15 replies to this topic

[Syma]

I start my mini after it has sat for the day and smoke blows out of the exhaust, like a lot so much it hangs in the air and I can hear my neighbour 2 doors down coughing. It goes away after a the car warms up a bit. I think I know what it is but I just want to be sure and get some opinions from you fine folks.

I believe when I turn my car off and let it sit oil that is up high in the engine (rockers) is making its way and settling on one or more pistons. When I start it car that oil burns off causing the smoke. This to me would mean my head gasket, which is new, has gone. I borrowed my dads leak down tester, (think thats what its called) and ran the test on each cylinder to look for pressure loss. All were in the green but on #1 and #3 I could hear a little air escaping from the oil fill cap hole. 

My plan is to replace the head gasket but instead of using a $3 one I will buy a $20 Payen gasket

 

http://www.minispare...|Back to search

 

A couple of months ago my mini over heated so maybe that is what caused this as it started shortly after.

 

Does this make sense? Is there a better head gasket for my 998? Is it something else? Do I have a clue what I am talking about?

 

Thanks in advance my fellow mini enthusiasts

[timmy850]

Another possibility is the valve guides or valve stem seals are worn out and letting oil past into the cylinders. 

[Fast Ivan]

doesn't sound like a head gasket issue to me, unless you're getting other symptoms?

But get the head gasket anyway as the heads coming off to check, including changing the valve stem seals a suggested, the other possibility is that there's a problem with the bore/rings

[Steve220]

What colour is the smoke?

[Ethel]

It's a classic symptom of worn valve guides or seals. The oil collects on the back of the valves until the engine's started. Looking for spark plug fouling may help you decide which valves are to blame. Though a complete head refurb may be the best option if there is guide and valve stem wear. It would be worth doing a compression test, if you can, before pulling the head off - it'd be annoying to get it back together only to realise there was more needing attention.

[dyshipfakta]

Valve stem oil seals

[Turbo Phil]

Most likely, as suggested, valve guides an/or stem seals. Get some one to follow you down the road, when you let the throttle off on overrun it should show the smoking then as it draws oil down the valve stems under vaccum. This will confirm it.

Phil.

[cal844]

Valve stem seals, either way you'll need the head off. While it's off get it decked(levelled)

[russo]

As Steve220 said, depends on the colour of the smoke. White smoke anti-freeze, blue smoke oil. You said the engine overheated so this could have damaged the rings. It could also be a cracked head or block causing anti-freeze to leak into combustion chambers. Did you have the head crack tested and surface checked, also what about the surface of the top of the block?

[Syma]

Thanks for the reply everyone. 

Compression test came out fine

smoke is white and I do believe I have a little smoke when I let off the throttle.

I will do the steam seals in the next few weeks.

 

Thanks again

[cal844]

Thanks for the reply everyone. 
Compression test came out fine
smoke is white and I do believe I have a little smoke when I let off the throttle.
I will do the steam seals in the next few weeks.
 
Thanks again

White smoke is water, I'd remove the head and get it levelled, new head gasket and new stem seals

[panky]

Have you got a brake servo fitted? If the diaphragm is leaking you will get a puff of white smoke every time you apply the brakes as fluid is drawn into the manifold.

[Ethel]

I laid off the head gasket diagnosis as the OP said the "smoke" hangs in the air. Otherwise the symptoms fit.Steam can be made to evaporate 'n smoke don't, if you want to devise a test.

[Dusky]

How much do you drive it? Condensation mixed with an over rich choke mixture would make anyone cough.
Burnt brake fluid would make that even worse , and is very White when burned

Edited by Dusky, 18 October 2017 - 02:37 PM.

[Syma]

I finished restoring it in july and have driven it most every day up until this past week due to weather.

 

The smoke hangs in the air so I didn't think it would have been coolant.

 

No I don't have a brake servo.

 

Thanks