I have done one or the other, im just not sure what as yet.

can you determine the difference while it is on the car (im really hoping its the gasket)

So i can prepare what to do, Ie go get another recoed head (which will take longer and be more $ than changing head gasket which would take 1/2 day and be cheap)

Or i just got to have a look at the gasket and the head while its off the car


My diagnosis is as follows:

- Losing lots of water down radiator - Its being blown out the exaust pipe
- If i put too much water in the radiator filling it it spews it back out the top
- Very hard to start (i assume the water is going into the chamber making things difficult) (Great way to clean the carbon off hey )

It was getting dark but there didnt appear to be any oil in the water in the radiator or water down the dipstick hole ( just pulling dipstick out to view it - just looked normal - will check again tomorrow when has had time to settle)

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Blown head gaskets are much more common than cracked heads, cheaper too. I'd check that first.

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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.

Sounds like the gasket to me,,, cracked heads dont "tend" to fill the chambers upo (as much/quickly) as blown head gaskets do

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Head gasket fur sure i reckon

big clouds of white smoke (steam) on start up!!!

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Aussie Leyland, Aussie Factory, Aussie Mini S.

Does it sould like a Dac Dac and now power...id say a Head gasket had it happen 3 times and always the same.

I'd still get the face of the head skimmed to ensure its flat

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

having the same problem here, going to whip the head off and change the gasket this weekend

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

A bloke at a historic race meeting was having trouble with his car so he removed the spark plugs and gave the soleniod button a push. A jet of water shot out of one of the plug holes and hit him fair in the eye!
He was carted off to hospital and the doctor asked him what the problem was, he said "a cracked head"

I am having this same problem but on my daily (Camry 3VZFE)

replaced the gaskets and still blowing smoke, head was checked out, cleaned and skimmed.

Still trying to work out whats wrong....

A Camry is very different to an A Series
With 16 valves and being an alloy head, it is much more prone to cracking than the cast iron A series

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Too many cars, and too little time.

Just changing the head gasket is just a bandaid treatment. Its short term at best.

Nearly all A series heads warp over time (as to the block surface as well) and if it blows a second time then its time to have a head service.

Acid clean, new guides, valve seats cut and the valves resurfaced and finally a head skim. About $200 but makes a wow of a difference.

Mike

Thanks people

Yeah it was blowing white smoke -probably vapour than a bit later saw big exhaust blown mark on the pavers.

Im leaning towards gasket now.

Mike the head has less than 10 000kms on it since it was fully recoed and skimmed. I have been giving the 1ltr motor all its got on the way to uni (105kms away) , so that may have contributed to it blowing.

Maybe the block needs a skim, but im not pullling that out

But uni's over for the week, so we'll change the gasket and see how it goes

Cheers

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Unless it has cooked then it should be okay then with so few K's

Use of one of the turbo type head gaskets from carKarft or Minisports - they are much better than the standard metal types.

Mike

or the black monotorque ones? i'm about to go get one

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince