General Car Related Discussion. To discuss anything that is related to cars and automotive technology that doesnt naturally fit into another forum catagory.

cosworth gasket removed and found copper grease over the head

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 18-10-2010, 08:27 PM
  #1  
RSLUBBY
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (19)
 
RSLUBBY's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: sideways
Posts: 3,616
Received 11 Likes on 10 Posts
Default cosworth gasket removed and found copper grease over the head

Can anyone advise on this one.

I removed the head off my cosworth i just bought as oil started mixing with water i e i think the head gasket has gone. Removed the head over the weekend and found no obvious breaches over water or oil but the head and block all on the inlet side is covered in copper grease. Why would the head have copper grease do people use this to seal????

Help required

Cheers

Ian
Old 18-10-2010, 08:31 PM
  #2  
Danny @ Enhanced Performance
BANNED
BANNED
iTrader: (3)
 
Danny @ Enhanced Performance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Not to sure about the copper grease but if its mixing the oil and water its normally a cracked head or block and if none of the valves are cleaner than the others in any one cylinder then id go with it being the block...
What head bolts is it on???


cheers danny
Old 18-10-2010, 08:36 PM
  #3  
tabetha
20K+ Super Poster.
 
tabetha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: uk
Posts: 24,596
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Can only assume the copper was there as some kind of bodge, not that it would(or did) achieve anything other than stopping the gasket from sealing, assume it was a metal gasket ?, if so very unlikely to show any evidence of blow apart from maybe where the grease has been steam cleaned away, very unlikely to be a cracked head or block, unless prior to your getting the car it ad been seriously overheated ?
Maybe someone had an idea it would stop the gasket sticking and so be easier to remove.
tabetha
Old 18-10-2010, 08:42 PM
  #4  
Danny @ Enhanced Performance
BANNED
BANNED
iTrader: (3)
 
Danny @ Enhanced Performance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

If its got water in the oil and all the head bolts were tight and gasket looks good then id bet theres a cracked block or head!!


cheers danny
Old 18-10-2010, 08:50 PM
  #5  
RSLUBBY
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (19)
 
RSLUBBY's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: sideways
Posts: 3,616
Received 11 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Standard head bolts which were all tight although two in from bulk head were a little looser than first two and group a head gasket all valves same colour carbons in header tank and using water and in the oil. the head was covered in copper grease all on the inlet side and even over to the pistons although when i slid the head over it could have moved grease over seems alot not been overheating as i new the last owner. Why purpose would this serve to bodge it up???
Old 18-10-2010, 08:53 PM
  #6  
Danny @ Enhanced Performance
BANNED
BANNED
iTrader: (3)
 
Danny @ Enhanced Performance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by RSLUBBY
Standard head bolts which were all tight although two in from bulk head were a little looser than first two and group a head gasket all valves same colour carbons in header tank and using water and in the oil. the head was covered in copper grease all on the inlet side and even over to the pistons although when i slid the head over it could have moved grease over seems alot not been overheating as i new the last owner. Why purpose would this serve to bodge it up???
I only asked about head bolts incase some one got excited about that thread lube or something...does the h/g show any signs of failure???
Has the head been off lately???


cheers danny
Old 18-10-2010, 09:04 PM
  #7  
Toe Knee
PassionFord Post Whore!!
iTrader: (2)
 
Toe Knee's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sussex
Posts: 5,438
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

how well did u know the last owner?! and did they ever have anything done?! As said copper grease wouldnt really bodge anything as it were, as u can get proper headgasket sealant which would work loads better to try and bodge it!!

Had the oil gone milky at all or was it oil getting into the water?!

Check around the bolt holes in the block for any signs of cracking, i bought an engine off someone on here years ago which was supposed 2 be sound but never ran right, and ended up with water getting into the oil and a sump full of baileys lol, due to buying a house took me ages to get round to taking the head off and found cracks around 3 bolt holes!! After a bit of discussion it seemed as if they more than likely had left oil in the bolt holes when they fitted a ported head before i ended up getting it causing it to hydraulic cracking the block round the 3 bolt holes, obviously will never know for definate but hey ho!!
Old 18-10-2010, 09:11 PM
  #8  
RSLUBBY
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (19)
 
RSLUBBY's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: sideways
Posts: 3,616
Received 11 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Water in oil Baileys style Know the previous owner i bought it off and run fine for a good while he had no work done on the car but previous owner did have head re built and fresh group a on over a year ago i think. Will check the bolts holes> Was a bit dark when head came off
Old 19-10-2010, 02:35 PM
  #9  
Toe Knee
PassionFord Post Whore!!
iTrader: (2)
 
Toe Knee's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sussex
Posts: 5,438
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

If the gasket looks ok with. No damage and bolt hole areas on block are on the sounds like what Danny said crack somewhere else on block or head!! If it didn't ever overheat then wouldn't think the head has warped at all
Old 19-10-2010, 03:20 PM
  #10  
DAN400
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
iTrader: (3)
 
DAN400's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: n Ireland/isle of man
Posts: 1,487
Received 15 Likes on 14 Posts
Default

my engine started pressurising and messing about,looked to have oil in the water, but it never overheated and my temp gauge just sat as normal, took the head off to find a crack down the bore
Old 19-10-2010, 03:28 PM
  #11  
gibbo frst
Advanced PassionFord User
iTrader: (2)
 
gibbo frst's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: devon
Posts: 1,873
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

i brought some headgasket sealer fluid for a shitty old metro years ago which you poured in the water after a shake and was supposed to seal it for good.. it leaked out after id put it in and looked just like runny copper grease over the engine..
Old 19-10-2010, 03:52 PM
  #12  
chris m1
Too many posts.. I need a life!!
 
chris m1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: northants
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

second that ^^^^ had it on an S2 engine years ago .sounds to me like someones done a cheap sealent fix and its worn off
Old 19-10-2010, 05:29 PM
  #13  
RSLUBBY
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (19)
 
RSLUBBY's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: sideways
Posts: 3,616
Received 11 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Spoke to owner today and yes he put copper k sealer in it to keep it going a few weeks till repaired> also took the head to enginering shop and you can see blow mark into water way on number 3 and where gasket pushed out and copper seal all over to oil way so hope its just the gasket was getting worse. It was apparently using water for a good few week and only in the last few days water getting into oil.
Old 19-10-2010, 06:02 PM
  #14  
tabetha
20K+ Super Poster.
 
tabetha's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: uk
Posts: 24,596
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

It's blatantly obvious either the engine was put together by a twat who didn't have a clue, and didn't torque up correctly, or the head is warped, and the reason why some bolts are looser.
Only going by your description of copper, but bodge was the correct term it seems, head should have been skimmed whilst off, or at least checked.
Micro cracking from bolt holes can be perfectly normal, the bolt holes don't so much hydraulic lock but what happens is when oil isn't used on cleaned threads on the top of the stud, it grips on and turns the whole stud, whose bottom thread is much coarser so it moves downwards much more, so if being a bit fast on the torque wrench can pull the threads/crack.
Another reason for depth checking arp stud and nuts kits, but some do that already.
tabetha
Old 19-10-2010, 06:04 PM
  #15  
Glenn_
Glennvestite
iTrader: (1)
 
Glenn_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Darlington county durham
Posts: 62,764
Received 1,044 Likes on 998 Posts
Default

I hope you get it put back togther soon,i hope it will be ok too.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
3i Jim
Cars for Sale
4
20-11-2015 05:12 AM
Stu @ M Developments
General Car Related Discussion.
41
21-08-2015 06:47 AM
2wdsaph ben
General Car Related Discussion.
3
17-08-2015 03:17 PM
Focosmitch
Ford RS Cosworth Parts for Sale
2
14-08-2015 07:29 AM



Quick Reply: cosworth gasket removed and found copper grease over the head



All times are GMT. The time now is 10:49 AM.