Checked my levels this morning before going out as I do every Saturday and on opening the expansion bottle it released pressure which smelled like exhaust/petrol fumes. I checked the coolant, thats not oily, and checked the oil which fortunately isnt creamy. I had noticed the car was using a little water over the past couple of months but couldnt find a reason for it. Now Im thinking its possible signs of gasket failure, and hoping its nothing more serious, again!!

Its stage 3, 23psi and Im not sure what gasket it currently runs, could be standard for all I know.

Just thought Id post and see if you lot think the same?

 

possible, may be a excuss for a freshen up and change gasket for piece of mind cost for a grp A gasket and bolts roughly £100 if u do it yourself

 

Use a ARP stud and nut kit if you do!!
How much water is it using in how many miles ?
tabetha

 

Id say maybe 1-2 pints of water a week, (ab)used daily.
Varies between 120-300 miles a week I guess. It often gets a hard time when Im out in it.

 

it does sound like a head gasket,mine went like that leaking out the back right hand side.

 

get yourself a block tester from burtons...

It checks for hydrocrabons in the coolant.

best way to check if the gasket had gone.

 

Have a look first as it could be obvious, leak from where is very common, especially on 2wd due to piss poor design of cooling system.
tabetha

 

If its the head gasket you would probably see more symptoms (like the ones you mention, mushy oil etc and hotter running temps) If you haven't seen these I'll wager its a leaky cooling system. Can you smell the coolant when popping the bonnet?

The standard header tanks leak like a sieve after they have perished through age with normal weak points being about half way up on the front and back (back is normally worse than the front for some reason!) Failing that check all the hoses for leaks.

Good luck (hope its something minor!)

 

Its got a stainless tank on it, the top of which gets coolant residue on it where its seeped out of the cap after its been getting a raping. Cant smell coolant when driving because of the potent petrol smell due to having to hammer ans screwdriver the fuel cap off a few month back when it seized on.

Will check for leaks tomorrow. Still thinkin its gasket starting to just seep combustion gases into the coolant under full boost.

Praying its just gasket failure!

I did notice tonight while driving it, if you sit at a constant 80 ish (on a private road of course ) the temp sits just under the R but if you wind it up and give it some shit it drops down to the bottom of the M. Its only running standard cooler and radiator too.

 

No visible leaks and no wet patches on the floor, gonna order a Gp A gasket tomorrow and hope to god that sorts it.

 

BigErn,hope you dont mind me asking a quick question,
my head gasket went last week,was using cometic but going to use group a this time.
i've got the arp stud kit at the mo but was going to use standard bolts as i have them allready.
why use the arp instead of standard?
is there a limited number of times you can use the arp bolts?
this will be the 3rd time i have used the arp ones.

Ary

 

You can reuse ARP so long as you oil the threads when you tighten them to a final 120lb ft.
A water leak IS what you get when the HEADGASKET GOES between the water way and the outside of the block but it IS still the HEADGASKET GONE!!
They suffer, especially 2wd from localised BOILING of the water here around no4 as it runs HOTTER and LEANER than 1,2,3!!
tabetha

 

Just put a block tester on it then you will know either way and just hope it is just the gasket !!

 

Not necessarily, as i've seen a couple where it only leaks under boost, and then it's difficult to pick up on the tester.

 

Unscrew the headr tank cap ,with a c o machine sniff the vapour to see if you have any hydro carbons, should have vitually zero



Dave

 

It depends on where it has gone for sniffer etc, as normal place by water way it will just psis out onto floor, so no leak into combustion chamber.
tabetha

 

usual place to leak

 

Thats correct but post did say the water system had excess pressure
and it smelt of feul ECT


Dave

 

Had the sniffer in the expansion tank today. HC was 0 but Lambda sat at 20 on idle and raised to 80 on gentle revving.

Pressurised the system at work and it lost around 4 psi over 30 mins but it was cooling down too so a pressure drop is to be expected. Would have checked it again when cooled but the cheap and nasty tester gave up the ghost after one of the other lads in the workshop used it.

Ordered a Gp A gasket and bolts from Woodford today so hopefull Ill see them tomorrow and I can make a start with it.

3DOOR ARY I used the ARP kit 3 times on my last Sapph which were already on after its previous build and they were used another twice on that car after I sold it, now Lawnsy runs them on his.

 

thanks for the info

Ary

 

Pulled the head off tonight and its looking like it was gasket failure.

The sealing ring has buckled out of shape and there is a small tear in the gasket between the ring and water jacket.
Gonna take the head to work tomorrow and give things a clean up and put my new lifters in and she should be sweet and back on the road again soon.




Im guessing this could be its problem.

 

at least its nothing too sinister mate unlike mine was

 

Im not gonna speak too soon.

All will be revealed when its built back up no doubt!

 

Built it back up tonight and it fired straight up, and I noticed its split second missfire had gone.

When I came home from work I got the "I forgot something" feeling, turns out I did. The oil cap! Will have to have the coolant flushed and bled off and an oil change tomorrow now.

 

Cool, glad it was nowt serious!!

 

I hadn't noticed this thread. Mine did exactly thre same thing and it was the gasket.

My engine had to come to bits anyway so no hardship really.

 

Still not out of the woods yet, Ill find out tomorrow when its all bled off and I take it out for some abuse!

 

Good luck!

Been tinkering myself tonight and need to test it tomorrow so i'll be on egg shells!

 

by you dont hang about son, good work
maybe it was the raping ernie tried to give it on saturday eh ha.

 

The raping it GOT you mean? Lol

Been running around with the Amal valve unplugged today cos Im scared to put it back on and give it boost and find its till the same and its a serious problem!

Ill be brave tomorrow and give it a good run. Nice and gently (Honest)!

 

Well I abused it "driving like I stole it" style earlier this evening and it never missed a beat, didnt pressure up or fook all.

Seemed a bit more responsive too and a fraction quicker.