HELP PLEASE Head gasket gone again
Turbo Mini Forums

As above my hg has gone again this is 3rd time in 3 months last time the head was warped so i had it skimmed and its been great until yesterday after an hour run of country roads i pulled up at the grand parents house to see a large pool of oil forming under the car.it started to pump oil out of the back breather (i have a N/A 998 with back breather timing breather and cluch breather) i had no signs of it going not running hot no missfiring nothing any ideas on what it could be as it keeps going after about a month and my turbo motor isnt ready yet. Also has anyone tried the small bore black fibre head gaskets as im thinking of trying one next

Done now needs redoing lol

Where is the gasket going? Is it burning out between cylinders or going somewhere else?

What have you got your timing set at?

timings at 8deg before tdc and its gone between 1 and and oil way

Done now needs redoing lol

Have tried checking with another torque wrench?

In the 13's at last!.. Just

just bought new1 from b and q

Done now needs redoing lol

does it go at the same place each time? Check there isn't a dip in the block around there.

Is your temp gauge accurate?

it use to go between 1 and 2 but head was warped had it skimmed and its between 1 and oil way il pt a pic up shortly

Done now needs redoing lol

Photos of the failure will really help.

As it's from the combustion chamber to the oil feed my guess is that it's a clapming fault, i.e. not tight enough. But photos will help diagnosis.

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

ryt iv just got back from stripping the head fully and there is no point in putting a pic up as the head gasket looks like new. So iv ruled that out nw but what else would make it loose compression on number1 completely and make it pump oil out the back breather?

Done now needs redoing lol

As per my text I suspect a broken ring or land.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Could also be a burnt valve/seat.

If he's got the head off I would have thought he would have seen a burnt valve.

But I agree it would be a good idea to drop the valves out for a look.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

The answer is pumping oil up the breather.....

Burnt exhaust valve won't do that.

Failed rings/ring lands will.

I'm with John (unfortunately, it's not a good one to fix....)

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

Maybe when you replaced the rings the gap was a bit tight?

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

we shall see

Done now needs redoing lol

hi everyone...

sorry to hijack the thread, but seeing as i have a similar problem i dont see the point in creating another head gasket thread, hope you guys dont mind.

i too have blown 3 head gaskets, the engine was rebuilt last year, and has done about 100 miles, if that the miles were done going to the various diferent people geting the electrics, interior and such done up untill now. now the last time the head gasket went, new valve top hats were put it, the head pressure tested and check if it was totaly flat. . i have driven it for like 20 miles sicne then.

where i live( a small island in portugal i went to lots of so called mini specialist and nobody managed to fixe the timing and fuel mixture for me, up untill now, i finally found someone who has a clue, and when i went to the him to finally setup the timing, fueling and such he says it looks like its burning oil and has low compresion on cylinder 2 and 3. so seems like the head gasket again. now from what i have read on here, it could have been caused all these times by pre detonation as nothing was tuned in up until now, or it could be the head or block isnt totaly flat. i have ruled the head out as i have had it checked twice. i will be replacing the studs to make sure its not that and torque them up to the correct spec. i would also like to check if the block is infact straight, is there a way to do it with it still in the car, or is this a engine out job to get it done by a pro? is there somthing im over looking?

sorry for the long post and look forward to your replys

thanks in advance

use a engineers rule to see if head and block are flat shine a torch from one side and see if any light comes through

Done now needs redoing lol

Again, pictures of the failed hed gaskets will really help.

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

havent taken it apart yet, as i havent had the time... so will get pics up asap.

another quick question will 9 stud be fine, im not planing on doing anything to the engine, just an intercooler, and a bit more boost.

cheers

it started to pump oil out of the back breather

is the rings goosed ?
thi may be your problem, a god pic of the suspect gaskets is a must here, its not clear at the moment

Edited by BENROSS on 14th Jun, 2011.

when you say back breather, which one are you referring to?

as for the rings, when it was rebuilt the guy that did it, said everything was fine,like new.

will try get the head off and get pictures asap.

on a 998 engine there should be a breather on the right hand side tappet cover at the back (looking in the engine bay that is)

Done now needs redoing lol

do you mean the one on the timing cover?

>_<

998's dont have a timing cover breather, its on the back of the block on the tappet chest covers. 1275s dont have these, although im led to believe a few S blocks did.

oh but i have 1275...