common from the exhaust, unless you're looks like a pro vaper going to town! Compression figures are high, were they from cold?

[victorludorum]

I ran the car around the block for 10 mins or so. It wasn't running at 'normal' temp, but rather a bit below. I might take it out for a longer run and do the test again to be honest. After the last test, the problem disappeared completely, which was very strange, but my wife has been driving it this week and when she pulled in last night it was clearly running very hot, and I think there may be no water left in the rad, so back to square one for me...