Have I cooked the engine?
Discussion
Hi Guys,
I Think I have a problem.
Car been layed up over winter whilst I redid the interior, Got it back on the road at the start of the month.
All had been fine until the other day waiting for a colleague before work the car started to miss on idle, all temps ok oil pressure ok.
Ran it to work and then home at end of the day (5 miles).
I had already been intending to change the thermostat and Temp Sensor this weekend anyway only because the car didn't quite feel right and I had already changed Plugs, Leads and Coil at the end of last year before the lay up.
So went out today and set about the thermostat, when I removed the hose from the swirl pot to the Thermostat housing no water escaped nor when I removed the thermostat housing or stat itself ( which puzzled me as I have always checked the level in the expansion tank regularly and never suspected anything).
So replaced all and went to bleed the system. at this point I noticed that the expansion tank level had not moved at all.
Ends up ( my fault I know ) the expansion tank pipe was clogged at both end so wasnt connected to the coolant system in reality.
checked all the plugs and drivers side all 4 were black and sooty passenger side all looked pretty normal.
so removed oil cap to find this.
also removed flame trap to check other side.
Flame trap also smells alot of petrol if that means anything.
So what do you guys think ??
I Think I have a problem.
Car been layed up over winter whilst I redid the interior, Got it back on the road at the start of the month.
All had been fine until the other day waiting for a colleague before work the car started to miss on idle, all temps ok oil pressure ok.
Ran it to work and then home at end of the day (5 miles).
I had already been intending to change the thermostat and Temp Sensor this weekend anyway only because the car didn't quite feel right and I had already changed Plugs, Leads and Coil at the end of last year before the lay up.
So went out today and set about the thermostat, when I removed the hose from the swirl pot to the Thermostat housing no water escaped nor when I removed the thermostat housing or stat itself ( which puzzled me as I have always checked the level in the expansion tank regularly and never suspected anything).
So replaced all and went to bleed the system. at this point I noticed that the expansion tank level had not moved at all.
Ends up ( my fault I know ) the expansion tank pipe was clogged at both end so wasnt connected to the coolant system in reality.
checked all the plugs and drivers side all 4 were black and sooty passenger side all looked pretty normal.
so removed oil cap to find this.
also removed flame trap to check other side.
Flame trap also smells alot of petrol if that means anything.
So what do you guys think ??
Water coming out the exhaust is nothing to worry about, will just be condensation like you say.
Put it all back together making sure its full of water and swirl pot pipe is unblocked etc and try it. You may be lucky, worth trying. If its not using water and you appear to be ok, Get the rocker covers off and clean all that gunk away best you can. Change the oil and give it a good long run getting it nice and hot to burn away any other gunk inside the engine. Sometimes short runs, engine not getting hot and old oil will produce that mayo gunk through condensation not getting burnt off and mixing with the oil.
If it is loosing water i`m affraid its rebuild time as probably your heads will have warped through overheating.
Keep your fingers crossed and give it a go.
Put it all back together making sure its full of water and swirl pot pipe is unblocked etc and try it. You may be lucky, worth trying. If its not using water and you appear to be ok, Get the rocker covers off and clean all that gunk away best you can. Change the oil and give it a good long run getting it nice and hot to burn away any other gunk inside the engine. Sometimes short runs, engine not getting hot and old oil will produce that mayo gunk through condensation not getting burnt off and mixing with the oil.
If it is loosing water i`m affraid its rebuild time as probably your heads will have warped through overheating.
Keep your fingers crossed and give it a go.
Milky400 said:
doesnt look good to me, that's a lot of mayo....
get the head gasket checked before you do any further damage
Its going no where till I get it sorted not going to chance doing anymore damage.get the head gasket checked before you do any further damage
Is Replacing the Head gaskets a DIY job (im fairly good with spanners and have done a few HG's on normal engines just not a V8 )
And this is why we hear of liner issues 
hopefully its just head-gasket 
confirm head-gasket/cylinder issues 1st I would get a leak down test done both hot and cold, cylinder leak down into the cooling system will be obvious 
unfortunately the 1st thing that gets hit running with low coolant is the cylinder heads the hottest part of the engine 
hopefully its just head-gasket confirm head-gasket/cylinder issues 1st I would get a leak down test done both hot and cold, cylinder leak down into the cooling system will be obvious unfortunately the 1st thing that gets hit running with low coolant is the cylinder heads the hottest part of the engine 
)If you remove the thermostat housing and the thermostat then fill with water till no more wil go in, then remove the drive belt for the water pump and run the engine. There should be very little movement in the water level. Obviously don't run it like this very long 20 seconds should tell you all you need to know. If it is bad enough for you to lose a cylinder then water will be forced out the thermostat hole sometimes quite violently so stand back and good luck. If there is no or little movement then it still could have a gasket issue but perhaps one that dosen't leak until hot.
If you remove the thermostat housing and the thermostat then fill with water till no more wil go in, then remove the drive belt for the water pump and run the engine. There should be very little movement in the water level. Obviously don't run it like this very long 20 seconds should tell you all you need to know. If it is bad enough for you to lose a cylinder then water will be forced out the thermostat hole sometimes quite violently so stand back and good luck. If there is no or little movement then it still could have a gasket issue but perhaps one that dosen't leak until hot.
phazed said:
Not rocket science.
Just go by the book and don't rush.
Not a quick job, more a weekend job if you have everything.
If it is the HDs then I would have the heads checked for warping and if you are doing that depending on the mileage it's probably worth overhauling them complete.
I have looked through the bible this morning and it doesn't go into any detail about head removal and I am struggling to find anything on the net,Just go by the book and don't rush.
Not a quick job, more a weekend job if you have everything.
If it is the HDs then I would have the heads checked for warping and if you are doing that depending on the mileage it's probably worth overhauling them complete.
Is there another reference book available that covers it or is it a case of just using commonsense and asking lots of questions on here ?
A good place to search for engine stuff when you're stuck..
http://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=12
http://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=12
pinchmeimdreamin said:
I have looked through the bible this morning and it doesn't go into any detail about head removal and I am struggling to find anything on the net,
Is there another reference book available that covers it or is it a case of just using commonsense and asking lots of questions on here ?
This should be of some useIs there another reference book available that covers it or is it a case of just using commonsense and asking lots of questions on here ?
http://www.landroverresource.com/40_46_V8_overhaul...
Thread here that might give you some idea of what is involved and whether you fancy having a go yourself.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
So first of many questions I imagine.
Is it 3 long bolts and 7 short bolts per head required ?
Going to get gasket set from Racing green
http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...
If I get all the valves reseated etc when I have the heads Skimmed will I need to do the preloads
Or can you get the heads skimmed with the valves still in place ?
Is it 3 long bolts and 7 short bolts per head required ?
Going to get gasket set from Racing green
http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...
If I get all the valves reseated etc when I have the heads Skimmed will I need to do the preloads
Or can you get the heads skimmed with the valves still in place ?
pinchmeimdreamin said:
So first of many questions I imagine.
Is it 3 long bolts and 7 short bolts per head required ?
Going to get gasket set from Racing green
http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...
If I get all the valves reseated etc when I have the heads Skimmed will I need to do the preloads
Or can you get the heads skimmed with the valves still in place ?
Yes you will have to do the pre loads Is it 3 long bolts and 7 short bolts per head required ?
Going to get gasket set from Racing green
http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...
If I get all the valves reseated etc when I have the heads Skimmed will I need to do the preloads
Or can you get the heads skimmed with the valves still in place ?
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