Just back from the menders and....

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zeaphod

zeaphod

Well-Known Member
Posts
3,107
Location
Belfast, Norn Iron
Sometimes I swear I'm gonna torch this thing.
......Picked her up this morning after getting the front crank oil seal changed.
10 miles home, and the heater temp went a bit warm (i.e. normal), then cold then back to warm. Apart from that, it drove fine.
On getting her home I found all the water had gone from the expansion tank, and it was clear that water had been pi%%ing out of the expansion tank overflow hose. Top rad hose hot and bottom warm. Took a litre to fill it again. After filling her up, went for another 5 miles - same thing.
Am I just being really unlucky and have a blown head gasket?
At least the oil leak is cured. Bugger Bugger Bugger....
Oh, it's a 2.5 N/A, 1985, 90" van.
Go on - put me out of my misery.:smash:
 
just go through and check all your houses are connected right and not split or anything, and that the water pump is not leaking. start with the simple things rather than ripping the head off. other than the water hows it running?
 
Apart from the water issue, it's running perfectly - no white smoke, so not consuming water in combustion.
I'll have a closer inspection of the hoses tomorrow.
It wasn't doing this before the seal change, so I guess it's unlikely that the gasket will have suddenly gone - fingers crossed.
 
No water in the oil, and I've tried two different pressure caps. On tick over everything is fine, but shortly after giving her a few revs, you can see coolant pi%hing out of the expansion tank overflow hose, under a bit of pressure.Head gasket? Not too worried if it is -it's not too bad a job, just frustrated as I was looking forward to going for a drive.
 
Shifty1962 said:
Get a simple quick "sniff" test done for a tenner at any local indy garage to confirm HG failure before taking the top off. Takes seconds and is 100% accurate.
Click to expand...

I googled sniff test - nothing about engines came up - but you want to see what did! :eek::eek:
There were plenty of bubbles in the pressurised water that blew past the expansion tank cap, which I think supports my gasket suspicions. I'd rather not drive it anywhere given the coolant loss, so I'm going to take the head off next weekend and see what turns up. Fingers crossed it doesn't rain/snow.
The gasket was changed earlier this year by the same team of chimps that made such a bad job of the injection pump (which took them 10 weeks), so I don't have a lot of confidence in the workmanship. Unfortunately my LR indie, who is very good, is 10 miles away.
 
currymunster said:
Have you checked the thermostat isn't stuck shut??? They can just suddenly go with out any notice. Bit like women really LOL:hysterically_laughi
Click to expand...

I replaced the thermostat a week ago. I might take it out and see if the problem still happens, although the top hose was hot - and hotter than the bottom hose, which suggests the thermostat has opened.
Better get this sorted soon. I know it's an off road vehicle, but it's been off road (in the menders) on and off since May! SHMTSBO (she who must think shes being obeyed) is getting narky.
 
zeaphod said:
I googled sniff test - nothing about engines came up - but you want to see what did! :eek::eek:
There were plenty of bubbles in the pressurised water that blew past the expansion tank cap, which I think supports my gasket suspicions. I'd rather not drive it anywhere given the coolant loss, so I'm going to take the head off next weekend and see what turns up. Fingers crossed it doesn't rain/snow.
The gasket was changed earlier this year by the same team of chimps that made such a bad job of the injection pump (which took them 10 weeks), so I don't have a lot of confidence in the workmanship. Unfortunately my LR indie, who is very good, is 10 miles away.
Click to expand...
Its really a hydrocarbons gas test that is known as a "sniff" or "sniffer" test. Any garage will know what you are talking about. Any bubbles in the coolant are bubbled through a chemical mixture that changes colour if there are hydrocarbon gasses from the combustion process present. If they are then your gasket has expired.
 
zeaphod said:
No water in the oil, and I've tried two different pressure caps. On tick over everything is fine, but shortly after giving her a few revs, you can see coolant pi%hing out of the expansion tank overflow hose, under a bit of pressure.Head gasket? Not too worried if it is -it's not too bad a job, just frustrated as I was looking forward to going for a drive.
Click to expand...

id take head off check gasket for staining over fire ring and between valves carefully for cracks
 
Purely for the record, tested the thermostat last night, opened ok in a pan of very hot but not boiling water.
I'll get a few more bits off the engine tonight and the gasket set has arrived - it's part of an "Allmakes" gasket set set from Famous Four.
Nothing like working outside in freezing weather with a dim inspection lamp for making you appreciate being indoors lol.
 
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