Discussion
I'm losing some coolant, and while I have only just changed the rad and hoses, it may also be that one/both the HG are on their way out. There seems to be a lot of oily water in the vee. I'm thinking it may be giving way on the outside at least.
How big a job is changing the HG's? I have air con, so I believe it's an engine out job, but, as the cams have just been shimmed, I'm assuming that I can whip the entire head off, change the gaskets and, as long as I can reset the cam timing, bolt it all back together?
If it's a job for a specialist, can they do it with just the engine, or do they need the entire car? I'm thinking I could take the engine out and just deliver that for the work, replacing it myself later.
How big a job is changing the HG's? I have air con, so I believe it's an engine out job, but, as the cams have just been shimmed, I'm assuming that I can whip the entire head off, change the gaskets and, as long as I can reset the cam timing, bolt it all back together?
If it's a job for a specialist, can they do it with just the engine, or do they need the entire car? I'm thinking I could take the engine out and just deliver that for the work, replacing it myself later.
I'd give them a call and ask if they can have just the engine for it. From what I have heard, they're the cheapest out there for this and are highly regarded generally. I cant see any reason why they would need to have anything other than just the engine to do the job; the problem might come however if you want a full warranty for the work. For example, if the new head gasket goes pop after an hour, and you're the person thats connected up all the coolant pipes, then regardless of what caused the failure, you might never be able to prove that it wasn't your mistake in refitting the engine. i guess it all depends on what they'll charge for refitting the engine, and then how much you value a full warranty on the work.
just my 2 cents...
just my 2 cents...
Andy gave me an "off the hoof" price of £600 for engine out and back in - got the impression he hasn't had any warranty claims which is obviously a good sign but not sure you wouldn't have warranty arguments should they go again as there may be something else that could cause it/it could be pinned on.
PS does anyone know his xmas opening times - not heard a dickie on mine!
PS does anyone know his xmas opening times - not heard a dickie on mine!
Edited by smash on Monday 22 December 14:45
If your getting what looks like water and oil mixing, I would sniff test the coolant to see if you getting combustion basses in the coolant.
I had what looked like oil seeping out of a head gasket, it was an injector not functioning due to damaged wiring on said injector. The oil was pooling up in the cylinder and seeping out as the combustion process wasn't taking place.
Also clean the head and run the car up to temperature, then if you can get an airline to blow all the crap away and see where it appears from. I had/have a cracked cylinder head, gasket was fine but it was weeping out through a hairline crack. Good luck.
Oh, what side is it happening on? is it the same as the oil breather from the crankcase?
I had what looked like oil seeping out of a head gasket, it was an injector not functioning due to damaged wiring on said injector. The oil was pooling up in the cylinder and seeping out as the combustion process wasn't taking place.
Also clean the head and run the car up to temperature, then if you can get an airline to blow all the crap away and see where it appears from. I had/have a cracked cylinder head, gasket was fine but it was weeping out through a hairline crack. Good luck.
Oh, what side is it happening on? is it the same as the oil breather from the crankcase?
Nickccc said:
If your getting what looks like water and oil mixing, I would sniff test the coolant to see if you getting combustion basses in the coolant.
I had what looked like oil seeping out of a head gasket, it was an injector not functioning due to damaged wiring on said injector. The oil was pooling up in the cylinder and seeping out as the combustion process wasn't taking place.
Also clean the head and run the car up to temperature, then if you can get an airline to blow all the crap away and see where it appears from. I had/have a cracked cylinder head, gasket was fine but it was weeping out through a hairline crack. Good luck.
Oh, what side is it happening on? is it the same as the oil breather from the crankcase?
Nick, I had what looked like oil seeping out of a head gasket, it was an injector not functioning due to damaged wiring on said injector. The oil was pooling up in the cylinder and seeping out as the combustion process wasn't taking place.
Also clean the head and run the car up to temperature, then if you can get an airline to blow all the crap away and see where it appears from. I had/have a cracked cylinder head, gasket was fine but it was weeping out through a hairline crack. Good luck.
Oh, what side is it happening on? is it the same as the oil breather from the crankcase?
that's a good point... there's oil in the vee, but a lot of water too. Now the water could just be rainwater, I suppose. I am losing coolant, but I have recently replaced all the hoses and rad, and so that loss could be a mix of water settling after the refill, and maybe a couple of hoses not quite sealing, and it could all be coincidental.
I shall clean the heads up and run the car up and see if I can spot any weeping. I haven't sniffed the coolant yet.
The car is actually running fine, no misfires, stutters, it doesn't feel like it's down on power or anything, revving happily, firing happily, no strange smoke from the exhausts... so if it is the HG, it must only be a fine crack (at the moment).
I'm taking it in to Paul on Wednesday anyway, so he can cast a more experienced eye over it, see what he thinks.
Just like mine, ran fine no obvious loss through exhaust etc, replaced every water pipe, metal coolant hoses and rad. Still loosing coolant.
Easy check for the injectors, take off the air boxes, and inlet tracts run car and look to see if petrol is being injected, you'll see easily if it's not.
Could also test exhaust temp on manifold, if you haven't got a laser thermo thing, just use a tie wrap touch it onto the manifold branch at each out let, if it doesn't melt you have no combustion going on in the corresponding cylinder.
Easy check for the injectors, take off the air boxes, and inlet tracts run car and look to see if petrol is being injected, you'll see easily if it's not.
Could also test exhaust temp on manifold, if you haven't got a laser thermo thing, just use a tie wrap touch it onto the manifold branch at each out let, if it doesn't melt you have no combustion going on in the corresponding cylinder.
Woohoo, not a HG or cracked head issue at all. One of my new coolant hoses was badly sealed and was weeping under pressure. The only chance I had of checking it was when the car was quite cold and so it was never weeping when I checked it, but Paul put the car on the lift when I got there and it was obviously still hot from driving over there and still leaking. I thought it was a good chance that it was sinply a leak in the coolant hoses as I had recently replaced them all, but was put off by all the mess in the vee...
And the mess in the vee? oil leaking from the alternator shaft seal. Got one on order so the car will be spending Christmas at Paul's garage while I'm away.
Big relief, if I'm honest! lol
And the mess in the vee? oil leaking from the alternator shaft seal. Got one on order so the car will be spending Christmas at Paul's garage while I'm away.
Big relief, if I'm honest! lol
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