New Problems Smoke Water All Sorts.

[Longun 1]

Right where to start.

 

 

Valve steam seals are gone. Confirmed this the other day. However I do have one question which is would that cause a miss fire? It only miss fires when its smoking.

 

Now on to me new problem the car is drinking water. Like 2 - 3L in about 150 miles. I've just re filled it and noticed that when releasing the bleeds I get frothy (sp) waterout before the main coolent? There are no leaks on the car. The other thing I've noticed is I can hear hissing from the header tank cap? Don't think this is normal but can anyone confirm. I think I might have a gasket on the way out too. Heaters are getting cold again. I replaced thermostat the other week which didn't make it hot hot but did make it loads warmer.

 

I was going to get a new head and cam but to be honest the way its going now I'm thinking of getting another engine or doing an Mi conversion.

 

Do others think this sounds terminal?

 

Cheers

[hman205 1]

sounds like a head gasket matey get a compression tester on it may have only een weapng befour and now sounds to have gone!

[Longun 1]

I got it done last week and it was 150 145 155 150. I'll get another done on the weekend.

 

These things won't stop running tho. Its still going altho I'm sure its not really helping in the long run. Should I get a leak test done?

 

I'll update on the weekend with results. Any other pointers welcome

[maturin23 10]

Right - so your symptoms are...

 

- excessively pressured coolant,

- coolant loss

- air locks developing in heater/cooling system

- running rough.

 

If it's not a head gasket or cracked head I'd be very very suprised.

 

If you're doing the stem seals with the head off you'd be replacing the gasket anyway. Get the head lightly skimmed and you should be fine. I wouldn't keep running it without sorting as you may warp the head or hydrolock a cylinder.

Edited January 26, 2006 by maturin23

[hman205 1]

warm the engine 5 min idle should be suffisant and then do the Compression test remember to hold the throttle down when doing the test and also disconnect the Injectors to get a true result

 

Smell the Water in the header tank does it have a smell to it? Rotten eggs??

 

check the oil does it look clean and not to thin give it a Quick sniff to check its not been watered down with loads of fuel

[Longun 1]

Cheers both. Need to get the car home tonight then its staying off the road. I didn't disconnect the injectors when I did the last test I didn't know it could affect the results so I'll do another. I was holding the throttle down.

 

Cheers for the other checks I'll take a look tomorrow see if there are any other signs.

 

Thanks both

 

Now how do I get rid of the Mi whisper I keep hearing in my head.

[jshep205gti 3]

Longun - where in Glos can do a compression check? I've found a couple of places, but they just seem really dodgey.

 

Maturin - how do you know that a head will need a skim without seeing? I took my head to Jacob Engineering (they rebuild classic cars and the like - seriously experienced), he looked at it and simply said "that doesn't need skimming".... I asked him to put it on his machine and he was right. Apparently far far too many people skim the head when it isn't needed - theres more to lose than to gain basically.

 

 

Shep

[rich_w 0]

It might be worth buying your own compression tester - there not really that expensive.

 

Where abouts in Gloucestershire are you?

[Guest sibbers]

My head gasket went, it was drinking coolant but the coolant didn't smell like exhaust the only thing that happened was the heater wasn't working, until one day I did a rad flush and I think it killed it off finally - 20 miles later I was driving along and saw a james bond style smokescreen appear behind me.

 

Thing is the car drives amazingly and still would if I were to go and start it up again. Bizarre.

 

Any other car I've had has always shown definate signs other than just drinking coolant - I didn't even see bubbles except when I refilled the rad after the flush but I thought that was just air pockets in the system.

 

I would say its worth getting it checked as it'll save you the price of a cab journey home from teh middle of nowhere (or worse, a warped head if it happens on the m'way)

[d-9 0]

jshep205gti - Im near Newent and have a compression tester if you want to test yours sometime.

 

Longun - Unlucky. defo sounds like the HG

[Guest sibbers]

Just out of interest, where i the fuel pump fuse? I'm guessing a compression test is done by removing the FP fuse and then cranking the starter motor for a few seconds with the throttle pedal fully depressed, right?

 

Or can you unplug the injectors instead of removing the FP fuse?

[Richie-Van-GTi 71 2 Cars]

for proper compression test the engine needs to be running not just turning over so its best to unplug the injectors one by one.

[Longun 1]

Thanks for the replys all. Its the HG Used the car once to go get it checked and it still drives fine. Temps all normal etc. Its been like this for at least a month and I don't drive it soft so fair play to the lump for taking the punishment Shame everything else just falls off

 

So trying to source a engine either a 1.6 or an Mi still not quite decided I'm investigating a few possible engines at the mo. Was going to get Skip Brown to do it and upgrade at the same time but I need to get the car on the road quite quick and unfortunatley they are busy till mid feb.

[d-9 0]

I'll take your old engine iff your hands if the bottom end is in ok condition.

[rich_w 0]

Thanks for the replys all. Its the HG Used the car once to go get it checked and it still drives fine. Temps all normal etc. Its been like this for at least a month and I don't drive it soft so fair play to the lump for taking the punishment Shame everything else just falls off

 

So trying to source a engine either a 1.6 or an Mi still not quite decided I'm investigating a few possible engines at the mo. Was going to get Skip Brown to do it and upgrade at the same time but I need to get the car on the road quite quick and unfortunatley they are busy till mid feb.

 

Unlucky Joe, If you need a hand let me know

[Longun 1]

Rich Cheers I'll let you know if I do

 

D-9 Depending on which route I go I'll give you a call. If I get an MI its all yours if I put another 1.6 in then I'll be rebuilding my current one as it will teach me loads.