Issues with head gasket after MOT test.
Discussion
Last December my head gasket failed due to being sold an incorrect thermostat from my local motor factors.
I fitted a new head gasket, had the head skimmed and pressure tested etc. This is the point where the new thermostat was suspected after the car was still overheating even with new water pump, radiator, coolant, head gasket etc.
Quite annoying.
Anyway. I never ever leave my car running too long when it's stood still. It's good for 10 or 15 minutes then starts to go to 3/4 on the gauge. I believe I need a new temp. sensor.
Anyway, since getting my car back from MOT I've noticed it overheats very quickly, and there is cream on the dipstick and oil filler cap. Again, indicating the head gasket has failed.
It turns out they left the car running throughout the test, to a point where its boiled over before they've noticed it was overheating. I am aware the engine needs to warm up to do the emissions test but surely you wouldn't leave a 30 year old Ford sat running throughout the whole test.
So my head rebuild that should have been good for many years has lasted 10 months. I am fuming!
I fitted a new head gasket, had the head skimmed and pressure tested etc. This is the point where the new thermostat was suspected after the car was still overheating even with new water pump, radiator, coolant, head gasket etc.
Quite annoying.
Anyway. I never ever leave my car running too long when it's stood still. It's good for 10 or 15 minutes then starts to go to 3/4 on the gauge. I believe I need a new temp. sensor.
Anyway, since getting my car back from MOT I've noticed it overheats very quickly, and there is cream on the dipstick and oil filler cap. Again, indicating the head gasket has failed.
It turns out they left the car running throughout the test, to a point where its boiled over before they've noticed it was overheating. I am aware the engine needs to warm up to do the emissions test but surely you wouldn't leave a 30 year old Ford sat running throughout the whole test.
So my head rebuild that should have been good for many years has lasted 10 months. I am fuming!
Your car has an underlying problem which allows it to overheat when stationary- by which i mean it's 'broken'. You can hardly blame the garage. It would've been much easier to fix the radiator fan/switch, airlock, water pump, radiator, thermostat or whatever causes the problem properly.
Hope you can sort it with relatively little stress.SambaS said:
I think I am fuming with myself to be fair to them, the fan was at one point wired up to stay on constant, I just didn't think. And neither did they.
Should have fitted that £20 temp sensor eh?
Oh, fair play. I thought you were blaming the garage for the HGF. I doubt they even thought about it since every car has a thermostatic switch these days.Should have fitted that £20 temp sensor eh?
had a simular problem with a BMW 318i with 120,000 mls that i put in for an MOT ,i stood in for the test and watched him stand on the accelerator at about 5500 revs while doing the emissions test, but chatting to his friend and drinking a cup of tea like he had all the time in the world for about 2mins.
anyway when i got in the car to take it home it was down on power and running rough and never ran smooth again while i had it
what i'm saying is i would'nt do that to a relativly cold car so why should they ,i was cringing watching them and mentioned it to them afterwards but was told its standard practice to get the required emission results.
anyway when i got in the car to take it home it was down on power and running rough and never ran smooth again while i had it
what i'm saying is i would'nt do that to a relativly cold car so why should they ,i was cringing watching them and mentioned it to them afterwards but was told its standard practice to get the required emission results.
doogz said:
TBH if that wrecked your engine, 5500rpm for a couple of minutes, with no load, there was an underlying problem already, that shouldn't be a problem.
your quite right and it was a bit tired but it did'nt help ,it may have been more revs than that but curtainly remember it being a gritted teeth moment.Flanders. said:
doogz said:
TBH if that wrecked your engine, 5500rpm for a couple of minutes, with no load, there was an underlying problem already, that shouldn't be a problem.
I thought Engines didn't like being revved with out being under load. EDLT said:
They might overheat, but it would take much longer than two minutes. It has to be held at 4000rpm to take the emissions test iirc.
Fairly sure it's 2500-3000 for a petrol fast idle test, but it's been over a year since working in an MOT centre and I don't have a certificate to hand.You have to remember that the majority of MOT tested get questioned left right and centre by people who claim to know about cars, so regardless of whether or not you do, trying to tell a tester they're doing something wrong isn't going to go down well.
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