Crossflow head gasket?

[mazzamark]

Hi all, Happy New Year!

My wife has been using the Ford Escort MK2 estate 1,3 1975 to work, I know I know! Since she started, nothing but trouble, never cleans it, washes it, put a tank full of diesel in this week and last night she came back with the coolant needle in the red and nothing in the radiator, only I noticed it when I put it in the garage. I had a quick look and topped it up, there is a serious amount of coolant coming out of the radiator overflow only and no water in the oil. In the last 6 months I've replaced all the hoses, clips, thermostat and coolant and its running great (On petrol) Am I looking at a head gasket or is there anything else you would advise looking first, way too rough to think about this logically this morning.

Many thanks

Mark

[mazzamark]

Thanks for the reply, I did flush the system a few times, back flush it too. I'm not saying it isnt the rad as I could have dislodged something but the moment it gets warm, not hot, it starts leaking, almost like it is being pushed out.

[mazzamark]

99hjhm said:

Flushing the cooling system with a hose etc never does anything. Water finds the easiest path and there is nearly always enough routes for it to do this. Same with a radiator, even a blocked one will generally flow fine with a garden hose. Rant over, sort of...

Generally the “sniffer test” will tell you a head gasket is gone even on a perfectly healthy engine, never reliable. There are plenty of hydrocarbons in the engine bay of an old car. Rant over.

As Dave says, make sure the rad cap is sealing and of the correct type(depth etc) and then suspect the head gasket or cracked head etc.

I did quite a serious flush with about 4x doses (1kg) of oxalic acid, radiator out etc. the amount of crud was incredible. I was quite shocked to see evidence of more rust after all that yesterday as it was really gleaming inside where I could see. I'll certainly get the rad checked out/changed.

I have ordered a sniff test and take on those rants! thanks.

I do however have an update. I took out thermostat, I put in an 82o one for Portugal it originally didnt have one, tested it, it works and so does the car without it. Runs cooler but doesnt throw any water out at all, no excess pressure. I would have thought if exhaust gasses were pressurising the coolant it would happen from cold?

I really appreciate all the comments now my head is becoming clearer.

[mazzamark]

Sardonicus said:

Catches many owners out on these older vehicles ^ no need for a X flow to be running with no stat they have a perfectly adequate cooling system , may be also worth checking the metal water pump impeller as not eroded away to a point that it no longer provides adequate circulation

Ahhhh ok, I wondered how the water pump might not be pumping, I dont think it is working properly either. Many thanks, I'll hae a look.

[mazzamark]

Sniff test positive the second I rev it a little, looks like the head is coming off

[mazzamark]

Thanks for your replies.

Yes I'll order one from Burtons, problem is postage to Portugal is £25! I'll have to wait until someone is coming over. I'm using WD40 daily on those manifold bolts as they look like they are going to be a struggle. Is there anything else to look out for with these HG? Looks quite simple but all these things do, the last thing I changed a HG on was a BSA gold star.

[mazzamark]

[mazzamark]

[mazzamark]

Just a few pics, leak between 3 and 4?

[mazzamark]

Many thanks for your help, car back up and running. Valves ground in, new stem oil seals, waterpump and a recore radiator for good measure as it was gummed up. Now runs very well and only gets to a stable 1/4 on the temp guage, very happy!

[mazzamark]

Pretty sure its about right, the thermostat is open and its an 82o one

[mazzamark]

Justin S said:

GreenV8S said:

mazzamark said:

only gets to a stable 1/4 on the temp guage, very happy!

Does that mean it's running cold?

Was about what the gauges used to read when in an Escort from memory

Ahh ok, that I dont know as its only now it is circulating properly