Ok so it's definitely head gasket...

[robsco]

Got the heads off tonight ready for skimming. Having chased overheating issues all year thus far, and it having ruined 2014's Cerbera use, I'm almost relieved to see the state of these head gaskets. The engine has covered 35k, and as you can see, there's not much left of these.













One thing we noticed is that the bores of the pistons had a bead of silicon around them. Is this normal? It was coming away so I removed it.

Regular progress updates will be provided for the nosier of you.

[Milky400]

Bloody hell, have you been using acid as coolant .....

[jamieduff1981]

Wow. Those are awful!

As you say though, it's good to find proof positive of a problem. You can resolve it, put it back together and forget about it. It's never a nice feeling wondering if you ever really solved a problem and if it's going to reappear!

[bobbins]

Not pretty that Rob. Silicon certainly doesn't sound right - but I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me will be along soon to say for sure.

[greenracing]

Not nice but good you have found the issue! The liners are sealed in place using a silicone based engine sealant, perfectly normal, unlike your gaskets!

[a1rak]

It may seem an odd thing to say but the part of the gasket that seals is only the sealing ring on the bores and the composite gasket around the outside edges. The parts that have appeared to rot in your photos just flap around in the coolant and do nothing for the sealing. Normally the gaskets fire rings show no signs of failing on the AJP. The gasket rings normally seep when the engine gets hot due to either poor liners location, stretched studs or poor assembly.
If I were you I would check every detail very carefully. Liner height, flatness of heads, fit all new studs, and if your budget allows fit copper gaskets. Good luck whatever way you choose but don't presume a new set of gaskets is the end of your problem even though they look trashed. Only trying to be helpful

[Gerradi]

Mine had to be changed not because of a failure but when it had some other head work done, the gaskets were well rotted so it was just in time. If your head gaskets have been on over 12 yrs then be prepared.

[RichV6]

mine had been in 14 years and looked pretty similar to those in the photos. Fire rings were intact though there was some coolant seeping up the studs at times

[robsco]

Too late for copper gaskets, Racing Green delivered some standard ones a few weeks back. The heads will be going off for skimming and cleaning over the next week or so. The intention was just to clean the block faces and studs up with some emery paper ready for the refurbished heads, but I will consider replacing studs etc while everything is apart.

[robsco]

The heads are back! Could anyone recommend what engine sealant to reapply to the liners?

[N7GTX]

This one seems to be the one. Maybe check before you buy.

http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...

[m4tti]

You need something glycol resistant. I used that sealant from Racing green all over my speed six, but it has pressed liners. Its been used on all the metal coolant pipework mating faces so hoping its glycol resistant!!

Theres Hylomar and loctite 572 if you need to get something more quickly..

Interesting post from the Lotus forum on their V8 engine and hylomar on liners


http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=184...

[robsco]

I've opted for different gaskets now, so have a couple spare on the Classifieds. Gave in and called Track V Road in the end, who are finishing the job off so should have the car back for the New Year. Looking forward to hopefully getting some more use out of the car in 2015.

[SimonKD]

robsco said:

I've opted for different gaskets now, so have a couple spare on the Classifieds. Gave in and called Track V Road in the end, who are finishing the job off so should have the car back for the New Year. Looking forward to hopefully getting some more use out of the car in 2015.

Did you opt for copper gaskets in the end?

Regards
Simon

[robsco]

Simon, I have only just seen this. I didn't go for copper gaskets in the end; the heads unfortunately hadn't been skimmed flat when I had them done, which Track V Road discovered when they collected the car. There was also still some corrosion left on the head faces so had to have them done again, more aggressively than would be ideal. I have had a spacer made with 3mm cometic gaskets to keep the compression ratio within safe tolerances. The engine is going back together as we speak and the car should be back in a couple of weeks ready for taxing in March. It will be nice to be able to kiss goodbye to the overheating issues.

[SimonKD]

I hope so Rob

[Mr Cerbera]

Ummmmm, has anyone got a pic of a Cerb head gasket in good nick ?
(Just for comparison purposes)

[Cerberaherts]

Mr Cerbera said:

Ummmmm, has anyone got a pic of a Cerb head gasket in good nick ?
(Just for comparison purposes)