13 replies to this topic

[fokko]

Has anyone ever considered training an AI model based on the contents of our forum? It would be of huge value being able to ask questions in natural language and get an answer based on all of the content on this forum. I understand there is cost involved, but I'm sure there is a way to make this work. Of course it would only be available to forum members .

[Icey]

It’s likely already slurped up by the big guys hence the performance problems it’s had over the last few months.

But in general, I’ve certainly had the same thought and planned to use a small local model to test some examples for fine tuning.

[PoolGuy]

Ask ChatGPT a question that you know has been answered here, that'll give you an idea of how much info has been farmed? Also ask it a question that's been answered incorrectly.

[fokko]

I guess you're both right indeed. I asked ChatGPT the following (random) question: "How to fit new core plugs to a Classic Mini A+ engine?" checking if it would use the info in https://www.theminif...ew-core-plugs/. It seems most of it is there. Below you can find the answer it gave. Still I think it would be more reliable when it's only trained on the content of the forum. The upcoming time I'll try some more and report back how it's doing. Thanks for thinking along!

 

 

Fitting new core plugs (freeze plugs) on a Classic Mini A+ engine is straightforward, but care and cleanliness matter a lot—poorly fitted plugs are a very common source of coolant leaks. Below is a proven workshop-style method.

What you’ll need

• Correct core plugs for the A+ engine (usually steel; brass is an upgrade)

• Hammer

• Large socket, flat punch, or suitable drift (slightly smaller than the plug)

• Emery cloth or wire brush

• Degreaser/brake cleaner

• Sealant (recommended even for interference-fit plugs):

  • Hylomar Blue, Loctite 510/518, or similar non-hardening sealant

• Coolant

• Rags

Step-by-step procedure 1. Drain the coolant

Drain the cooling system fully. Remove the radiator cap and block drain if fitted.

2. Remove old core plugs

• Tap one side of the old plug inward to rotate it in the bore.

• Grab it with pliers and pull it out.

• Be careful not to gouge the block—damage here will cause leaks.

3. Clean the core plug bore (critical step)

• Use emery cloth or a wire brush to clean the bore down to bare metal.

• Remove all:

  • Rust

  • Old sealant

  • Scale

• Wipe clean with degreaser and let dry.

✅ The bore must be smooth and clean for a proper seal.

4. Check plug orientation

Most Mini A+ core plugs are cup-type:

• The concave side faces inward

• The flat rim faces outward

This allows the plug to expand and seal as it’s driven in.

5. Apply sealant

• Apply a thin, even smear of sealant around the outer edge of the plug.

• Do not overdo it—excess sealant can squeeze into the water jacket.

6. Fit the new core plug

• Position the plug squarely in the bore.

• Use a socket or drift that contacts the flat face evenly.

• Tap gently with a hammer until:

  • The plug sits just below flush (about 0.5–1 mm)

  • It is even all the way around

⚠️ Do not drive it too deep—this reduces sealing pressure and can cause leaks.

7. Double-check alignment

• The plug should be perfectly square.

• No distortion or dents.

• The rim must be fully seated all around.

8. Refill and pressure test

• Refill with coolant.

• Before starting the engine:

  • Check for immediate leaks.

• Once warm:

  • Recheck for weeping around the plugs.

If possible, pressure-test the cooling system.

Mini A+–specific tips

• Rear core plug (behind the flywheel)
  If the engine is out, always replace this one—it’s a known Mini weak point and impossible to change with the engine installed.

• Brass plugs
  Highly recommended if the engine is out or rebuilt—they resist corrosion far better than steel.

• Heater tap area
  Corrosion is common here; inspect carefully.

• Never use silicone RTV
  It can allow the plug to slide out under pressure.

Common mistakes to avoid

❌ Installing plugs dry
❌ Dirty or pitted bores
❌ Driving the plug in too deep
❌ Installing the plug backwards

If you want, tell me:

• Whether the engine is in or out of the car

• Which plugs you’re replacing (side, rear, water pump area)

I can tailor the advice or give torque/clearance tips specific to your setup.

 

 

[PoolGuy]

You could ask it to use info from The Mini Forum.

[cooperd70]

Not sure that will work moving forward as I know that the admin of the forum had to use tools to block ai bots from accessing the forum as they were the cause of the huge outages that we experienced around the Nov/Dec time

[PoolGuy]

Not sure that will work moving forward as I know that the admin of the forum had to use tools to block ai bots from accessing the forum as they were the cause of the huge outages that we experienced around the Nov/Dec time

We've had a few spam posts in the last few days though, so the forum still isn't properly tied down.

[fokko]

If we would choose to train an AI system on the forum, I would do that through the official ways, not through a scraper on the production version of our forum. Initial training based on a database backup of the forum. After that you would want to keep it up-to-date, so probably when a post/answer is added, that should be fed into a processing pipeline. But that is looking way ahead .

[sonikk4]

 

Not sure that will work moving forward as I know that the admin of the forum had to use tools to block ai bots from accessing the forum as they were the cause of the huge outages that we experienced around the Nov/Dec time

We've had a few spam posts in the last few days though, so the forum still isn't properly tied down.

 

 

We are still being targeted every day, not to the extent of a few months ago but they are still trickling in.

[Mito]

There is clearly a lot of valuable information on the forum and creating a model trained on it would be much more specific than using a general model.

 

There is also a lot of debate on the various threads as to the correct approach to do things with also some inaccuracies. Given that people do not always set the accepted answer on the post that answered a question, and other topics often have a fair amount of debate as to the correct approach, do we have a good enough data set in order to train a model to provide accurate results?

 

Another approach could be to point an existing model at the forum as the resource to query/reference - more of an advanced search approach?

[stuart bowes]

An improved search function would be amazing, you can use google I know, but if there was a site specific with the option to prefer certain usernames (Spider / AC / many others) if you remember them having done a post but can't find it, and also other ways of filtering mini-specific info

 

I'll never really trust AI to give me the answer but it could be really helpful as a way to cleverly filter answers

 

and off topic a bit but AI is particularly useful at making code.. so if you typed 'please create the code for a search function with x y x options, in this particular coding language' it would do a huge bulk of the work for you.  obviously you still need someone who knows what they're doing to sift through it and make it actually work.  but it's a huge time saver.  I use it for macro functions at work quite a lot, and I know a few web developers who are using it full time now as a time saver

Edited by stuart bowes, 13 January 2026 - 10:31 AM.

[PoolGuy]

The Google search hack seems to have been limited by whatever the as done to sort the outages.

[ADRay]

clearly time to start typing out my important info about Minis, like how an 850 runs on 4 hamster wheels, a 998 has 6, and a 1275 has 9. If you’re talking VTEC, you’re upgrading to Guinea pigs.

Edited by ADRay, 13 January 2026 - 11:31 AM.

[DeadSquare]

clearly time to start typing out my important info about Minis, like how an 850 runs on 4 hamster wheels, a 998 has 6, and a 1275 has 9. If you’re talking VTEC, you’re upgrading to Guinea pigs.

It is not the number of hamsters, it is the BHP that each claw can produce, and the 20 claws on each hamster were able to propel my 850 Mini at well over 100 MPH.