P38A Question about slipped liners

p38swansea · May 23, 2017

1999 4.6
I've had an overheating problem for a while, and after getting the head gaskets changed, it briefly went away and the engine ran nice and cool through all journeys.
A few days later it was back to overheating again.
Now the garage has told me that it is clear around cyl 3 that the liners have slipped.
My question is, if this is actually the case then wouldn't the engine have overheated regardless of having the head gaskets done? Like I said it was fine for the first few days.
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks

Mark Piercy · May 23, 2017

real bad luck dude! this could turn nasty...
there is a possibility the cylinders could have been disturbed with first overheat or when the work was carried out..

Saint.V8 · May 23, 2017

Slipped liners tend to tick.....

cooltide · May 23, 2017

If the garage is saying no.3 was slipped / steam cleaned, then yes it was pointless putting it back together for you.

p38swansea · May 23, 2017

Saint.V8 said:
Slipped liners tend to tick.....

Could you elaborate on what 'tick' means? Sorry I'm not mechanically inclined
Only found out number 3 was slipped after the second strip down.
But if the liners had slipped then why did the engine run fine for the first few days?

Thanks for your answers

johnnyb70 · May 23, 2017

Bad luck mate. All mechanical issues like this can have different outcomes. Some tick some don't. Some liners leak at the top some through the bottom. Only when properly hot will they move.
I guess your garage must have some definite evidence of the issue.
3 possible approaches top hat liners(£1000+) used engine(£500 or600) sell to breaker for spares(£500 to you)
These engines are plagued with this issue and it's very often fatal for instance a used engine may have a similar issue so is a risky choice. Top hat liners can fail occasionally and the vehicle may only be worth £1000 after all the trouble and a successful re liner.
Jb

martynv8 · May 24, 2017

I feel for you fella.
Mine was on it's 3rd engine (top hatted) that also failed. I beleive some loose liners tick some dont. Mine ticked but not all the time, sometimes it would be quiet for days so maybe something to do with a head change that distrubed things in yours enough to hold the liner for a while. These lumps really dont like being overheated so as Mark said, if you have been overheating on a regular basis this woud have caused the liners to slip.
Either a new top hat block from somewhere like Turners or V8 Developments but looking upwards of £3k or sell as is & cut your losses.

norseman · May 24, 2017

Having also suffered a slipped liner (# 3 on a 3.9) I can answer your question. The problem will manifest itself as a light tapping at crankshaft speed when, depending on how slack the liner is, the engine starts to warm up or reaches running temperature. Not to be confused with valve gear noise which is normally associated with a cold engine & is at half crankshaft speed. All 94mm bore RV8's (ie all except the original 3.5) are prone to this failure, although having said that some never seem to experience the problem.

wammers · May 24, 2017

norseman said:
Having also suffered a slipped liner (# 3 on a 3.9) I can answer your question. The problem will manifest itself as a light tapping at crankshaft speed when, depending on how slack the liner is, the engine starts to warm up or reaches running temperature. Not to be confused with valve gear noise which is normally associated with a cold engine & is at half crankshaft speed. All 94mm bore RV8's (ie all except the original 3.5) are prone to this failure, although having said that some never seem to experience the problem.

There was scuttle butt going around at one time about large number of substandard blocks. That were used regardless. Don't know if that is true.

norseman · May 24, 2017

wammers said:
There was scuttle butt going around at one time about large number of substandard blocks. That were used regardless. Don't know if that is true.

Surely not

Mark Piercy · May 24, 2017

found a video on pootube pointing out that in some on the blocks originally produced. The pushrod guides were cut off centre in the block reducing the metal around the liner areas!!!

Mark Piercy · May 24, 2017

see if this works!

p38swansea · May 24, 2017

Thanks for all your advice.
After spending over £1000 on the head gasket job, I don't know whether or not I should risk a new(used) engine and hope it's good, or just sell it as is and make some money back.
But I still don't understand why the engine behaved for the first few days after the head gasket job? Any ideas on this?

wammers · May 24, 2017

p38swansea said:
Thanks for all your advice.
After spending over £1000 on the head gasket job, I don't know whether or not I should risk a new(used) engine and hope it's good, or just sell it as is and make some money back.
But I still don't understand why the engine behaved for the first few days after the head gasket job? Any ideas on this?

Have you watched the video that was posted?

brianp38dse · May 24, 2017

Yep the video explains it quite well.

p38swansea · May 24, 2017

Apologies for my ignorance. I have now watched the video and understand my scenario.

jamesmartin · May 24, 2017

Mark Piercy said:
see if this works!

good vid but you can seal the top with top hat liner just as wet liners are gasket or loctite

p38swansea · May 24, 2017

jamesmartin said:
good vid but you can seal the top with top hat liner just as wet liners are gasket or loctite

Wait, are you saying I have a chance to fix this if I have top hat liners?

wammers · May 24, 2017

jamesmartin said:
good vid but you can seal the top with top hat liner just as wet liners are gasket or loctite

True i have refitted a lot of wet liners on diesels because of leaks, all you did was pull them, clean them up and change the upper a lower O'rings.

jamesmartin · May 24, 2017

p38swansea said:
Wait, are you saying I have a chance to fix this if I have top hat liners?

that is why they were used apart from the slipping bit ,wet liners are similar and o ring type seal at the bottom gasket(usually brass or steel shim)and or sealant under the t, liners have a 3-4 thou interference fit, which is enough to seal bottom of liner but not the top because of combustion temps

P38A Question about slipped liners

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