Thread: Head gasket woes

Originally Posted by Tiger

Why can't mechanics tell me definitively whether the head gasket is gone? After 2 hours of testing, I thought they would know .

Take your car to a new car dealer and offer to trade your old car on a new one, they will get a mechanic to check your car over before giving you a trade over figure and they usually find every fault there is on your trade in.and tell you whats wrong with it. That's what I've found when I go to trade in my "good" used car for a new one and I never realised before I went to trade it in, just what a piece of c#*p I was driving around in.

Originally Posted by Tiger

Thanks Malb for that analysis but just to throw a spanner in the works, I've taken the car to a mechanic who says that he found 2 shorted ignition leads, he has put a couple of second hand ones and now the car runs as it used to, without a noticeable loss of power. He has run some testing and says that there could be some head gasket problem still but it is minor so now I'm very confused. I asked about rings damage and he says he doubts that because there's no smell oil or blue smoke coming out of the exhaust.

How do 2 ignition leads short out at the same time? Why can't mechanics tell me definitively whether the head gasket is gone? After 2 hours of testing, I thought they would know .

Tiger take the radiator cap off - not the plasrtic overflow bottle the actual radiator cap - fill right to the brim with water - you need the engine warm for this - then with the motor running with a few revs - about 1000 to 1500 even 2000 - (constant) just watch for bubbles coming up through the water - keep topping the radiator up and after about 2 or 3 minutes if there are still bubbles then those bubbles are probably compression from the cylinder - a leaking head gasket or cracked head.

The bubbles usually come then pause then come again then pause - more sporadic than continuous.

The motor needs to be hot to make sure the thermostat is open and sometimes it takes a while to get all the air out of the system to start with - so be patient and just keep watching.

If there are bubbles i would try the chemiweld or bars leaks - cheap and if it works great if not it was worth a try -

Good luck - just remember to check your radiator regularly and you may not need to do any-more.

Cheers

David

Dave, will try what you've suggested but after another couple of hundred dollars, this is what the mechanic has said. "Pressure tested the cooling system for approx 2 hours, then removed the spark plugs and found no water in the cylinders. Performed head check on the vehicle with TK tester and found the chemical to change colour indicating that there could be a faulty head gasket but not certain, treated with sealer and car running ok".

Would be interested in hearing from mechanically-minded people on what they make of this.

Originally Posted by Tiger

Dave, will try what you've suggested but after another couple of hundred dollars, this is what the mechanic has said. "Pressure tested the cooling system for approx 2 hours, then removed the spark plugs and found no water in the cylinders. This would be about 15 to 20 PSI, it would be bad if this put water in the cylinder. Performed head check on the vehicle with TK tester and found the chemical to change colour indicating that there could be a faulty head gasket this is the test referred to higher up - if you do what i said you would get bubbles - he has used something that changes colour when the gas bubbles rise. but not certain, treated with sealer and car running ok". sealer would be barsleak or chemiweld or similar

Would be interested in hearing from mechanically-minded people on what they make of this.

There you go if you check for bubbles you are doing the same test he did and you would get an idea if the sealer worked.

Check the water often and keep driving - there is probably little to worry about. Learn to keep an eye on the temperature guage - BTW when the car runs out of water the temp guage wont work as it needs water around/touching the sensor to raise the reading on the gauge.

Cheers

David

Thanks, Dave. The car has done a few short trips and I haven't noticed any problems yet. Appears to be no loss of water/coolant.

The sealer that you referred to, does it need to be re-applied at a later date?

Originally Posted by Tiger

Thanks, Dave. The car has done a few short trips and I haven't noticed any problems yet. Appears to be no loss of water/coolant.

The sealer that you referred to, does it need to be re-applied at a later date?

i wouldn't think so.

If you drive it to 's bbq i will have a look at it there.

Cheers

good luck

Thanks, Dave, I intend to come down to Tooradin but probably not in that car because if I need it towed it will cost a fortune from there to the mechanics. At the moment it is doing short trips only and I'm watching for any coolant loss.