Head Gasket update
Turbo Mini Forums

Thank fook! it was the gasket.

It's gone between one of the waterways and no. 3.
The head looks to be in good shape (to me, but i'm no expert) what do you think? should I get it skimmed? valves checked etc while it's off?

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In the 13's at last!.. Just

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MMM, Ive seen that before. What was the coolant like, were you using any antifreeze and how old was the gasket?

I'd seen that on the 92 Cooper SPi that jackman and me pulled apart, the gasket had rusted almost through and the fire ring was starting to crumble in that area too. Still got it some where.

That's it.

Let me know what you think

Thanks

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In the 13's at last!.. Just

No idea how old the gasket is, as it was already on the car when I bought it 4 months ago.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

sorry if I sound stupid but...

what is a fire ring?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Looks to be another issue other than an old gasket rusting because of lack of antifreeze(inhibitor)

Though VERY similar in apearance, this gasket here, sufferd more damage to the fire ring.

A fire ring is the bit thats exposed to the combustion chamber.

Baisicaly its the silver metal rings around the cylinders

Hi,
I'd strip it, get it chemically cleaned and the surface checked for true. Then rebuild it, lap in valves etc. Could save you more work later on....
Cheers,
Gavin :)

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do you think that I should get the surface of the block checked as well?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Hi,
Not really, from the look of the gasket I don't think you've got much to worry about.
Cheers,
Gavin :)

VEMs Authorised Installer / Re-seller. K head kits now available!

WB/EGT gauges. Click here for customers write-up

Visit www.doyouneedabrain.co.uk

My Mini build diary

personally id just clean up both surfaces with some petrol until theyre spotless, pop a new gasket in, change the oil and water, set tappets and off you trundle

This is exactly where my head gaskets always go. However, it's not owing to rust and no antifreeze. They were lasting anywhere between three and 4 events (50miles? flat out).

This has only happened on the new engine, the old engine had no problems.

Not really cured it either, although I think its probably that we were just pushing the boost too much and the charge was a bit hot.

Wil

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

My engine is standard, apart from a Phase2 cam. So I don't think that mine would be blowing because of too much boost.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

IMHO detanation has caused this tired gasket to fail!

like the gents above state,
fit a new one and suck it and see

how much boost are you running ?

just the standard 7psi

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Just had the head skimmed. I would highly recommend Thurstons Engineering in Ongar if you live in the Essex area.

What would cause detonation?

I don't suffer from any running problems, other than it occasionally missfires when cold.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

running tooooo lean with the extra air the cam is giving it needs a rr setup! prob also has too much advance in the ignition timing .

Medusa + injection = too much torque for the dyno ..https://youtu.be/qg5o0_tJxYM

defiantly looks like det caused the failure

always looking for them bigger bunches of bannanas