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Head Gasket Going?
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
bu88er.
Any tips on how to do a decent DIY fix without breaking the bank?
Or the car?
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If there is a decent online guide that would be good!
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If there is a decent online guide that would be good!
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
Like i've said numerous times, you need to find out 100% if it genuinely has failed or not, and that can only be done with a pressure test.![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
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After that the head needs to come off, inspect the block for corrosion, if it is corroded then the engine needs a full strip down, block decking and rebuild to fix professionally.![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
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Some have stuck some chemical metal into the block pitting and sanded it flat to save them having to strip the engine, but it's a bodge and won't last.![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
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After that the head needs to come off, inspect the block for corrosion, if it is corroded then the engine needs a full strip down, block decking and rebuild to fix professionally.
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Some have stuck some chemical metal into the block pitting and sanded it flat to save them having to strip the engine, but it's a bodge and won't last.
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
Paul what about a sniff test, is that not conclusive?
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
I think I'll chuck it at a garage and get them to diagnose it properly rather than me messing about with it and potentially making it worse.
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I certainly can't smell any oil in the coolant but it has gone a nice shade of brown even though I replaced it with brand new mixture and flushed it out completely only about 300 miles ago.![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
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I certainly can't smell any oil in the coolant but it has gone a nice shade of brown even though I replaced it with brand new mixture and flushed it out completely only about 300 miles ago.
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
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scomr2 wrote:Paul what about a sniff test, is that not conclusive?
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No i've had a Mk1 pass a sniff test but fail my pressure test.
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My reasoning for this is that the hydrocarbons that the sniff test need to see aren't being pumped into the coolant until the engine is under load.
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I've tried all of the various tests on literally hundreds of Mr2s over the years and my pressure test is the only method that guarantees a HG diagnosis.
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
Giving any ideas to what your method is Paul? I know trade secrets and all that, but my engine is
behaving funnily at them moment so much so im tempted to sell it as spares/repairs to add to the s14 fund.
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Its slightly harder to start, drives fine but then after a drive and it comes to idle it drops to 3 cylinders and smokes its bag off.
Sounds similar to the OP's problem.![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
Alex
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Its slightly harder to start, drives fine but then after a drive and it comes to idle it drops to 3 cylinders and smokes its bag off.
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Alex
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platmatt8 wrote:Lauren has got bigger balls than most men on this site
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charged wrote:Mine's probably screaming'stop raping me'
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
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pk_090 wrote:Giving any ideas to what your method is Paul? I know trade secrets and all that, but my engine isbehaving funnily at them moment so much so im tempted to sell it as spares/repairs to add to the s14 fund.
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Its slightly harder to start, drives fine but then after a drive and it comes to idle it drops to 3 cylinders and smokes its bag off.Sounds similar to the OP's problem.
Alex
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It's no secret.
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To diagnose this Paul simply applies compressed air to each cylinder in turn
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
That's it in a nutshell, plus it's not really my method, more commonly known as a leakdown test, but I just combine it with a simple visual test for bubbles in the coolant and a very basic tool for applying pressure to a cylinder on TDC.![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
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Even if the bubble stream is a very fine mist, it totally proves HG failure, as before this extremely fine breach cannot be picked up by compression, chemical or sniff tests all of the time.![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
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Even if the bubble stream is a very fine mist, it totally proves HG failure, as before this extremely fine breach cannot be picked up by compression, chemical or sniff tests all of the time.
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
I did a sniff test on my Mk1 and it didn't show head gasket failure even though the HG had gone.
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The amount of steam your car is kicking out, plus the other symptoms you're experiencing look like HG failure.
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The amount of steam your car is kicking out, plus the other symptoms you're experiencing look like HG failure.
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
Indeed, it's far from conclusive.![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
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In order of test reliability/degree of HG failure.
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1.
Pressure test/visual bubble test
2.
Sniff test/hydrocarbons present at filler point
3.
Chemical tests
4.
Compression test
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The first one will detect even the finest breach, the last one requires the HG to have a full on failure that is enough to lower cylinder compressions
(mk1s rarely fail in this way)
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Just in my experience working on Mk1s for 17 years.![](./images/smilies/spacer.gif)
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In order of test reliability/degree of HG failure.
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1.
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2.
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3.
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4.
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The first one will detect even the finest breach, the last one requires the HG to have a full on failure that is enough to lower cylinder compressions
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Just in my experience working on Mk1s for 17 years.
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
Purely out of curiosity again, what kind of air pressure do you apply Paul?
Alex
Alex
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platmatt8 wrote:Lauren has got bigger balls than most men on this site
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charged wrote:Mine's probably screaming'stop raping me'
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
50psi, any more than that and it tries to turn the engine over, so keeping it out of gear and the handbrake on are musts!
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Not that i've ever run myself over doing this test with too much pressure you understand
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Not that i've ever run myself over doing this test with too much pressure you understand
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
That gave me a little giggle lol ![Applause :clap:](./images/smilies/eusa_clap.gif)
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platmatt8 wrote:Lauren has got bigger balls than most men on this site
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charged wrote:Mine's probably screaming'stop raping me'
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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I deserved that one
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Re: Head Gasket Going?
LOL i'm so sorry I couldn't help but laugh at that one!