Overheating probs on S/Charged Mini
Turbo Mini Forums

Okay, most people know Chris has a Vmax supercharger kit on his mini, recently its been running hot, too hot to use.

Firstly the spec.
Swiftune built 1380, 286 cam, well modded head, roller rockers etc etc. Engine is a good few yrs old now and has done maybe 30,000+ hard miles without needing anywork apart from a box rebuild and a new crank after the threads were knacked in the timing pulley end. (discovered that when fitting charger)
It has the spacer plate with two gaskets as he already had a head and didn't want to take engine out at that time.

Several months ago it started running hot, no figures but just too hot! A quick check on the timing etc, everythink was ok. Chris decided to flush the cooling system and disaster struck, while running it up to temp the bottom pipe blew off and the temp went through the roof. Arse!!
It was put back together and coolant/water added, still running too warm.
Check on the comps showed it to be a bit uneven, so we took the head off and put two new gaskets on, didn't touch the head - didn't have time.
Compressions are now more or less equal across the four, yet its still too warm.
New rad next, as the old one was looking past its best, still too warm!
New water pump and thermostat next (drilled), still too hot!!

So in summary, it had all the external stuff looked at and changed yet it still gets too hot to drive any distance. The timings been checked over and over, the plugs are the correct colour, i've checked for airlocks (undone water pipes, turned engine over) and run out of ideas on what to try next.

My thoughts...
A cracked head??? Something in the block waterways??

If it has to come out then it will get low comp pistons (to do away with the plate) and a SW5 cam.

Suggestions??

Rich and 8PortChris

Here for the craic..

Supercharged Arden powered

I presume you have tried different temp gauges..

well it seems you have tried everthing!

are you sure the mixture is callibrated correct.

have you tried a 74deg stat with 6 / 5mm holes drilled in the top.????
have you fitted a smaller water pump pully to increase the pump speed???
have you tried an expansion tank from the top of the rad overflow.

other than that! if the gauge has been changed like alex said

the problem could lie in the head


or at the last call the block. ouch!

Edited by BENROSS on 30th Oct, 2005.

A few simple things to check.

Gauge is OK
Sender is OK
Fan is fitted the correct way around.

Then get a leak down test done.

Do you know what water pump is fitted? Because the pressed steel ones are shite.

is the water pump a high capacity turbo one from mr AVONBAR???

damn tom beat me to it.....you can machine the block out a bit too,where the waterpump goes to allow the water to flow better, i would perhaps think of removing the impeller and putting an electric pump on ? also water wetter is good stuff to add to. if you are using a side mounted rad try and get one of the larger 1100 rads (rare as fook) they are the only side mounted rad i have had success with take the thermostat out of the head and replace with gold shim......bearing in mind also that there will be alot of ambient heat under the bonnet with the added lump (ya charger) perhaps a fan which can draw in cold air and circulate it around the engine bay...................am just throwing ideas at you here mind
like tom says it probably 8nt ya water pump......check your dizzy, leads, timing. if the engine is old, and has had 30,000 hard miles, i would consider compression tests as u have done, remove the head and replace the head gasket, at the same time checking bores etc....check your supercharger to there could be setup issues with it ?
ta

Richie

Edited by Richie on 30th Oct, 2005.

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MikeRace, Mini13

surely the main problem here is that it has just started overheating, i take it it didnt do this before?

Quick reply as its late, chris will answer in more detail tomorrow night.
Water pump was replaced like for like - standard, has exp tank under wing, has leccy fan in wing (as standard), has tried it with water wetter, rad is minispares fancy one, and no it didnt overheat before.

Here for the craic..

Supercharged Arden powered

you are right tom thinking about it!

in certain cases

its the head gasket or the block