RV8 HGF

[Chassis 33]

Has anyone ever experienced HGF where the coolant appears to be lost from the water jacket at the front end of the engine and escaping to the outside world. The engine I had the fun with over the weekend had been loosing water its an early P38 block btw, non of the cylinders are steam cleaned, non of the liners have slipped, oil is, well, oil like no evidence of coolant contamination. The only place I can see possible coolant loss is the area in front on no2 cylinder the head is corroded on the forward part of the mating face in front of the water jacket.

Any ideas?
Regards
Iain

[rev-erend]

Are you loosing coolant and cannot find any evidience of where from ?

[Chassis 33]

Hi Rev, Right its a lift out engine of which I know little about except it was over heating, bought it for a song and could make my money back on parts if the block is scrap. Nothing I've seen so far suggests a cracked block, eg the slipped liner and oil looking like oil, the only thing I can think of is HGF to outside world or a split hose which does happen the P38

I'll be getting the block pressure tested which should tell me for certain.
Regards
Iain

[rev-erend]

It could also be a hairline crack in the head from the water jacket..

I had one on a Griff 500 - ported a bit too far by TVR..
water went straight into the exhaust.

Check the heads carefully too.

Really not sure what you mean by HGF.

[Chassis 33]

Wondering the head gasket has failed allowing water from the water jacket to pass through to the outside world, not a failure mode I've seen in the past but a possibility. I'll post some photos next time I'm home.
Regards
Iain

[GreenV8S]

Could be a leak in the front cover gasket, or the water pump? A hot pressure test (or cold if it's a non-runner) would surely tell you whether there was a leak and would probably give you a good chance if locating it.