Head Gasket

Head Gasket

Author
Discussion

davidd

Original Poster:

6,473 posts

285 months

Tuesday 21st January 2003
quotequote all
As I mentioned earlier I think I 'might' need a head gasket.
Apart from checking the oil and water what other checks can I do to see if it is or is not knackered?
Are there any check the garage can do withouth stripping the heads?

I assume this is an expensive job, anyone had one done recently (specialist not main dealer)?

Might be a silly point but if the heads are off is it going to be worth replacing the cams? Anyone (Jools) had a go with the piper one yet?.

TIA

D.

olly

2,174 posts

285 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2003
quotequote all
A garage should be able to do a "pressure test" to see if there are any leaks... I've never had one done, but it should (famous last words) tell if the head gasket is gone or not without removal of the heads....

Why do you think it's gone ? What symptoms do you have ?

davidd

Original Poster:

6,473 posts

285 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2003
quotequote all
yoghurt in the oil, only a little and we think it could be due to the car standing outside for a year.

The water is clean the oil pressure and water temps are normal so I'm hopefull.

D.

olly

2,174 posts

285 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2003
quotequote all
That could just be condensation due to the car being outside for so long (I presume it wasn't being driven - accident repair ?).

Has the car had an oil change yet ?

If not, give it an oil change, and hopefully the yoghurt will not come back !

>> Edited by olly on Wednesday 22 January 14:19

Prince_Charming

2,646 posts

270 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2003
quotequote all
Is the bathroom gonna be delayed a bit longer David?

>> Edited by Prince_Charming on Wednesday 22 January 14:47

futie

653 posts

277 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2003
quotequote all
David, the last couple of weeks when i've topped mine up with oil there's been a small amount of 'yoghurt' on the inside of the filler cap, but i've not assumed it was anything serious. Not long ago it was on a rolling road and performed fine, so i'm assuming it's in good health !

Perhaps it's just the condensation thing, but mine gets used for short journeys virtually every day, and it garaged overnight, so it's not been standing outside for long periods.

grey42cerbie

415 posts

267 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2003
quotequote all
Go on then. What figures did it produce and which RR did you use?

Cheers, Steve
Grey 4.2 Cerbie

davidd

Original Poster:

6,473 posts

285 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2003
quotequote all

futie said: David, the last couple of weeks when i've topped mine up with oil there's been a small amount of 'yoghurt' on the inside of the filler cap, but i've not assumed it was anything serious. Not long ago it was on a rolling road and performed fine, so i'm assuming it's in good health !

Perhaps it's just the condensation thing, but mine gets used for short journeys virtually every day, and it garaged overnight, so it's not been standing outside for long periods.



Indeed mine has not had a decent run for a while so maybe it is just lots of short trips. I'll give Offord a call see if they can pressure test it.

D.

davidd

Original Poster:

6,473 posts

285 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2003
quotequote all

Prince_Charming said: Is the bathroom gonna be delayed a bit longer David?

>> Edited by Prince_Charming on Wednesday 22 January 14:47



Lets hope not or I'm in big trouble

D.

Although I could have a bath in the drivers footwell of the Cerbera

futie

653 posts

277 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2003
quotequote all
Steve,

It was on the 'Noble' RR with Joolz - see CERBERA POWER GRAPHS. It got up to 353BHP!

I was chuffed to think that it was only 7BHP down after all these years, until I checked the handbook which said peak power was 350BHP!

Thom

2,745 posts

274 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2003
quotequote all

Apart from checking the oil and water what other checks can I do to see if it is or is not knackered?

White smoke coming out of the exhaust(s)?

davidd

Original Poster:

6,473 posts

285 months

Thursday 23rd January 2003
quotequote all

Thom said:

Apart from checking the oil and water what other checks can I do to see if it is or is not knackered?

White smoke coming out of the exhaust(s)?


None (thanks)

gilesn

214 posts

267 months

Thursday 23rd January 2003
quotequote all
A failing head gasket is usually indicated by the following symptoms (in no order of importance):
a) rising oil level (coolant getting in the oil)
b) dropping water level (as above)
c) white smoke in the exhaust or water droplets on the exhaust pipes (water getting in the combustion chambers)
d) "mayonnaise" in the oil (water getting in the oil)
e) poor compression in one or more cylinders (can test using a pressure tester screwed into the spark plug sockets. Poor compression can cause lumpy running too)

As others have pointed out, mayonnaise can be caused by condensation, particularly if you use the car for lots of short journeys in the winter. The engine never properly warms up and the condensation never gets "burnt off". Go for a proper run and thrash it a bit to get the engine properly hot.

Modern oils are pretty good at "managing" water in the oil, but too much and the lubrication capabilities will start to break down.

If you're worried by mayonnaise, change the oil and filter and see if it comes back.

I've never had head gasket problems on my Cerbie but I have had on my two previous classic cars. They're straightforward but quite labour intensive to replace.