14 replies to this topic

[minidan]

i have done a search but i need a more specific answer to this.

i wondering if the head gasket on my girlfriends 1380 is on the way out.
we could smell a kind of fumey smell when driving it today, and the temperature gauge showed normal-cold.
anyway we stopped to have a look and the engine seemed quite hot. i took off the rocker cap and noticed all the white slime on the inside of it.
the rockers themselves are very clean but do smell of petrol ( i guess this is normal)

in the picture you can see the inside of the rocker cap. its covered in a slimy white stuff.

the dip stick is still showing totally clean oil , but inside the radiator cap there was loads of foamy rusty water.

there is no loss of power as far i can tell.

would it be foolish to carry on driving it until we know whats worng (if indeed anything is wrong).

any advice greatfully recieved

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[Big_Adam]

ooow. Well some rocker covers come with a chemical on thats goes sludy after a while or so I have been told.

Have you done a compression test yet?

Should show a failue between the bores at least. Or you can just wip the head off. Doesn't take too long.

[Retro_10s]

ooow. Well some rocker covers come with a chemical on thats goes sludy after a while or so I have been told.

Have you done a compression test yet?

Should show a failue between the bores at least. Or you can just wip the head off. Doesn't take too long.

Water getting into the oil galleries becomes sludgey and deposits itself on on the oil cap. Common head gasket failure problem buddy. Minidan indicates there is no power loss... I would expect to see some power loss if the gasket had gone between cylinders.

compression test would help determine this.

As Adam said... A head can be taken off in 10mins... worth a peak and you could de-coke the head while you're there... always a good thing.

[minidan]

ok cool, so how do i do a compression test?

im pretty good at doing most jobs on a mini but ive never really got involved with the internals of an engine or heads etc...
i should point out that the engine is supposed to be pretty newly built having only done 465miles. :/

also how can i de-coke the head

[mini-Ash]

main signs of HGF are high temp, excessive loss of water and the mayo substance around the radiator/ expansion tank cap... as you temp hasnt increased i wouldnt say its HGF to be honest.

[minidan]

what do u rekon it is? just me being paranoid?

i think we will take it out again and see what happens.

[lersxt]

Hello all,
Took my mini out for a long run yesterday and have got the same symptoms as Minidan, getting white froth on rocker cap, not losing any water, no high temp, no power loss, clean oil on the dipstick. The head gasket was only change 4 months ago but I'm also a bit worried if I should carry on using it. Will use it over next few days and let you know how I get on.
goodluck Minidan

Cheers
Jeff

[minidan]

yea cheers i will let you know what happens

[Jordie]

if you do lots of short runs or condensation in the rocker cover can cause this sludge.

Best bet is to give it a oil flush and then a oil change with new filter. Keep an eye on it and see if it comes back. Also check ur water level regularly.

[minidan]

should i change the water too?

[Jordie]

yeah, wont harm anything.

[t@z]

i just had a new head and headgasket the other day. had a look at my rocker cover and found this. water was fine, temp is fine, pulls really nice.........i'm lost

T

[minidan]

im wondering if its just condensation mixing with the oil already on the rocker cover / cap.

we are going out for a spin now , will see how it behaves

[t@z]

im wondering if its just condensation mixing with the oil already on the rocker cover / cap.

we are going out for a spin now , will see how it behaves

well that was done sat and i have since cleaned it and all is fine when i checked it today, may just be..

[minidan]

ok got back after a 20 mile round trip. car was perfect. no power loss no over heating as far as i can tell (the temp gauge doesnt really seem to move offthe bottom and the heater only blows cold air. and yes the heater control is set to hot).

checked the rocker cap and is pretty clean. water seems 'clean' ( although is rusty coloured water)

who knows.