Morris Minor Owners Club

Hiya, the piston rings on piston no4 of the 1300 are stuck. I've just taken it out and put it in a bath of parafin to soak. They seem really stuck what's the best way to loosen them?

Diesel fuel may do better - but paraffin should be fine. You could try a few squirts of Carb/choke cleaner (Poundland etc - it's highly flammable toluene). Just be very very careful when you start to work them free - they will easily break. You have to wonder how they got into this state! The bores must be quite badly worn ??

No heat then? The engine was sitting with a bit of water in that cylinder, the block is going off to the engine builder tomorrow for assessing, we'll see what he says.

Well ...... Yes I suppose you could try some gentle heat - but will be v easy to overheat the thin rings and they will lose their temper. I would do all I can to free them by hand - boiling water bath would be ok I suppose!

Ah awesome OK.

Coca cola is very good at easing a seized engine.

Isn't that stuff just phosphoric acid?

In part! So of course is Jenolite etc, but don't fancy drinking that. Wonder if Coke is any use as a rust killer ?

BMC - I used to use Coke to clean out the petrol tank on my ETZ125 - it did a great job at de-rusting. Only problem was the lockable petrol cap leaked and it kept getting water in the tank and rusting again

Wouldn't supprise me if you could use it to de-rust, might experiment with some cyrup, that kurust stuff costs an arm and a leg cosidering what it is.

I've heard that adding a little meths (methanol/methyl alcohol) to the petrol tank absorbs any water and carries it through to the engine. Adding a spot of oil should also help to protect! This is from the TR7 forum - where the tank cap stupidly sits in a 'well' which can fill with water (if the drain hole blocks) and overflow into the tank

After a good soak try tapping the piston down with a block of wood that fits the bore, while someone else tries to turn the crank. Well thats how I have done it in the past.

Errr - it's not in the block !

I dont drink coke any more.....
My mate worked as a builder and once a year they had to replace the tiled floor at the coca cola factory in Lambeg because the coke syrup eats away the tiles. What on earth is it doing to your inside!

Ive also used it to release a seized engine with good results.

Your 'insides' are full of conc acid anyway - the coke won't even be noticed!

I've heard that adding a little meths (methanol/methyl alcohol) to the petrol tank absorbs any water and carries it through to the engine. Adding a spot of oil should also help to protect!

Meths and oil in the petrol tank thats different.

Meths for the water content - oil as Upper Cylinder Lubricant (what a Con that was !) , but mainly to give a slight film on the tank walls. I use Castrol R - makes the car smell nice too!

I use Castrol R - makes the car smell nice too!

Now we know the secret aftershave you use Roy

That's an idea! Bit expensive though.

i love the smell of castrol r can you put it in the morris just for the smell,does it damage a standurd engine.