2 replies to this topic

[R32Egor]

Hi all
I have an SPI mini and will be removing the head.
The head might be removed for a while - around 3-4 months and was wondering to keep some oil in the engine so nothing ceases or anything. Is this possible?
Also best way to protect the block mating surface- old gasket soaked in oil?
Cheers Jason

[Ethel]

Yes, keep the oil in. It won't do much for the engine, but it'll protect the gears. It should be ok, if it's somewhere reasonably dry, but it  wouldn't hurt to give any bare metal ( cylinder bores, studs, gasket faces...)  a light coat of oil. A bin liner "hat" would help keep dust & condensation off.

[mab01uk]

Removing a Classic Mini cylinder head starts with draining the coolant but there is no need to drain the oil as its level will be well below the block head gasket face, as shown on the dipstick. Although you may wish to drain & change the oil and filter after fitting the new head gasket if the old head gasket had blown and caused coolant to mix with the oil, or if the engine is due an oil change anyway.

A thin coat of oil or grease could be applied to the block mating face to protect it while exposed and a thin sheet of plastic or similar placed on top to prevent dust and debris dropping into the cylinder bores over the 3-4 months without the head.