Headgasket failure ??????

[zooooom]

Is there any method for confirming head gasket failure without removing cylinder head?
Cars symptoms below
Using a lot of coolant but cannot see any physical leaks or drips on floor and there are no water marks on the header tank so I think the filler cap is ok.
The car starts first time, ticks over seems fine and as smooth as a speed six engine can, and it doesn’t seem to be down on power.
Racing Greens have recently fitted a new all aluminium radiator, plus all new hoses and fans which are kicking in ok.
I the only other thing I could think of was maybe the temperature sensor were weeping so I removed the top of the airbox to check and they seem fine too.
But one thing I did notice was the inside walls of the oil breather pipe were covered in a thick white gung which is usually a tell tail sign of a failed head gasket, does the same symptoms apply for dry sumped engines as well.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[SteveGRF]

Sounds very much like the gasket has gone ........ but I have heard that any Joe's garage should have a simple coolant sniffer / sampler device that sucks up a water sample & changes colour to indicate / confirm a head gasket failure, should only cost you the price of a pint. If your head gasket has gone (Fingers crossed it hasnt) then dont let the same Joe blogs garage repair it for obvious reasons.

Good luck

[zooooom]

Thanks for the tip I will drain the oil and water systems and take a couple of samples and see if I can get them tested somewhere.

Edited by zooooom on Tuesday 12th January 18:07

[2mad]

Check for water coming out of the exhaust, also could be water pump failure.

[phillpot]

We had two "testers" when I worked in a garage (many years ago)

The first was a sort of pump device that fitted on in place of the radiator cap, the cooling system could be pumped up or pressurised, a gauge would indicate any loss of pressure plus was easier to look around water pump etc for leaks without fan wizzing round (yes, fans were fitted to the water pump pulley in those days).

other way was an adaptor that was screwed into each plug hole in turn (valves had to be shut on that cylinder), an airline attached and you then looked and listened for escaping air/ bubbles in header tank.

Sounds like things are a little more sophisticated these days !!!

[2mad]

You can still buy the pump pressure test kit saw one in halfords of all places
about £80.00.

[zooooom]

Thanks for the help guy's looks like it's an engine out job either way.
Nick I am based in Kent so thanks for the offer, I am not even going to start engine and risk any further damage.
So it look's like I better start looking round for engine builder, any recommendation besides ones listed below.

Straight8six
Austec
TVR Power (maybe little bit far away though)
Racing Greens

[2mad]

Taylor tvr in kent or levens in basildon essex may be worth checking out.

[rev-erend]

Also - TVR Fix in Ewell (Surrey)

[Gazzab]

It's Racing Green (not Greens).
Personally I would look to Power or str8six.

[VARLEYHYD]

Gazzab said:

Personally I would look to Power or str8six.

+1


G

[Bodmin]

zooooom said:

Thanks for the help guy's looks like it's an engine out job either way.
Nick I am based in Kent so thanks for the offer, I am not even going to start engine and risk any further damage.
So it look's like I better start looking round for engine builder, any recommendation besides ones listed below.

Straight8six
Austec
TVR Power (maybe little bit far away though)
Racing Greens

Paul.....listen to the good testing advice you are being given on both threads you have running at the moment.

You can buy the chemical block tester kits that Nickccc refers to from most accessory/motor factors quite cheaply & at the the very least if this shows clear then you will be able to drive the vehicle to a garage for further tests.

The coolant pressure test & cylinder leakage test that phillpot refers to are still valid tests.

The main thing is all these tests can be done WITHOUT removing the engine which you seem to have convinced yourself needs to be done

As the Tamora/T350 coolant systems seem to be such a brd to bleed it may be you have an airlock still present from the recent rad/hose change you mention. I have seen several references to T350 chucking out there coolant for no apparent reason on previous threads.

You are fortunate that you have an honest specialist, Dan Taylor, in your area so speak to him.

Bodders

Edited by Bodmin on Wednesday 13th January 11:26

[zooooom]

Bodmin said:

zooooom said:

Thanks for the help guy's looks like it's an engine out job either way.
Nick I am based in Kent so thanks for the offer, I am not even going to start engine and risk any further damage.
So it look's like I better start looking round for engine builder, any recommendation besides ones listed below.

Straight8six
Austec
TVR Power (maybe little bit far away though)
Racing Greens

Paul.....listen to the good testing advice you are being given on both threads you have running at the moment.

You can buy the chemical block tester kits that Nickccc refers to from most accessory/motor factors quite cheaply & at the the very least if this shows clear then you will be able to drive the vehicle to a garage for further tests.

The coolant pressure test & cylinder leakage test that phillpot refers to are still valid tests.

The main thing is all these tests can be done WITHOUT removing the engine which you seem to have convinced yourself needs to be done

As the Tamora/T350 coolant systems seem to be such a brd to bleed it may be you have an airlock still present from the recent rad/hose change you mention. I have seen several references to T350 chucking out there coolant for no apparent reason on previous threads.

You are fortunate that you have an honest specialist, Dan Taylor, in your area so speak to him.

Bodders

Edited by Bodmin on Wednesday 13th January 11:26

Thanks Richard for the conformation and advice.
With reference to having to take the engine out this was only if it were worst case scenario of either head gasket or water pump failure.