20 replies to this topic

[Mini Manannán]

I

 

 

Did you chop it or just pootle to a halt?  They look OK to me, a tad on the rich side but nowt to worry about.

Not sure exactly what you mean. But I took it for a run on the motorway for a good 10 miles.

 

 

To 'chop' a plug is to switch off the ignition when the engine is at the load you want to look at (obviously, quiet roads and no traffic needed if you're checking what!) This can be repeated at whatever load you want to look at. If you pootle to a halt and tickover for a while (doesn't take long to colour the plugs) you'll get a reading for tickover.  

[lxondecks]

Thank you for your replies. No there is no sign of smoke. However that plug has always been a little blacker than the other so I imagine there is a small leak of some kind.

Is there anyway to test for a leak on the valve stem seals? Compression test etc?

I did a compression test this morning just to check and I got 175 PSI across all cylinders.

[lxondecks]

I

 

 

Did you chop it or just pootle to a halt?  They look OK to me, a tad on the rich side but nowt to worry about.

Not sure exactly what you mean. But I took it for a run on the motorway for a good 10 miles.

 

 

To 'chop' a plug is to switch off the ignition when the engine is at the load you want to look at (obviously, quiet roads and no traffic needed if you're checking what!) This can be repeated at whatever load you want to look at. If you pootle to a halt and tickover for a while (doesn't take long to colour the plugs) you'll get a reading for tickover.  

Thanks for the explanation. I didn't do this. I drove it on the motorway and then back home another 2 miles along 30mph roads. Ill take it out for another test now and see how the plugs looks after higher loads. Thanks again.

[lxondecks]

Just took on another test run on the motorway and noticed the air from the heater started to blow cold. I couldn’t pull over straight away (damn smart motorways) so I got off at the next junction probably 3 miles on. When I pulled over I noticed steam coming from under my bonnet, I opened the bonnet the radiator cap was loose and coolant was bubbling over. Not sure how the cap came loose, maybe I stupidly didn’t tighten it properly.

Anyway I had lost about 3 liters of coolant. So I topped it up with water and nursed it back home.

I didn’t really notice much difference on performance on the way back (not that I pushed it), but when I pulled up on the drive I noticed a weird knocking sound that seemed to be coming from quite low down at the back of the engine. To me it doesn’t sound like pinking but more of a mechanical sound. Ill try and get a video and upload.

Just wondering if I have likely caused damage to the engine, bearing in mind it was running with about 1 liter of coolant for a few miles. Are there any checks I should carry out?

I have redone the compression test and im still getting 175 PSI on each cylinder. So I don’t think I’ve blown the head gasket.

Was meant to be on the Brighton run this weekend but now a little nervous.

[Northernpower]

Thank you for your replies. No there is no sign of smoke. However that plug has always been a little blacker than the other so I imagine there is a small leak of some kind.

Is there anyway to test for a leak on the valve stem seals? Compression test etc?

I did a compression test this morning just to check and I got 175 PSI across all cylinders.

There's no easy way to test for the valve stem oil seals without removing the head. The compression test won't tell you anything about the seals. The only way you could possibly get an idea is to really work it hard on the overrun, preferably down a long hill looking for any sign of blue smoke out the back and then immediately on stopping at the bottom remove the plug and see if it's got excess black on it compared to the others.

[carbon]

Just took on another test run on the motorway and noticed the air from the heater started to blow cold. I couldn’t pull over straight away (damn smart motorways) so I got off at the next junction probably 3 miles on. When I pulled over I noticed steam coming from under my bonnet, I opened the bonnet the radiator cap was loose and coolant was bubbling over. Not sure how the cap came loose, maybe I stupidly didn’t tighten it properly.

Anyway I had lost about 3 liters of coolant. So I topped it up with water and nursed it back home.

I didn’t really notice much difference on performance on the way back (not that I pushed it), but when I pulled up on the drive I noticed a weird knocking sound that seemed to be coming from quite low down at the back of the engine. To me it doesn’t sound like pinking but more of a mechanical sound. Ill try and get a video and upload.

Just wondering if I have likely caused damage to the engine, bearing in mind it was running with about 1 liter of coolant for a few miles. Are there any checks I should carry out?

I have redone the compression test and im still getting 175 PSI on each cylinder. So I don’t think I’ve blown the head gasket.

Was meant to be on the Brighton run this weekend but now a little nervous.

3 litres of coolant is pretty much the whole lot.

 

Do you have an oil pressure gauge fitted, or just the warning light? I would recommend not to use it until you have checked oil pressure is at least 15 psi at tickover and over 40psi at 30mph in top gear with a warm engine.