Steam in the exhaust
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Steam in the exhaust
1968 Morris Mini Cooper.
I have steam coming out of the exhaust.
The cause was traced to a small hairline crack in the head. It’s between the water jacket and the inlet chamber. water is sucked into the combustion chamber via the inlet valve.
On startup there’s nothing but as the engine warms up steam, lots of it, come out of the exhaust. The neighbors think I’ve converted the car to seam powered.
Has anyone seen this before and ideas on a solution?
I have steam coming out of the exhaust.
The cause was traced to a small hairline crack in the head. It’s between the water jacket and the inlet chamber. water is sucked into the combustion chamber via the inlet valve.
On startup there’s nothing but as the engine warms up steam, lots of it, come out of the exhaust. The neighbors think I’ve converted the car to seam powered.
Has anyone seen this before and ideas on a solution?
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- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: Steam in the exhaust
Me-thinks you need another Cyl; Head as that sort of crack is not fixable with any reliability.. if you need to keep engine running for now try some
" Barrs Leaks" into the Radiator .. .. this type of radiator water sealant stuff has got me home before now
" Barrs Leaks" into the Radiator .. .. this type of radiator water sealant stuff has got me home before now

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- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: Steam in the exhaust
Back in the day we could and did stitch something like that up with a Iron-tite kit. You locate the ends of the crack drill a hole at the end tap with a tapered Iron-tite tap and install a tapered cast iron plug, snap it off and grind flat. Center punch in line with the crack at the edge of first plug. Continue till you reach the other end. If the head is warped or the repair continues into the surface a skim and a little block sealer completes the repair. As suggested another head is the proper approach. Steve (CTR)
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- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: Steam in the exhaust
I would not recommend filling any Products in to the Water System.
I recently worked on a 65 Cooper S on wich someone had the good idea to fill in some Sealant Product with the result that it made deposits over the time and making the Thermostat not closing anymore.
Unfortunately i deleted the pictures already...
I would go for a new reconditioned Head.
If you're not finding an good 12G295 were you life, I have some here.
I recently worked on a 65 Cooper S on wich someone had the good idea to fill in some Sealant Product with the result that it made deposits over the time and making the Thermostat not closing anymore.
Unfortunately i deleted the pictures already...
I would go for a new reconditioned Head.
If you're not finding an good 12G295 were you life, I have some here.
I promise i won't buy another MkI...
- whistler
- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: Steam in the exhaust
I had that a couple of years ago. It broke through where the siamese inlet ports meet Had it TIG welded. Fine now.
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- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: Steam in the exhaust
How about trying K seal . Developed for the problem that K series rover heads suffered from , cracking or head gasket issues ... I use this in every engine unit that I build as a matter of course . ,,,, ken
1963 austin Cooper s mk1 1071
1966 Austin Cooper s mk1 1275
1968 Austin Cooper mk2 998
1962 Morris mini super 850
Porsche 997 turbo S
Ford transit van 280s.
I am from Essex
1966 Austin Cooper s mk1 1275
1968 Austin Cooper mk2 998
1962 Morris mini super 850
Porsche 997 turbo S
Ford transit van 280s.
I am from Essex
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- whistler
- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: Steam in the exhaust
Try going to your local machine shop and asking if they can recommend anyone who specialises in cast iron TIG welding. That's how I found the guy I used.
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- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: Steam in the exhaust
When Tig welding Cast Iron, it's important to heat up the Welding part. Then weld, then put in the oven again and let slowly cool down...
I promise i won't buy another MkI...
- Costafortune
- 1275 Cooper S
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Re: Steam in the exhaust
I tried K Seal and it worked after running the engine for about 30 minutes, thanks for the suggestion. Not sure if it’s a long term solution so I will look for a reconditioned head.