a few weeks back i was driving my van when all of sudden i lost all revs in 3rd obviously i changed down to 2nd still nothing then the engine died- my diagnosis along with the generous WhoDat's opinion was that the head gasket had gone as it lost all compression.

this last week has been spent replacing the head gasket, degreasing and soaking everything in kerosene, cleaning pistons and valves, wirewheeling every nut and bolt, replacing oil filter cartridge and gaskets (bigger job than i had expected) and alot of frustration but in the end it seemed all worth it. a huge thanks must go to WhoDat for helping me with his car is a little worse for wear at the moment! i would have had no idea where to start nor have the appropriate tools

our diagnosis was proven correct and the head was well overdue to be taken off and cleaned and the gasket needed replacment. the pistons and valves were filthy and covered in carbon. it was amazing that it still ran before this

i had the car good to go last night, not a drop of oil- started first time sounded better than ever i was all smiles, then this morning up early out to the mini she started first time- no oil dropped she seemed to be fine.

so i drive slowly out my street as directed but Dat as the tires were covered in oil, i get about 50 metres down the road doing about 20 kmph and it lost all revs gain and died! and then dropped a large amount of oil so this weeks work has been spent on nothing to do with the actual problem however the head needed to be done. i have no idea what is happening! the car is happy to idle but not happy to go over 20 kmph.

my idea:
the car is starved of fuel hence it dying or too much fuel? this is merely an ignorant guess

any help is much appreciated!!

thanks in advance

cheers

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Can you do a compression test?
Is the fuel pump pumping fuel? You getting a clean spark on all four? Can you get the engine started again?

i believe the fuel pump is pumping fuel, that all seems fine and i am getting spark but she just wont start now this has to be the timing i reckon as fuel and spark are not an issue.

i will try to get a compression test done

cheers

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Have you touched your timing at all? I don't think it's timing.. If you think it's running too lean try driving a while with the choke slightly out, see if it's any better? Borrow a colourtune and do your mixture properly.

When you say it "dropped a large amount of oil" are you meaning the oil pressure is dropping? or there is oil coming out somewhere?

is it a machanical pump? If so, it will pump fuel, if only just when it is stuffed. take thhe hose off the carb and put it in a bottle. turn the car over and it should pump alot of fuel into the jar, not a just a dribble. If it is just a dribble. new mech pump. that way you can be sure it isn't the fuel
Where did it drop the oil from? See where it is coming from. I wonder if you didn't tourque down your head properly and it is coming out. If you used a supercrap torque wrench go find a good one and check the torque on the head. Also did you have your head decked to make sure it's flat, if not could be that too. Motor won't start if the bores are full of oil and water. Have a look at these things. See how you go.

Cheers

Aaron

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havent touched the timing at all



the oil is coming out of the oil filter gasket- which i just replaced

i will check the mixture aswell,

thanks

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When you say it "dropped a large amount of oil" are you meaning the oil pressure is dropping? or there is oil coming out somewhere? [/quote]

the oil is coming out of the oil filter gasket- which i just replaced

i will check the mixture aswell,

thanks

are you sure you got the old gasket out??? they can get scrunched up in the groove...they will leak if you then fit a new gasket over the old....

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"Show me the Mini!"

the head was all torqued to fifty pounds and all the spacing in the rockers were at thirty thou.

i am beginning to think that maybe the fuel pump needs replacing but i will see, have to get it started first i guess

cheers

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we replaced the seal and the gasket, the old seal definetly came out and the old gasket has been wire wheeled off as it was firmly stuck to the oil filter

cheers

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It won't start if there is no fuel... try my suggestion, will take 2 minutes and you will know if it 's truely is getting petrol.

Cheers

Aaron

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will do, let ya know how it goes

cheers

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it seems aaron was correct there was no fuel being pumped out of the fuel pump...

so i guess i have to get a replacment then, hopefully she will go after this

cheers

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Before you skin your knuckles pulling off the pump that may or may not be stuffed......
Check the damn thing.
It could be a bit of crap blocking the pick-up pipe or it could be an empty fuel tank! (it has happened before)
Take the hose off the fuel pump and check that fuel is getting to the pump from the tank.

i have put in 10 litres of new fuel so i know it isnt that i was scared that i had done that

will check those things

thanks

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Seems i had my head screwed on then

Cheers

Aaron

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