Bump

Well-Known Member

Events Planner

• Aug 20, 2012

• #21

KiwiTDI said:

You won't want to hear this but a cracked head can cause pressurization and resultant water loss?

Click to expand...

You're right... i don't

Any obvious way to check (other than looking for a physical crack or water escaping from anywhere on the head)

Guess I'm back to the Spitfire again for a week or two then

 

D

Don1

Active Member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #22

Just take it to any decent local garage and ask them to do a sniff test. This is a device with a chemical that changes colour if it detects any combustion gases in the coolant and is usually cheap to have done. My friendly local usually does not charge for the test.
I'd bet the head has warped with the overheat so if you have to do the head gasket have the head checked/skimmed.

Good Luck.

 

Bump

Well-Known Member

Events Planner

• Aug 20, 2012

• #23

Got a plan in place to swap the engine at the weekend now, decided its the quicker, easier and cheaper option, I'll get a sniff test done on Wednesday if i can find a suitable garage, but, new engine is probably the best route forward.

 

KiwiTDI

Active Member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #24

A cracked head leaking between cylinder and water gallery can show as bubbles in the header tank when the cap is off, or a constant leaking sound of air from the filler cap but it won't always show up that way.

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #25

could just be as simple as head gasket

 

Mark L

Well-Known Member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #26

The replacement engine he's getting is cheaper than getting someone to change the head gasket for him.

 

KiwiTDI

Active Member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #27

Totally agree James and surely it's worth taking the head for a look see before swapping the motor?

Sniff test might not work with a diesel.

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Aug 20, 2012

• #28

easy enough to do 300 head gasket your self at the cost of a tenner for head gasket

 

Bump

Well-Known Member

Events Planner

• Aug 20, 2012

• #29

How do you acuraetly test if it is warped though?

 

KiwiTDI

Active Member

• Aug 21, 2012

• #30

Hi bump, to accurately test a heads flatness needs expensive equipment eg mill and dial gauge or surface plate etc

A straight edge and feeler gauges can be used to check it less accurately, also maybe just see how flat it fits on the block.

But I'd suggest you look at the gasket first and go from there, depending on how it failed you might decide to just replace it, and only if it fails again get it checked out by an engineering firm.

 

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

• Aug 21, 2012

• #31

straight edge is enough 2 thou is easy enough to spot

 

alex8882

Well-Known Member

• Aug 22, 2012

• #32

I'll agree with jm there. I used a straight edge to check my old cylinder head which was bent like a bannana. Check the head i have now aswell. As jm said its more than enough to insure that you you have a warp or not