Water in 3 cylinders.

[robbyasti]

I replaced the radiator of my 1968 Mini. Started it up and was running perfectly for 15 minutes. I topped up the radiator and seemed to be overheating a little but only half way on the gauge.
I switched off the engine for a few minutes. I tried to start it again but it wouldn't fire. I checked the plugs and three were wet with water. I fed tissue into all 4 spark plugs hole of the head, the tissue removed were soaking wet from cylinders 1,2 and 3.
I assume that the head gasket has blown but it seems strange that within a few minutes the gasket blew and filled 3 cylinders with clear clean water.
Can anyone please tell me if it is normal that 3 cylinders can be affected by a blown gasket or is it likely to be something else.

[Dr S]

Are you sure it's water? Three wet ones seems unlikely from one gasket failure?

Sure no head studs where disturbed in the change of rad? I can't imagine anything else causing it ?

[robbyasti]

Are you sure it's water? Three wet ones seems unlikely from one gasket failure?

Sure no head studs where disturbed in the change of rad? I can't imagine anything else causing it ?

Thanks for your reply. I didn't touch the head when changing the radiator. It's definatley water in three cylinders.

[2ramp3]

Why did you change the radiator

[robbyasti]

Why did you change the radiator

The radiator was leaking due to a crack

[2ramp3]

If you have water in your cylinders it follows that the compression from your engine can get into your cooling system so refit your spark plugs top up the cooling system leave of the rad cap and turn the engine over and escaping compression will force the water out of the radiator it may not be a lot but any water being ejected is a sign of compression leak by the same token you could end up with water be ejected like old faithful in yellow stone park either way you will need to remove the cylinder head at which point you should be able to ascertain the cause there should be signs of the gasket missing between cylinder and water jackets if at this point you can,t see any obvious reason I would have the head checked for warping (not common) and have it crack tested it may seem like over kill but when you,ve replaced the head gasket and two weeks later it goes again. Also a good excuse to fit another head with bigger valves and port work .old Chinese proverb don't just fix it make it better

[dklawson]

If you have water in your cylinders it follows that the compression from your engine can get into your cooling system so refit your spark plugs top up the cooling system leave of the rad cap and turn the engine over and escaping compression will force the water out of the radiator

Just a cautionary reminder... don't use/do the test above until AFTER you have siphoned, wicked, blown, or otherwise removed all the water that is currently in the bores.

If you have access to an air compressor, a leak down test will also help you identify what is going on.