The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

We've had a lot of rain over the last couple of days and I have noticed something odd with my doors. Two of them (the passenger front, and driver side rear) only drain when they are open. When I open tham a solid stream of water pours out the drain hole in the centre of the door. The other two doors are draining normally. What is the likely cause? The door rubbers seem fine and the drain holes are clear.

I would think it has something do with level of car Mike? I would be drilling an extra hole??? The water must be gathering in the front or the rear of the doors? Very odd.

Tony.

dollyman wrote: I would think it has something do with level of car Mike? I would be drilling an extra hole??? The water must be gathering in the front or the rear of the doors? Very odd.

Tony.

That's why there are drainholes in the corner of the doors. Maybe clogged or "forgotten" at welding repairs?

Jeroen

soe8m wrote: ↑Sun May 24, 2020 4:55 pm
That's why there are drainholes in the corner of the doors. Maybe clogged or "forgotten" at welding repairs?

Jeroen

I've known this car since it was three years old, and the doors have never seen a welding gun Jeroen, in fact the only welding that has been needed in this car's long history is a small repair to the front of each sill. The rest of the body is as it left the factory, apart from a repaint. But the front and rear drains could be blocked with cavity wax !!! I'll check.
Mike

Surely the doors would drain whilst you are driving Mike? Or is it just parked up.

Tony.

Bumpa wrote: ↑Sun May 24, 2020 5:23 pm But the front and rear drains could be blocked with cavity wax !!! I'll check.
Mike

After I reskinned the doors on our mini I waxoiled them thoroughly.
Soon after wondered why the footwells were filling up with rainwater. Yep, doors were full. Poked the holes out properly, job done.

dollyman wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 10:14 am Surely the doors would drain whilst you are driving Mike? Or is it just parked up.

Tony.

The poor thing hasn't moved since the middle of March and has to sit outside on the drive. This is the longest period during which I haven't driven a car in 54 years of driving. What puzzles me is why two doors drain and two don't unless they are opened. Looking at the arrangement of the drain and the rubber seal, I can't understand why they won't drain when closed. It makes no sense. Now its dry outside again I will have to lie down under each door and check all three drains.
Mike

cliftyhanger wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 11:28 am

Bumpa wrote: ↑Sun May 24, 2020 5:23 pm But the front and rear drains could be blocked with cavity wax !!! I'll check.
Mike

After I reskinned the doors on our mini I waxoiled them thoroughly.
Soon after wondered why the footwells were filling up with rainwater. Yep, doors were full. Poked the holes out properly, job done.

I have heard about that problem before with waxoyl Clive. It's ok for underneath but on panel work it tends to set hard after a couple of years
Tony.

dollyman wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 12:38 pm

cliftyhanger wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 11:28 am

Bumpa wrote: ↑Sun May 24, 2020 5:23 pm But the front and rear drains could be blocked with cavity wax !!! I'll check.
Mike

After I reskinned the doors on our mini I waxoiled them thoroughly.
Soon after wondered why the footwells were filling up with rainwater. Yep, doors were full. Poked the holes out properly, job done.

I have heard about that problem before with waxoyl Clive. It's ok for underneath but on panel work it tends to set hard after a couple of years
Tony.

That's why I don't use Waxoyl. I'm a Dinitrol man myself, but the previous owner (my brother-in-law) probably did use Waxoyl. I don't like Waxoyl underneath either as it washes off too easily. But then some classic car owners never take their cars out in the wet - can't understand that, but each to his own.
Mike

I agree Mike, i only use it on the wheel arches for road and salt spray. Dynax S50 myself. Dinitrol shouldn't block drain holes as it's similar to S50.

Tony.

I have been using Bilt Hamber Dynax S50 inside the doors, it creeps into seams and will flow out of the drain hoes before setting, so does not block them up afterwards.
Fantastic stuff.

There is a vehicle preservation company not far from here who give a nice explanation of why Dinitrol (and I guess other oil based products) are better than Waxoyl.

https://preserveprotect.co.uk/waxoyl-v-dinitrol/

Mike

For some reason the rear off side door seems to be more prone that the other three when it come to the drain holes becoming blocked. This then results in the door rusting through.

Bumpa wrote: ↑Mon May 25, 2020 2:04 pm

That's why I don't use Waxoyl. I'm a Dinitrol man myself, but the previous owner (my brother-in-law) probably did use Waxoyl. I don't like Waxoyl underneath either as it washes off too easily. But then some classic car owners never take their cars out in the wet - can't understand that, but each to his own.
Mike

I have disposed of the waxoyl I had. I now use dinitrol, 3125 rings a bell. Super thin, soaks into any surface rust (in box sections) and doesn't seem to dry out. I also use a hard wax that is tough, 25K (?) on my spitfire wheelarches and still good, so doesn't wash away. Very happy with it. Waxoyl is just kak in comparison, dries and lifts off surfaces, gets water in the gap and metal rots.
Have used an aerosol of Dynax s50, seems about identical to the dinitrol thin stuff but has an excellent lance attached. Goes a long way too.