Bleedin' radiator! HELP/discuss pls......

[hunter]

Why not try an air scoop first.
Thin steel or aluminium sheet around the outer edge of the rad to direct airflow.

[digger06]

Why not try an air scoop first.
Thin steel or aluminium sheet around the outer edge of the rad to direct airflow.

mines only a bike fan , its only on a minute or so at a time, so must be capable

[ROD]

I did start to shape one,but sorta got sidetracked by other things it might be! Im putting it all back together at the moment, I'll road test it,then try the scoop.
 

[morrag]

Rod, you're goin' to have to bite the bullet and look inside!! scoops, please!, consider the "Brit" Mini! rad. as an example, mounted  to the side, shrouded in the wing, with a very ordinary mech. fan, and guess what.........................did the job in similar conditions sooooooooo , its not straws you should be clutchin' Rod, but the socket set, sadly, I feel your pain!!!!!!Morrag

[andyrennison]

Rod,you bought a laser thermometer didn't you?  Have you tried looking at the engine case at each cylinder, is there a hot spot ?

[ROD]

Ok ...Ive decided ...Apart from it being the only thing I havent tried yet,I really have got to know what is going on inside that engine!
 
 Plus I really do owe it to EVERY individual on here who has made suggestions in this very long saga,to find out the answer.
 
 I must say Ive learnt a hell of a lot more about these engines and setting them up etc,just shows the huge knowledge base on MMM! I do hope that this thread will have been a learning curve/lesson to all!
 
 SO..I m pulling the engine today.(such an easy thing to say,but a pain to do!)
 
 

[Manky Monkey]

Good luck Rod. I know it's been a pain, but it must be a problem specific to your engine, rather than a general cooling system fault, cos so many of us have used the same set-up without the problems. If nothing else, it's an interesting discussion!

[ROD]

Head is off ! nothing appears 'blown' pics later! Some very strange marks in one of the bores.

[spanners]

Head is off ! nothing appears 'blown' pics later! Some very strange marks in one of the bores.

strange marks ? what sort of strange marks ,, try and get a close up of them ,,

[ROD]

Still waiting for daughter to upload pics for me!

[kapri]

Silly idea comes to mind. Once had a  problem like this on a customers TR7 which we'd supplied a new rad for. Garage was blaming the rad. I asked what other work had been done and they answered new water pump. Theyed already pulled the rad to send back to us so i went for a look at the waterpump and found the problem.  Red plastic storage cap was forced up inside the pump outlet , as water flow increased it came down and blocked flow totally .At slower speeds it 'only' slowed the flow down.

Clutching at straws I know but you wouldn't like to play me at Poohsticks

[spanners]

Silly idea comes to mind. Once had a  problem like this on a customers TR7 which we'd supplied a new rad for. Garage was blaming the rad. I asked what other work had been done and they answered new water pump. Theyed already pulled the rad to send back to us so i went for a look at the waterpump and found the problem.  Red plastic storage cap was forced up inside the pump outlet , as water flow increased it came down and blocked flow totally .At slower speeds it 'only' slowed the flow down.

Clutching at straws I know but you wouldn't like to play me at Poohsticks

i remember the same thing being done with a turbocharger on a leyland bus 

[kapri]

Don't talk to me about turbochargers, biggest pain in the butt item I used to sell. Problems ALWAYS caused by slapdash fitting but every fitter was an expert:(

[ROD]

these are the strange radial marks in number 2 bore..........nb this is the bore that appeared to have been burning ok..

Bleedin' radiator! HELP/discuss pls......

This is number 3 and 4 chambers..note that the h/gasket doesnt line up with water hole in head. Also that both plugs are black and that number 4 chamber is wet.

Bleedin' radiator! HELP/discuss pls......

This is number one and two chambers,look ok.Note water hole alignment.....

Bleedin' radiator! HELP/discuss pls......

Anotheer of the same water hole..

Bleedin' radiator! HELP/discuss pls......

 
 Best guess is that air was getting into no3 and no 4 causing poor burn? All manifold bolts were tight and threads not bottoming out..Gasket shows no sign of blowing..it was one of those shiny gaskets with black pits in it.
  COULD be that the inlet manifold is porous on the leg to number 3 and 4?
 As for the bore marks,it was hard to get a good pic,tried different cameras and also added more light. But if you look closely ,the marks arent up down,they are radial,with blob marks here and there.They are not connected top/bottom.Although one or two of the blob marks are ovalish perpendicular. The marks have hardly any ridge,they just feel rough to the touch. Is this the very first signs of the piston' picking up',before the marks go top to bottom? I have dragged out from  the water jacket holes in the block the liner glue where the residue has hardened and was flapping about in some cases...which is black,but feels like silicone/hylomar.clumps of it.
 
 There are no marks on the h/gasket that show it had blown across any areas,both top and bottom of gasket appeared ok,but there is slight discolouration of the ring round each chamber/liner,but only in areas,not all the way round..
 

[andyrennison]

How proud are the liners from the block? There is a spec for that somewhere, its 2 thou from memory. One looks very proud, but may just be the photo.