3 replies to this topic

[red81]

RED has a 998 A series engine with over 100k on the clock. I have recently noticed white sludge on the radiator cap so suspected a water leak on the engine or head gasket. I did a compression test and got about 10 bar or 160 psi in all 4 cylinders, but didn't want to risk leaving it until it blew into a cylinder.

 

When the head was converted to unleaded the garage used a blue sealant on the head gasket, he claimed that minis always suffer from leaks on the front waterways.  later I replaced the gasket and put it on clean and dry, having seen all the posts about sealants on head gaskets, now I'm now wondering, was he right to use a sealant around the water ports?

 

Anyway the head is now off, see image, I can see some leakage/staining around the back ports where the con rods are, but I am confused by the nice grey brown deposits on the plugs, yet, snow white inlet valves and normal black exhaust valves, how can that be?  I'd appreciate your advice, before I put the head back on with a new composite gasket.  plugs.jpg   25.26K   0 downloads  White valves.jpg   54.21K   1 downloads

[imack]

The white ones are the exhaust valves, pretty normal colour.

[red81]

Ah !! So I got the valves round the wrong way then, your saying the big black ones are the inlets is that right. 

I've never seen valves this white before, from what you can see do you think the mixture and burn are ok in the engine?

Also from what you can see do you think this gasket is the likely cause for the sludge in the radiator?

[Lplus]

Ah !! So I got the valves round the wrong way then, your saying the big black ones are the inlets is that right. 

I've never seen valves this white before, from what you can see do you think the mixture and burn are ok in the engine?

Also from what you can see do you think this gasket is the likely cause for the sludge in the radiator?

The big valves are the inlets. Personally I'd say the mixture and burn are fine for a standard engine, carb, air filter and exhaust.

The head gasket is always the most likely culprit  for oil in water, but the pictures aren't detailed anough to pinpoint a specific area.  I'd change the gasket and see what happens before looking further.