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Steam in the exhaust

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2021 1:47 pm
by Rockfordmini
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?

Re: Steam in the exhaust

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2021 2:09 pm
by Polarsilver
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 :roll:

Re: Steam in the exhaust

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2021 2:33 pm
by CooperTune
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)

Re: Steam in the exhaust

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2021 2:36 pm
by Fanfaniracing
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.

Re: Steam in the exhaust

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2021 5:06 pm
by whistler
I had that a couple of years ago. It broke through where the siamese inlet ports meet Had it TIG welded. Fine now.

Re: Steam in the exhaust

Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2021 6:22 pm
by swifty
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

Re: Steam in the exhaust

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2021 8:57 pm
by Rockfordmini
whistler wrote: Sat Mar 06, 2021 5:06 pm I had that a couple of years ago. It broke through where the siamese inlet ports meet Had it TIG welded. Fine now.
Thanks. This crack is in the same location.

Re: Steam in the exhaust

Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 10:01 am
by whistler
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.

Re: Steam in the exhaust

Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 10:36 am
by Fanfaniracing
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...

Re: Steam in the exhaust

Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 12:15 pm
by Costafortune
swifty wrote: Sat Mar 06, 2021 6:22 pm 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
Steel seal is much better tbh. :lol:

Re: Steam in the exhaust

Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2021 12:15 am
by Rockfordmini
swifty wrote: Sat Mar 06, 2021 6:22 pm 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
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.