Block, Head & Gasket diagnostic
Turbo Mini Forums

I've posted previously that my car gets a touch warm on track days and it did overheat. a recent run showed that it was getting a bit warmed than previously just on the road and was suggested the gasket might have been compromised after the overheating.

So today I whiped off the head and here are the pictures, let me know if you see anything untoward. There are a few drops of coolant on the block, head & gasket but might just have come from dismantling it, although the engine was drained of coolant a week ago.

I have included a link to some super hi-res versions of the images, 6mb each.


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Edited by Simon on 16th Aug, 2011.

http://turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=170151

I'm no eggspurt but looks like there may have been some coolant seeping around the back end of the block. Perhaps by too little torqueon the rear studs.

One bonus. Whilst your head if off get the chambers and the piston dishes measured to work out your CR.

You gonna be back on the road for the RR day?

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

All that 'wet' at the back of the block is oil which I would say got there while removing the head.

Indeed I will now be measuing the pistons and chambers, abuy guides on how to do this easily?

I'll be back up an running this weekend if the new gasket turns up so I dont see any issues with the RR day.

Edited by Simon on 16th Aug, 2011.

http://turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=170151

A burrette an old CD and some oil.

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

check the block for flatness using a steel ruler and feeler gauges. and the head ......... my monies on the head gasket has not been torqued up correctley on the initial build ..........
the mixture is burning correctley in the head..... now worries there .... fit a new BK450 head gasket use another torque wrench known to be good torque to 55ft pounds

if it still overheats and you are not loosing oil or coolent .....some blocks run hotter than others due to internall rust build up over many years ......... yours could be one like that ?

also ignition too retarded also to suite your engine spec ..................... hope this helps

Edited by BENROSS on 16th Aug, 2011.

thanks benross, i'll be checking for flatness this evening when i get out there. so ignoring the overheating issue for the moment everything else head/block wise colours & carbonation etc everything looks normal?

i'm pretty sure my torque wrench is accurate, BUT, at the time of building I would only have torqued down to 50ft pounds going by the haynes manual. EDIT, actually it might have only been 45ft pounds as stated by the ARP instructions.

in terms of retarded ignition, i know that there it room for a bit more advance so it could be time to adjust this sooner rather than later. that might make sence as its idles nice and cool and even after 20mins just on idle the temp is perfect so perhaps it is the timing further up the rev range.

Edited by Simon on 16th Aug, 2011.

http://turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=170151

you have too much advance up to 80 kpa pm john and use the map what john and andy run in the van theres no issues there with det or overheating

whats the ccs in the piston dish and ccs of the the engine? it looks to me some one squeesed 26cc in the head chambers

Edited by BENROSS on 16th Aug, 2011.

http://turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=170151

he is a genius maybe?

Audi s4 b5 - 470bhp & 486ft lbs

On 30th Apr, 2012 Brett said:
yeah stick the bit in and give it a wobble

Well, if it's from Morspeed and says 26 cc it's more likely to be 23.....

simon

well if your pistons come to the top of the bores and the decs have been flushed your compression ratio is 8.37:1 ..just right! for a well powerd motor with a good intercooler and the right map and your up there 180 bhp+ depending on the rollers ?

dont for get to PM john on that map

Edited by BENROSS on 17th Aug, 2011.

Benross, care to hazard a guess on my HP
figure ?
1275cc MG Metro NA cam 8.2 CR GT17 Turbophil head normal valve sizes, Punto GT intercooler 17psi

Could generally be crud buildup in the engine like steve said, the 998 i had in my car i couldnt keep any lower than normal temp, always got warm, this engine i cant actually get to run at normal temp, even if i thrash the beans off it on the motorway and sit still in traffic. Just one of those things i guess.

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

depends on whos rollers david ? whats your compression other factors etc......etc i havent a cristal ball .....but a guess is 160 bhp ..........................................? havent a clue

are you bragging

Edited by BENROSS on 17th Aug, 2011.