Whats causing my engine to smoke?
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi, im having problems with my mini smoking, it just started yesterday and its quite bad. I was just wondering what it could be.

It also missfires really bad, and sparkplug number 3 has oil on it. If you take the sparkplug out and clean it, then put it back in, the missfiring stops for a while. Will it be the oil stopping the sparking?

when its running, if you take off the plug lead, it makes no effect to the running

Ive checked the compression and its all in the green on the guage and is good, does this mean it isnt the piston rings?

Im hoping it will just be one of the stem seals, but they are new it shouldnt really be them i dont think. Ive just seen an overhead valve spring compressor on ebay. With using one of those is it possible to change the seals without taking the head off or is that a bit of a bodge?

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Remove spark plugs and check for washers

Metro turbo weekend driver,Mini turbo in the making again!

:)

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Have you run th engine in

Have a look up the intercooler pipes if it's oily up there then that will be the turbo

Sure its not running mega rich

Metro turbo weekend driver,Mini turbo in the making again!

yep engines been well run in

turbos not on anymore its just running na

if the compressions good, does that mean its not the rings? If it does, then tomroow ill change the valve seals

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Nope - you can have badly mangled rings and stiull have a good reading - the excess oil there because of the dud rings makes sure of this.

A leakdown tester will tell you more; but if you do a compression test and the result is obvious - well you have an answer.

I doubt it's the valve seal tbh.

is a leak down test where you pour something in the bore and watch it sink down?

Ill take head off tomorow thankyou

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Just been trying to work out how that could work in my head, and just thinking that its the oil sealing the rings and giving good compresion readings, but still letting oil in?

If i drain the oil off, and try do a compression test maybe that would give me a better idea? Is it ok to test compression by turning it over when oil is out?

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

actually bugger it ill just take the head off might aswell i just didnt want to do it if there was tests i should do on the rings first :)

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Is it ok to test compression by turning it over when oil is out?

DON'T BE F@@@ING STUPID

next you will be putting a bucket under the filter and starting it up to drain it out

Edited by Dangerous on 7th Sep, 2006.

Metro turbo weekend driver,Mini turbo in the making again!

Yeah course i do, isnt that how everyone does it?

I pour sand in the oil filler too to make sure all the deposits are scrubbed away

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

If you do have a problem with the valve stem seal there is an easy way to replace them without removing the head and without buying expensive tools (you do need an air compressor..).

You will have to make your own tool with an old spark plug and some tubing:

Saw off the top of the spark plug and remove the conductor inside the spark plug (or drill through the plug, so it becomes hollow). Then slide a piece of compressor tube over the spark plug end and secure it with a wireclip. Mount an air compressor connection to the other end of the tube. Screw the "tool" in the sparkplug hole (make sure both valves are closed) and connect the tube to the air compressor. The valves will remain closed and do not fall into the cylinder if you remove the valve spring. You can easily remove the spring holder cups (don't know what they are called in english..) by mounting a 3-5mm metal strip over the front head studs and use a spanner (under the strip and over the spring) to remove the spring holder cups.

This sames a lot of time and works great!

Will add some pictures this weekend to make things clearer.

Thats quite a cunning method?

"spring holder cups" = Collets (I guess)!

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1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

Its ok without a photo!! understand that fully!!

Someone else told me another way to keep the valve up was with loads of rope in the spark plug hole, and then using an overhead valve compressor from ebay

i like your idea its really simple and sounds like it might work! saved me taking the head off this afternoon if its only the seals anyway thankyou

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

It could be your valve guide thats at fault, worth checking whilst checking the seals and saves stripping the engine!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fusion-Fabri..._homepage_panel

www.fusionfabs.co.uk



1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

just take the head of. Esp on an na engine it will take less than an hour.

Yeah rope in the spark plug hole just don't lose the end of it in there though!

That's why i'm using the spark plug tool trick, you'll only lose some air...

Still seems like more hassle than it's worth. I can whip a head off in no time and i'm a total novice.

Hi,
Instead of pulling it all apart why not use the Turbominis tried and tested jack it up method?
Leak down test is basically where you put compressed air int the cyclinder and listen to where it pisses out from, use a pressure guage to measure any drop in pressure.
You can put a teaspoon of oil in each plug hole and do the compression test again, a rise in pressure would indicate a ring problem.
You are comp testing it with all the spark plugs out aren't you.....?
Cheers,
Gavin :)

Edited by Bat on 8th Sep, 2006.

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it aint the stem seals feebs

its either a head gasket...... unlikley!!!

its the rings

i think you smoked these out when the turbo was applied

you then reverted it to a N/A engine reving the nuts off it and.............................................. hey presto

the above

turbo daves advise is the route to take

Gudgeon pin has got out and scored the bores/fucked the rings is my guess.

yes tom

Completely joining Dave Tom and Ben,
I woul save time on easier "funny" repair looking and going for a set of rings.
about the compression test, it's realy worth on a non smoking engine to apreciate his use, then I reguary see smoking eng with good compression test, the last one had a big gap of 1 mm in the piston ring bed, but more generally it's a collapted oil control ring with enoughly good compression ring to make the reading ok.
hope it's clear, just waking up after a hard night
fab

Edited by fab on 9th Sep, 2006.