Engine gone pop??
Turbo Mini Forums

Hope someone on here can give me a pointer in the right direction!

Overtaking a slow MGF (sunday Driver) the mini was going fine then suddenly lost all power, however the engine was still running!

Once stopped the engine conked out but i re-started it but it seemed to be running on one cylinder, luckily i was only round the corner from the garage and managed to get it there, however the cooling system got very hot and pressuirsed and dumped a load of fluid out of the overflow in the radiator.

I checked the ignition system and the points had seemed to have closed up so re-done them and everything else seemed to be good, I also took the carb apart and checked everything which seems fine!

However it still doesnt run very well ,almost as if one of the valves have dropped or stuck?

So after that whats the best bet? check the compression on all the cylinders and see if somethings amiss?
I might also take the rocker cover off and turn the engine over and check the valve clearences?

If everything seems fine what should I do??

Do the obvious like you have said and do a compression test. The results of that will point you in the direction of what to do next. But past experience would say it is going to be pull the cylinder head. It sounds like the head gasket has gone. What spec engine are you running?

its a N/A 1293 with a stage 3/4 head and some nice internals and full roller rockers.
I checked the oil and water and it hasnt mixed, Will probably whip the head of tomorrow! :(

Sounds like head gasket if the water system is being pressurised.

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

Don't wip anything off untill you have done a compression test and reset the tapit clearence and changed. When you do the compression thest watch the guage the first kick is most umportant make sure your trottle is full open and all other plugs out.

i had a prob like that no oil water mix but head gasket broke between 2 and 3 cylinders

garlic bread

cheers lads, I realised this morning i dont have a compression tester in the tool box, so off to helfrauds tomorrow for one! after speaking to a couple of other people they have suggested i may have blown it between 2 and 3! will let you know the results soon.

IMO, before whipping anything off, give it a service, plugs, leads, points and condensor. coil.

make sure you have a good spark at each plug, check compression.

Then think about taking the head off.

It had a new coil and condensor a couple of weeks back, for some reason the dizzy seems to eat them, so thats getting changed tomorrow! will then check the compression and the valve clearences! and then if all else fails whip the head off time!

my guess is the the head gaskets gone between 2 and 3 bore
like the guys state check all other options out before
keep us posted

update time, whipped the head off and everything looks ok, the gasket is in one piece with only a bit of discoluration between 2 and 3! the only thing that seems out of place is the colour of the inlet on number 3 cylinder! looks as though it may be that thats stuck?, that would explain the fuel being pressurised out of the carb and the engine not running! will take it apart tomorrow and see if anythings amiss, any pointers greatly appreciated!

Edited by pickmeup on 26th May, 2009.

I aggre that something undue has/is occuring in cylinder 2. What are the pistons and bores like. Was the manifold gasket in one piece? Have you checked the rockers and pushrods for fatigue, failure and bending? Intresting one this.

the pistons and bores are fine, doesnt seem to be any real play in the rockers either? will strip and rebuild the head and then slap it back together, nothing much else i can do?

What did the compression test show?

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Thats what I was thinking! If a valve was stuck it would show up in your compression test.

133.5 bhp 123 lb torque 116mph @6640rpm 9.5psi
Shakespear RWYB 14.995 91.83mph

the compression test showed no probs! was 120 on all cylinders which i thought was strange! Ive got the suspect valve out now and it seems ok, gonna check it at work in the metrology dept then re-lap and stick it back in, really confused by it as nothing seems that wrong!

Sounds like the head gasket has failed. By that I mean seperated between the layers and split one of the combustion rings. Number 2 looks like its had some water in there and the presurised water system fits the pattern. very hard to spot and wont show up on a compression test. Had this happen to me a couple of times, over tightening the head bolts is the main cause.

Own the day

i will have a good look at the head gasket tomorrow and see if i can see any witness marks of it! ive had the valve measured and its only 0.02mm out between max and min and its straight so no probs there! Ive re-lapped and installed the valve and may stick it all back together tomorrow, I had planned on fitting my weber box too while theres room but will probably leave that for the time being!
Would the cam chain if the vernier pully came lose cause this issue??

Checked over the valve lift and tdc on the engine and all seems ok, silly question though should the dizzy at TDC on no1 cylinder point to the cylinder as its pointing at 4o'clock, but its been running like that for 3 or so years!
Ive started putting the bulkhead box in for the weber but im going to build it back up with the hif first to see if it runs again!

No. It all depends on how the dizzy shaft was positioned when the dizzy was fitted back into the block. So long as you know where the rotor arm is pointing at TDC you can workout which lead goes where.

Own the day

quick update
stuck it all back together and it turned over fine and started for half a second but then the battery died! re-tried today and got it running which was good, however i still cant tell what went wrong!
Anyhow the worst was to come after fitting the weber and connecting the fuel up we decided to give it a quick go, however the wiring loom and fuse box werent in place and when i put the battery back on the fse box arc'd on a brake pipe resulting in melting my front loom :( so im after a new loom now for a pre 76 clubby! anyone help?

More haste, less speed !!

yep i know

secound that you head gaskt has gone, and it can't be seen on comp test , have have this previously on many minis, looking at your secound pic showing the head and gskt in place, on the left the fire ring around the bore is burned.

Edited by fab on 13th Jun, 2009.