Corsa D 2011 - Headgasket
Discussion
Hi All
I have a Corsa D that overheated a while ago and blew a gasket. I swapped out the gasket but as it turns out the specs I used to torque the cylinder head were wrong (Not sure how that happened but there we go). I realised there was a problem as air was blowing through the oil filter! By the time I put my tea down and realised, the engine struggled and died. Engine blew the gasket again within about 2 minutes and died, just as I got to the key.
I realised my mistake and took the gasket out again, checked the cylinder head and the engine block, all good there. Straight and no noticeable problems. I checked the valves and they all seemed ok, although admittedly I should have taken the cams off and checked the valves but as the engine was running before and timed correctly I didn't see any reason to.
Fit a new gasket and torqued the cylinder head down with new bolts, correctly this time. Put everything back together and tried turning her over and nothing.
I did a cold compression test and I'm not getting any compression in any cylinder. Dropped some oil down into the cylinders and tried again and still no compression.
My first thought was the cylinder head not torqued down enough but I haven't gone to retorque it as it'd be a nightmare if a bolt snapped in the head. I also considered the gasket might be rubbish. It was a spare I had from ebay years ago and since I had it I thought i'd use it. It's not an MLS gasket so I wonder if that could be the reason it has no compression.
I have a new car so I'm not in a rush to fix the Corsa but it was my mum's and I had it from her about 7 years ago. So it has sentimental value and I would like to get it running again if I can.
Anyone have any ideas on what could be wrong?
I have a Corsa D that overheated a while ago and blew a gasket. I swapped out the gasket but as it turns out the specs I used to torque the cylinder head were wrong (Not sure how that happened but there we go). I realised there was a problem as air was blowing through the oil filter! By the time I put my tea down and realised, the engine struggled and died. Engine blew the gasket again within about 2 minutes and died, just as I got to the key.
I realised my mistake and took the gasket out again, checked the cylinder head and the engine block, all good there. Straight and no noticeable problems. I checked the valves and they all seemed ok, although admittedly I should have taken the cams off and checked the valves but as the engine was running before and timed correctly I didn't see any reason to.
Fit a new gasket and torqued the cylinder head down with new bolts, correctly this time. Put everything back together and tried turning her over and nothing.
I did a cold compression test and I'm not getting any compression in any cylinder. Dropped some oil down into the cylinders and tried again and still no compression.
My first thought was the cylinder head not torqued down enough but I haven't gone to retorque it as it'd be a nightmare if a bolt snapped in the head. I also considered the gasket might be rubbish. It was a spare I had from ebay years ago and since I had it I thought i'd use it. It's not an MLS gasket so I wonder if that could be the reason it has no compression.
I have a new car so I'm not in a rush to fix the Corsa but it was my mum's and I had it from her about 7 years ago. So it has sentimental value and I would like to get it running again if I can.
Anyone have any ideas on what could be wrong?
With the number of screw-ups so far it's hard to know what to take for granted.
Does it sound like an engine with no compression ie cranking over fast with no speed variation?
Is the valve train working at all and have you set the valve preloads?
Have you done a leakdown test so see whether any of the cylinders are sealed and where they're leaking?
Does it sound like an engine with no compression ie cranking over fast with no speed variation?
Is the valve train working at all and have you set the valve preloads?
Have you done a leakdown test so see whether any of the cylinders are sealed and where they're leaking?
Timing is all correct.
Can't do a leakdown test as I don't have my compressor to hand but that would be the next logical step I suppose.
Regarding valve preloads, we're talking about a corsa's DOHC not a v8 with pushrods. Is it really necessary to check preloads on this sort of engine when I haven't touched the cams?
The only known mistake has been the head bolts not torqued to spec (a fairly big one though nonetheless) as I had another engine's spec in my head for some reason. Had the seal been good then no air would have leaked through to push the oil filter housing up and let air escape. So completely disregard the oil filter as an issue - it was just an explanation of preceding events.
Thanks.
Can't do a leakdown test as I don't have my compressor to hand but that would be the next logical step I suppose.
Regarding valve preloads, we're talking about a corsa's DOHC not a v8 with pushrods. Is it really necessary to check preloads on this sort of engine when I haven't touched the cams?
The only known mistake has been the head bolts not torqued to spec (a fairly big one though nonetheless) as I had another engine's spec in my head for some reason. Had the seal been good then no air would have leaked through to push the oil filter housing up and let air escape. So completely disregard the oil filter as an issue - it was just an explanation of preceding events.
Thanks.
Smithy1900 said:
Regarding valve preloads, we're talking about a corsa's DOHC not a v8 with pushrods. Is it really necessary to check preloads on this sort of engine when I haven't touched the cams?
Do you know whether the valves are actually closing? Cause the symptoms suggest either they aren't working at all or they aren't sealing.I tested the valves when the head was off with some brake cleaner, after a visual inspection. They were sealing the brake cleaner in and were opening and closing with no issues when I turned the cams.
I did think there could be an issue with the valves sealing but it seems a bit unlikely that none of them would seal.
Re the oil filter: Air was pushing through the engine oil passages from where the gasket wasn't sealed and into the filter housing where it could escape. Combustion air was hissing through the small gap that was left from when I fit the filter lid. Not really relevant now as I changed the filter and torqued it down correctly after having the head off a second time.
I did think there could be an issue with the valves sealing but it seems a bit unlikely that none of them would seal.
Re the oil filter: Air was pushing through the engine oil passages from where the gasket wasn't sealed and into the filter housing where it could escape. Combustion air was hissing through the small gap that was left from when I fit the filter lid. Not really relevant now as I changed the filter and torqued it down correctly after having the head off a second time.
Smithy1900 said:
I tested the valves when the head was off with some brake cleaner, after a visual inspection. They were sealing the brake cleaner in and were opening and closing with no issues when I turned the cams.
I did think there could be an issue with the valves sealing but it seems a bit unlikely that none of them would seal.
Re the oil filter: Air was pushing through the engine oil passages from where the gasket wasn't sealed and into the filter housing where it could escape. Combustion air was hissing through the small gap that was left from when I fit the filter lid. Not really relevant now as I changed the filter and torqued it down correctly after having the head off a second time.
You may well have tested the valves actually seal, but if the timing is out then that means nothing.I did think there could be an issue with the valves sealing but it seems a bit unlikely that none of them would seal.
Re the oil filter: Air was pushing through the engine oil passages from where the gasket wasn't sealed and into the filter housing where it could escape. Combustion air was hissing through the small gap that was left from when I fit the filter lid. Not really relevant now as I changed the filter and torqued it down correctly after having the head off a second time.
It sounds like it really is the only answer, so you will need to lift the head off again.
Now I (sort of) see what you mean about the filter/air.
Sorry, just so I'm clear, are you saying it sounds like the timing is out?
I can recheck it again to see if it's in time but I'm pretty sure it is. There was still a little movement clockwise and anticlockwise on the crank pulley when I had it lined up with the timing line and with the locking pin in. I wonder if that was enough to cause it to be out of time?
Removing the head again will have to wait until November as I don't have the time at the moment. So if it's a valve issue it'll have to wait.
I can recheck it again to see if it's in time but I'm pretty sure it is. There was still a little movement clockwise and anticlockwise on the crank pulley when I had it lined up with the timing line and with the locking pin in. I wonder if that was enough to cause it to be out of time?
Removing the head again will have to wait until November as I don't have the time at the moment. So if it's a valve issue it'll have to wait.
There are only 3 places the "compression" in an engine can be getting out to register zero compression.
Rings/bores/pistons - all 4 would need to be completely stuffed for zero compression.
Head gasket - The gasket would need to be basically completely displaced/un-torqued.
Valves - the timing would need to be a long way out or the cam isn't turning.
Most likely going by what you have said is that you have either timed it wrong or slipped off a pulley/gear or snapped the cam.
Just guessing obviously as I can't see from here but either way it needs to come off, be checked out with more attention to detail.
Rings/bores/pistons - all 4 would need to be completely stuffed for zero compression.
Head gasket - The gasket would need to be basically completely displaced/un-torqued.
Valves - the timing would need to be a long way out or the cam isn't turning.
Most likely going by what you have said is that you have either timed it wrong or slipped off a pulley/gear or snapped the cam.
Just guessing obviously as I can't see from here but either way it needs to come off, be checked out with more attention to detail.
I'll start with checking the timing again and go from there. I've got the timing kit so it should hopefully be right.
I've cranked it over by hand and it's all rather jolly with no noticeable problems. Doesn't look to have snapped anywhere.
My first thought was the second gasket is rubbish and not sealing properly. It was a cheap unused spare I had laying around that I got from ebay rather than a new MLS gasket.
I've cranked it over by hand and it's all rather jolly with no noticeable problems. Doesn't look to have snapped anywhere.
My first thought was the second gasket is rubbish and not sealing properly. It was a cheap unused spare I had laying around that I got from ebay rather than a new MLS gasket.
Right chaps.
The crankshaft wheel was put on 180 degrees out so the timing mark was off. Checked it by plonking something down cylinder 1 and timed it up.
Car starts and all is well, but... 2 issues.
1) Engine was running fine. I turned the car round on the drive and left it running for about an hour. Plugged the obd reader in just to see if there were any codes and it gave me a p0171.
The car has been sat on the drive for 7 months so I'm hoping on this being an issue with the fuel being old, so I'll simply drain it a bit and fill up with some new 99 octane.
2) There was some mayo on the oil cap. Again I'm hoping this is just the old stuff working its way out. I need to drain the coolant a couple of times as it does seem to have some muck in it but no signs of oil.
No signs of engine problems other than that. I wouldn't have even noticed had I not plugged the code reader in and decided to check it.
Any ideas of where to go from here, other than the scrap yard?
The crankshaft wheel was put on 180 degrees out so the timing mark was off. Checked it by plonking something down cylinder 1 and timed it up.
Car starts and all is well, but... 2 issues.
1) Engine was running fine. I turned the car round on the drive and left it running for about an hour. Plugged the obd reader in just to see if there were any codes and it gave me a p0171.
The car has been sat on the drive for 7 months so I'm hoping on this being an issue with the fuel being old, so I'll simply drain it a bit and fill up with some new 99 octane.
2) There was some mayo on the oil cap. Again I'm hoping this is just the old stuff working its way out. I need to drain the coolant a couple of times as it does seem to have some muck in it but no signs of oil.
No signs of engine problems other than that. I wouldn't have even noticed had I not plugged the code reader in and decided to check it.
Any ideas of where to go from here, other than the scrap yard?
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