Not Head Gasket - SO what is it !!!
Discussion
Okay, about 9 months ago, wifey's low mileage mk3 cavalier 1.8 8V (Carb) started losing water, which I could not find the leak, so I assumed Head gasket and bunged some barrs leaks in. Anyway, It's been using a bit every week and less on longer journeys.
Anyway last week it would not turn the starter motor. I though must be jammed when wifey phoned to tell me. Anyway, when I got home I found it started. Oh no ( says brother inlaw) that must be hydraulicing from Head gasket and the water has drained away. So next morning I start it up and its running on 2 cylinders for about 10 seconds. I decide to take it in to local back street place, who now say that they don't think the head gaskets gone, but it is running very rich. Could it be 3 faults ? Water Leak from water pump, carb blocked (or autochoke fecked) and starter motor playing up ?
Help ?
When I say low mileage I mean 62K on a 92 Car which I just recently serviced.
Anyway last week it would not turn the starter motor. I though must be jammed when wifey phoned to tell me. Anyway, when I got home I found it started. Oh no ( says brother inlaw) that must be hydraulicing from Head gasket and the water has drained away. So next morning I start it up and its running on 2 cylinders for about 10 seconds. I decide to take it in to local back street place, who now say that they don't think the head gaskets gone, but it is running very rich. Could it be 3 faults ? Water Leak from water pump, carb blocked (or autochoke fecked) and starter motor playing up ?
Help ?
When I say low mileage I mean 62K on a 92 Car which I just recently serviced.
nel said:
If you take off the oil fill cap is there any evidence of a mayonnaisy, yellowish mess on its underside (mixture of oil and coolant)?
Does the coolant reservoir get pressured up and the fluid dirty, smells of oil/exhaust fumes?
If you take the plugs out, frequently if a head gaskets knackered you'll see that one plug is a markedly different colour from the other 3. Also colour of plugs will give you an idea if the garage is right when they say it's running rich - black sooty deposits instead of nice healthybrownish speckley effect.
Hard to diagnose without more info.
Nel
No Mayo.
No Fumes in Water. No pressure in Expansion Tank.
Started using a bit more water recently (15 short - 8 miles or less - journeys a week) - Having to fill up every 2 weeks.
All Plugs at recent service (3 weeks ago) were straw.
But When I started it up by the back door the kitchen smelt heavily of unburnt petrol and left a black deposit on drive.
Once Running on 4 cylinders, seems to go okay although the idle has never been exactly smooth when cold.
Got it back from Greg (The bloke that has a back street garage round the corner and is the brother of someone I used to know at school (in the 80's)) and it all seems fine now.
He's fitted new water pump (apparently cause of leaking) and cam belt )well you may as well if the old one's been there a while).
He's 'adjusted' the carb, done a compression check, run it until the fan comes on.
Took it on a little drive to buy some LRP and in the 20 miles it seems fine, no noticeable water loss, idles normally.
Only thing is : He's written on my bill, carb (a p i s s Burg ?) is worn and will need to be replaced at some point. Anyone got an SU to fit ?
He's fitted new water pump (apparently cause of leaking) and cam belt )well you may as well if the old one's been there a while).
He's 'adjusted' the carb, done a compression check, run it until the fan comes on.
Took it on a little drive to buy some LRP and in the 20 miles it seems fine, no noticeable water loss, idles normally.
Only thing is : He's written on my bill, carb (a p i s s Burg ?) is worn and will need to be replaced at some point. Anyone got an SU to fit ?
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