advice on 3.9 v8 EFI please, poss head gasket?

geb · Jun 7, 2011

Hi Guys and Girls, hope everybody is well.

I have recently put a 3.9 v8 into my 90. i have fitted a new TD radiator when doing the conversion and i changed the thermostat for a lower temp one.
Now, it doesn't overheat and its not using water, but the niggling thing is that in the mornings the top radiator hose is still pressurised and when you take the cap off the expansion bottle, you can definitely here it escape.

my main question is am i been paranoid? or is there trouble brewing?

all answers gratefully received,

Thanks, Gareth.

JD · Jun 7, 2011

Coolant pressure is normal as far as I know, but the pressure should drop as the engine cools...if it's still pressurised after cooling it's probably worth getting it tested for combustion gases in the coolant.

lbp1120 · Jun 8, 2011

I had the same eproblem on my v8 landy and bought some stuff called irontite which seemed to cure the fault

Overheating Pressurising Cures=

Spoke to the guy who sells it and he seemed to know his stuff Phil I think his name was

Bromsgrove Defender · Jun 8, 2011

As JD says get it tested for combustion gases in the coolant before doing anything else

vougese39 · Jun 9, 2011

daft and often missed point did you replace the cap?

geb · Jun 14, 2011

Thanks for the replies guys, sorry I havnt responded earlier been away. After much contemplation and information over load I stripped the heads off and took them to the local engine people, spoke to them today and they say they have skimmed 2 thou and every things ok. So far so good. The next big thing is which gaskets to use? Looking on the Internet I can find as many arguments for tin or comp depending on how you search, the engine people recommended staying with tin and original bolts. What have you guys done before?
Thanks, a very confused Gareth

alexdon · Jun 15, 2011

Use new bolts, it's not worth saving a bit of money on someting like that. I've used the composite gasket on mine.

geb · Jun 15, 2011

what would you recommend for cleaning the block surface where the head gasket sits, some say a very fine wet & dry or just scrap off with some cleaner?

alexdon · Jun 16, 2011

geb said:
what would you recommend for cleaning the block surface where the head gasket sits, some say a very fine wet & dry or just scrap off with some cleaner?

Scotchbrite if you can get hold of some.

advice on 3.9 v8 EFI please, poss head gasket?

geb

New Member

JD

New Member

lbp1120

New Member

Bromsgrove Defender

Well-Known Member

vougese39

Well-Known Member

geb

New Member

alexdon

Active Member

geb

New Member

alexdon

Active Member

Similar threads