4 replies to this topic

[morgen]

Hello,

Unfortunately almost broke-down, yesterday, though I was able to gently nurse the car home.
- Severe loss of power
- what sounded like combustion-knock under load but okay when keeping the revs in the mid-range in 3rd gear
- smell of oil vapour
- oil vapour from filler cap, and bubling around head gasket and rocker cover gasket
-Exhaust smoke (blue) *after period of sustained high vacuum then back on throttle* e.g. down hill in 4th off the throttle then back on
- Didn't overheat, but loss of coolant obvious once it was all cooled down

Didn't seem exactly like head gasket, but with the pattern of power loss, suddenness, and the type of knock was as I've experienced with head gaskets in the past so I hoped in vain that it would just be be the gasket or something else in the head like burnt valves or stems seals etc, and nothing in the bottom end. Took the head off, last night, and the gasket looked great so now I have to look elsewhere. Build up on the valves I thought looked a bit excessive.

Not taken the valves out yet, but I'm clutching at straws that it's still head-related.

Pretty sad, just recently back on the road after a long time, and it was a really nice 1330 MG metro unit that was running beautifully before but maybe something in the recomissioning has done real damage. I'd like to attach video of the vapour but I don't think I can.

Any guidance/advice really appreciated, and anynone in central Scotland who could help (for payment of course!) even better.

Thank you!

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Edited by morgen, 18 June 2023 - 06:41 AM.

[absx2]

I`ve done quite a few head gasket replacements over the years ( for other people ) where the failure wasn`t obvious and the gasket looked okay so hopefully after checking everything over that`s what it will be.

[timmy850]

A compression test would have been a good way to diagnose the issue before you had the head off.

The spark plugs look pretty gummed up, especially 1&2 so perhaps it was running at least one cylinder short?

I’d also confirm all the pushrods are the same length, all the rockers are functional, valve springs are complete etc

[sonscar]

Unlikely but does it have a mushroom shaped pcv valve with a failed diaphragm causing it to suck oil into the motor?Just a thought,Steve..

[cal844]

Where in Central Scotland are you? Try to find out if JEM Engines in Falkirk are still trading. Or speak to Turbo Phil (was in Cumbria last time we spoke)