P38A More water troubles.

tarphenry · Apr 10, 2019

Hi all, following a recent overheat, I replaced temperature sensor,Water pump and thermostat. thought I had got away with it,BUT maybe not. Took the caravan to pilling for the season,50 miles at 50mph towing a caravan approx 18cwt ,no problem temp sat at 12 all the way. Coming home empty at 70mph, 20 miles down the road overheat, needed recovery so looks like head off and check for leaks . It must be the head or the gasket mustent it ?? any help appreciated. thanks Mick

wammers · Apr 10, 2019

tarphenry said:
Hi all, following a recent overheat, I replaced temperature sensor,Water pump and thermostat. thought I had got away with it,BUT maybe not. Took the caravan to pilling for the season,50 miles at 50mph towing a caravan approx 18cwt ,no problem temp sat at 12 all the way. Coming home empty at 70mph, 20 miles down the road overheat, needed recovery so looks like head off and check for leaks . It must be the head or the gasket mustent it ?? any help appreciated. thanks Mick

Very, very rarely does gasket go on these. But cracked head is common.

Henry_b · Apr 10, 2019

Aha!!

Not just the V8's that break then!!

RangeRoller dt · Apr 10, 2019

Henry_b said:
Aha!!

Not just the V8's that break then!!

It's like the weakest part of the doozle. Still not common but more likely than HG failure. Only hairline micro fracture they do eventually. Not everytime you check the rear mirror to look for liners like the petrols

Henry_b · Apr 10, 2019

RangeRoller dt said:
It's like the weakest part of the doozle. Still not common but more likely than HG failure. Only hairline micro fracture they do eventually. Not everytime you check the rear mirror to look for liners like the petrols

So weak cylinder heads!!!

My petrol is on 130k and the Liners are still well in place

Only when you cook the V8 that the liners drop

wammers · Apr 10, 2019

Henry_b said:
Aha!!

Not just the V8's that break then!!

No diesels break from time to time just not as often as V8s do.

RangeRoller dt · Apr 10, 2019

I've cooked my diesel badly, and kept driving it - starts cutting out at high high temperature

With manual just put it in gear, drop and keep going.
no head problems @142500. I am overdue for something to go Green-oval on me

It's been weeks!

spadgr · Apr 11, 2019

Ive overheated mine half a dozen times. 370,000Kms and still the head hasn't been off (touch wood). I have replaced the viscous fan coupling twice in the last 130,000km (should've bought genuine the first time) and fitted a new radiator. Don't pull the head off until you are sure that's the problem. If you do have to do the cylinder head, then you will probably do the radiator and viscous coupling (fan) anyway, so try them first.

brianp38dse · Apr 11, 2019

Quick question can you here the viscous fan cutting in and out, they sound like a bloody tank.

wammers · Apr 11, 2019

brianp38dse said:
Quick question can you here the viscous fan cutting in and out, they sound like a bloody tank.

No they don't, the viscous fan is not engaged until the air in the shroud reaches a certain temperature. Whilst on the move driving normally the fan is not engaged. And the cooling is by ram air. If it is engaged driving normally you have a problem. They should only fully engage at low speeds in traffic after a run to remove latent heat from the cooling system.

tarphenry · Apr 11, 2019

head is coming off. need to solve the problem

RangeRoller dt · Apr 11, 2019

brianp38dse said:
Quick question can you here the viscous fan cutting in and out, they sound like a bloody tank.

They either work, seize (always work) or like mine have little resistance as clutch inside is naffed. I pulled exact same one off my low mileage E36 - I can feel difference in mechanism, the E36 would roar if you stopped on a motorway but P38 is quieter in cab so harder to tell from noise.

I will swap them over once I can work out how to undo it without the 10mm pulley bolts unscrewing and let u know difference.

RangeRoller dt · Apr 11, 2019

tarphenry said:
head is coming off. need to solve the problem

Youve done sensors and pretty much whole cooling system, don't see what else it could be?

Unless you have bit of plastic impeller in a port?

You've had suspicions for long time putting it off, you know you really want to

You're more than capable and good clean out + inspection will do it good.

Pics as you go would be great, as always I'm only few steps behind you but without the cooling issues anymore

Bagshot · Apr 11, 2019

RangeRoller dt said:
Youve done sensors and pretty much whole cooling system, don't see what else it could be? Unless you have bit of plastic impeller in a port?
You've had suspicions for long time putting it off, you know you really want to You're more than capable and good clean out + inspection will do it good.

Pics as you go would be great, as always I'm only few steps behind you but without the cooling issues anymore

As always though.. it starts off with "I think I'll take the head off" then it's.. might as well do the chains, but then if I'm doing the chains I'll best do the sprockets and if I'm in this far I could do the rings..and we'll if the rings/ pistons are coming out, well those bottom bearings could do with looking at..
Before you know it, driveway full of engine bits .
GO FOR IT..!!!

tarphenry · Apr 11, 2019

Not the fan or the pump or the rad, only happened since oveheat either head or gasket I will know in the morning. all disconnected and pin in flywwheel @TDC. Trying to find bar to slacken chain if anyone knows dimensions I would be grateful. bought one I know but Icannot remember where I put it .

wammers · Apr 11, 2019

tarphenry said:
Not the fan or the pump or the rad, only happened since oveheat either head or gasket I will know in the morning. all disconnected and pin in flywwheel @TDC. Trying to find bar to slacken chain if anyone knows dimensions I would be grateful. bought one I know but Icannot remember where I put it .

Last one i did had an almost imperceptible crack at one edge of the round area between the valves on number two cylinder. Would run for over an hour at idle then expel the coolant. Picked it up as cracked head with my static test rig. Took a while to spot it when head came off.

Datatek · Apr 11, 2019

wammers said:
Very, very rarely does gasket go on these. But cracked head is common.

Usually due to repeated overheating.

Bagshot · Apr 11, 2019

tarphenry said:
Not the fan or the pump or the rad, only happened since oveheat either head or gasket I will know in the morning. all disconnected and pin in flywwheel @TDC. Trying to find bar to slacken chain if anyone knows dimensions I would be grateful. bought one I know but Icannot remember where I put it .

Chain can be slackened with a long strong screwdriver or bar and a good torch..
Obviously easier with the right bar but not impossible,(putting them back on however, now there's a couple of hours you won't get back..

)

RangeRoller dt · Apr 11, 2019

Bagshot said:
Before you know it, you are explaining a V8 in bits to the boss

RangeRoller dt · Apr 11, 2019

Rember the drill bit (or whatever LR0000 your supposed to use) to stop pin flying out

P38A More water troubles.

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