Hey everyone

So the plan was to start putting the mini back together this weekend as I've just gotten the head back after the head gasket/overheat in December.

We left the oil in the car until we were ready to change it over, checked the dipstick and there was no water so we weren't too worried.

So, undid the plug this afternoon... and green coolant starts coming out with the oil. Great.

My question is - Am I up for a rebuild now? Terminal?

Regards
James

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need more explanation - did you put the head back on and fill it with water, or is the head still off and this is the oil you thought didn't have any water that's been sitting since december?

it's possible that the water had been sitting in the bottom of the gearbox case the whole time - the dipstick doesn't go all the way to the bottom

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No, this is still the oil from December. Head hasn't been put back on yet.

Yes that is what I'm thinking - that it went into the gearbox when the head gasket blew, there was coolant in all 4 of my cylinders when I took the head off initially.

My question is though. If coolant has gotten there... does that mean I'm heading up that particular creek with no paddle?

There was about a cup of water shoot out before the oil.

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If you did not drain the coolant before you pulled the head off
I will take a guess and say the coolant has got into the gearbox / sump
when you lifted the head

Mark

Hi Mark

No the coolant was drained before we took the head off - There was coolant in my cylinders because the head gasket blew badly and overheated.

James

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It's got into the cylinders, then past the rings into the sump.
Drain it all off and refill the oil- if you didn't try to start it since, she'll be right mate.
A new filter would be a good idea too.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks doc

So you seem to think it will be okay? So you don't think it will need new rings?

What do you mean 'if I haven't tried to start it since'? When the engine died (before I new what had gone wrong) I tried to start the car on the side of the road with no luck obviously, that wouldn't of ruined it right?

Cheers
James

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It would have taken a while for the coolant to fill the cylinders. Usually the engine will run rough and stall then wont restart. Then the cylinders fill up. If the oil is not milky then my bet is that it filled the sump after the engine was stopped. If the engine was turning over ok, then trying to start it for a few minutes after it stopped should not have caused any major damage. The term Hydraulic lock is used when a piston tries to compress fluid and this is where the damage occurs.

Thanks for that - what do you mean by milky? The oil looked a bit swirly, but green swirly (guessing coolant) when it was in the oil pan.

You pretty much described what happened exactly. Smelt burning oil, pulled over, engine running horribly, stalled, didn't restart.

Would I know if I suffered hydraulic lock? What are symptons?


Is my best bet to put it back together and see if she runs ok?

EDIT: actually now that I think about it.. When we were doing diagnostics to find out the issue we did try and start it a few times (once the cylinders would've had water in them)...

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Check out google images.

Milky oil. The oil looks like it has been mixed with milk in a blender.

Hydrolock. Main damage is bent rods. You should be fine because it didnt go bang.

Just drain, flush, filter change.

Wow just checked out some pictures of serious hydrolock, jeez!!

Thanks, yeah it definitely didn't go bang.



So what is the best way to actually flush it all out? what to use/methods?

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I reckon it will be ok. Bolt new head on and fill it up with fresh oil and start it up.

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What he said ^^.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks everyone for your help. Hopefully all goes well

Regards
James

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