Author Topic: What is the problem with the Bis motor?  (Read 7777 times)

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ChrisRLewis

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« on: July 01, 2005, 10:43:33 PM »
There are many reports that the bis engine is a trouble some little motor!
So what exactly is the problem?
Can the problem be resolved?
What are your views on the problem or problems and did you cure it?
Would love any feedback on this!
cars
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slater

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2005, 11:33:35 AM »
Well i belive the problem is it blows head gaskets. Wether thats down to the design of the head/barrels or if its down to poor cooling is what i relly want to know.

If it is a problem with the cooling system then it can be resolved but if the problem lies with the attual engine componants then ofcourse its not going to be fixed without major work.

Chris Lakin

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #2 on: July 02, 2005, 01:14:49 PM »
I have done loads of research in to this; there are a few main reasons

Aluminium engine - prone to warping

Rear engine - heats up in the back allot

Thermostat location - too far away from engine head, so opens late

Radiator - too small and doesn?t get cooled, like in a front engine car.

I don?t think the centrifugal oil filter helps either, no one ever cleans them.

-----------------------------------------
All these problems are easy to cure re-torque the head bolts, often.
Making sure your thermostat is ok, as mine was full of gunk, and couldn?t open. Which actually caused my head gasket to go. Some people even take the thermostat out so it always cools. The Hillman imp was infamous for head gaskets & over heating again, an all aluminium rear engine car. My brother and imps, 500 and 126's. Thermostats from hot countries can be used, but a company I have heard of relocates the thermostat to nearer the head so opens much earlier.

The heat can be controlled, not a major issue.

With regard to the radiator Paul with the polish import who's in Ireland, suggested having the radiator made bigger with more channels. Another thing, which he suggested, was have a switch in your dashboard, connected to the electric fan, so you can have it cooling the radiator all the time. Or a larger fan could be used.

The oil filter type, which never gets cleaned, wont effect the cooling, but it doesn?t help lubrication, which in turn will cause wearing and heat.

Could they have had the piston bores with fins on like the air-cooled engines??? to allow heat to escape??

Hope I haven?t rambled on too much, I like that subject as I have BIS.

Regards
Chris
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stuey

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2005, 03:05:57 PM »
you can get aroung the over heating issue i think ricambio do a kit which relocates the thermostat to the top of the engines about ?80 i beleive, not much more than removving head getting it skimmed  and replacing the gasket and loads less work.
one resprayed and another arrives- double trouble BIS style!!

Chris Lakin

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2005, 04:28:06 PM »
Hi stuey, thanks for that, i didnt know ricambio did the kit, does it look good? do you know?

How are you any way? havnt seen you for a while.

regards

Chris
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ChrisRLewis

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2005, 04:38:38 PM »
Very interesting comments!

I had a thermostat problem on another car, i think it was on a rover v8 engine. There was a bleed hole valve on the thermostat which had to be aligned on top of the housing.

The reason for this was if there was an air lock in the cooling system it would not build up around the thermostat. If you do get an air lock around the thermostat it will not open, and hence an overheating engine occurs.

It might be a similar problem with the Bis?

Do bis models have a temperature gauge fitted as standard? and if so do the engines always  run on the hot side?

C
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Chris Lakin

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2005, 07:32:46 PM »
Yes Chris your right, i hd an airlock just after my head gasket was done. I bled a pipe in the front compartment which is for the heating and it removed the airlock. Ths sound slike a good invention whcih should be incorporated into te new casing which fiat sell for the thermostat housing. I bought one not that long ago.

Yes they all have the temp gauge, and mine never goes past halfway when at normal running temp.

Chris
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fiatfsm

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2005, 03:33:33 PM »
Once spoke to an ex Fiat engineer, who told of the many warranty claims on the BIS engine. When he left Fiat and worked on his own he decided to completely disect a Bis engine and decided that the problems were down to plain bad design, that and poor build. Basically the engine was under developed and prone to problems. Ive known people use the thermostat kit to no avail, Ive known cars overheat with the thermostat removed and Ive known cars with bigger radiators, bigger header tanks and the fan switch you mention. All this is why Fiat dropped the engine after only 4 years production and carried on using aircooled ones which never overheat! Its a shame as the principle is fantastic, just flawed. I would always advise any Bis owner that if they really love the 126 to look for an aircooled... you wont look back then I promise. Having said that its great that peeps on here are loving them and using them!
1987 Fiat 126 FSM, alloys, clear lights, Polish tat accessories... love it!

ChrisRLewis

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2005, 06:54:52 PM »
So I presume that the main outcome of this problem is a blown head gasket?

slater

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2005, 08:55:37 PM »
could allways relocate the radiator to the front of the car :wink:

Chris Lakin

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2005, 09:02:29 PM »
must be alot of work to do that ?? but sounds credible
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fiatfsm

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #11 on: July 04, 2005, 08:49:24 AM »
There is a chap with a Bis engined 500 who has relocated the rad to the front, so far he is pleased. However he also said he re-engineered the engine to eliminate the bad bits whatever that means!
1987 Fiat 126 FSM, alloys, clear lights, Polish tat accessories... love it!

Chris Lakin

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #12 on: July 04, 2005, 02:38:31 PM »
Interesting, i dont know why fiat put the radiator at the back, i think a grill always looks nice at the front. dont you think??

he must be wizzing along with 704cc behind him in that 500

Chris
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ChrisRLewis

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #13 on: July 04, 2005, 11:55:09 PM »
I had this mail from ricambio about a query for the kit:

"We do sell a modification kit for the bis.  This kit basically changes the position of the thermostat
so that it comes in earlier and thus stops the car overheating which is a common problem on the 126 bis.
The kit comprises everything including hoses, clips and gaskets and is quite a simple modification that
requires no drilling or engineering.  The price is ?75 plus vat 17.5% and we currently have stocks."


C
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Chris Lakin

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What is the problem with the Bis motor?
« Reply #14 on: July 05, 2005, 01:42:48 AM »
Thanks chris, quite expensive dont you think? its its suposd to be that simple?

regards

Chris
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