jevansio Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Sat here with the car in the garage with a suspected blown hg, the thoughts of a cracked head are starting to knaw away at me. My basic symptoms are: 1. White gunge in oil cap & cam breathers 2. Varying water temp (80 to 90 deg) 3. Horrible start-up kicking out loads of white smoke Now either a head gasket or cracked head could account for these, but I have 1 more symptom that I can't see how a head gasket could cause, I kept finding coolant around the spark plugs. Every time I checked the coilpacks I would dry it up (a couple of drops around each one). When looking into the sparkplug cavity there appears to be some holes, are these drain holes? These are the only way I can see how coolant can keep appearing here (or is it?). Could a blown head gasket account for the coolant here? Any advice (reassurance ) welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suprafan72 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Sat here with the car in the garage with a suspected blown hg, the thoughts of a cracked head are starting to knaw away at me. My basic symptoms are: 1. White gunge in oil cap & cam breathers 2. Varying water temp (80 to 90 deg) 3. Horrible start-up kicking out loads of white smoke Now either a head gasket or cracked head could account for these, but I have 1 more symptom that I can't see how a head gasket could cause, I kept finding coolant around the spark plugs. Every time I checked the coilpacks I would dry it up (a couple of drops around each one). When looking into the sparkplug cavity there appears to be some holes, are these drain holes? These are the only way I can see how coolant can keep appearing here (or is it?). Could a blown head gasket account for the coolant here? Any advice (reassurance ) welcome. Can you see coolant leakage where the head is joined to the block, feel for dampness etc?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 Can you see coolant leakage where the head is joined to the block, feel for dampness etc?? Can't actually do anything now Andy as the car is away, but I do recall looking at that exact area when I last saw the car & it looked like it was damp, I ran my finger along to see if I could feel the dampness, but was unsure if it was damp or not. I left it at that as at the time the possibility of a head gasket/cracked head was not on the cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 How much of a nightmare have you had with this engine rebuild. I havnt gone for any silly power like you mate when I did my engine rebuild but ive had no leaks at all and no running problems. Good luck Jay, i hope you get it sorted soon mate. If you want a second opinion I dont mind you poping up and Ill have a look for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 How much of a nightmare have you had with this engine rebuild. I havnt gone for any silly power like you mate when I did my engine rebuild but ive had no leaks at all and no running problems. Good luck Jay, i hope you get it sorted soon mate. If you want a second opinion I dont mind you poping up and Ill have a look for you. Just when I thought I was past the silly little niggles & leaks I get hit with the turbo, now this, it takes some determination seeing it through. Cheers bud, it's down at MS at the minute getting the head off so should know soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean1933 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Probably be the headgasket mate, depends where its gone but if your head had cracked it would more than likely be worse. I would stop worrying until its off and checked over. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 Probably be the headgasket mate, depends where its gone but if your head had cracked it would more than likely be worse. I would stop worrying until its off and checked over. Good luck Cheers Sean, I guess that is the best advice, will sit back & see what happens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Mines been throwing a fair bit of white smoke out too on startup, and my coolant has been pressurising and buggering off in to the expansion tank, its been like this for a fair few months now. I put it down to the cold weather and an air lock in the cooling system, as my heaters dont work too well. Ive not had many problems with my temps though. Maybe i should get mine pressure tested too, as we both had our rebuilds at the same time etc. Im going to be seriously annoyed if it is hg problems as ive only done 4k miles, and all motorway driving back and to, to work, no wot. Sorry to hear this Jay, you've not had much luck with your single build hope you get yours sorted soon mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 i know you seem to have other issues but "White gunge in oil cap & cam breathers" is totally normal every car will have it this time of year, the only way it will go is if you take the car for a long cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 Mines been throwing a fair bit of white smoke out too on startup, and my coolant has been pressurising and buggering off in to the expansion tank, its been like this for a fair few months now. I put it down to the cold weather and an air lock in the cooling system, as my heaters dont work too well. Ive not had many problems with my temps though. Maybe i should get mine pressure tested too, as we both had our rebuilds at the same time etc. Im going to be seriously annoyed if it is hg problems as ive only done 4k miles, and all motorway driving back and to, to work, no wot. Sorry to hear this Jay, you've not had much luck with your single build hope you get yours sorted soon mate Get one of those sniffer tests on the coolant Marty, will tell you if any hydro carbons are present indicating a blown HG. My MR2 used to blow coolant out when it's HG was just about to go. Cheers bud, I'll get there in the end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 i know you seem to have other issues but "White gunge in oil cap & cam breathers" is totally normal every car will have it this time of year, the only way it will go is if you take the car for a long cruise Long cruises is one thing I aint been doing of late Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan.G Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Mines been throwing a fair bit of white smoke out too on startup, and my coolant has been pressurising and buggering off in to the expansion tank, its been like this for a fair few months now. I put it down to the cold weather and an air lock in the cooling system, as my heaters dont work too well. Ive not had many problems with my temps though. Maybe i should get mine pressure tested too, as we both had our rebuilds at the same time etc. Im going to be seriously annoyed if it is hg problems as ive only done 4k miles, and all motorway driving back and to, to work, no wot. Sorry to hear this Jay, you've not had much luck with your single build hope you get yours sorted soon mate Was your car mapped by Dan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 2, 2008 Author Share Posted January 2, 2008 Was your car mapped by Dan? It was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan.G Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 i know you seem to have other issues but "White gunge in oil cap & cam breathers" is totally normal every car will have it this time of year, the only way it will go is if you take the car for a long cruise I over looked this problem myself while up in darlington mapping for Michelle Lane and Motorscope. A small amount of contamination on the oil cap is normal this time of year but the inside of the cam cover was covered and when i put the emission tester over the coolant the emission shot up. Also when the car starts when hot (water pressure is higher then so has more chance of passing the gasket) it is definatly burning water as it only fires on about 3 cylinders for 4 seconds until it is burnt off. Ryan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean1933 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 What model emissions tester do you use Ryan, out of interest... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan.G Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Not sure on the make matey as it was motorscope's tester but had free air calibration etc Ryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean1933 Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Not sure on the make matey as it was motorscope's tester but had free air calibration etc Ryan Ok cheers. I just wondered if you had a small mobile/handheld unit as all the ones i have seen are big bulky workshop ones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 4, 2008 Author Share Posted January 4, 2008 MS have the engine apart, the verdict: The head is not cracked :D, it was however warped. Not sure how that has happened (it's never overheated). Water temps did rise over 100 on one hot day when I had my underdrive pulleys on, but that's it. Anyway pistons show no signs of det, head is fine, all is being re-assembled & should be back on the road soon. After a bit of a depressing spell, feel really good now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel lane Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Hi Martin , if it gets worst get it back to me and ill make sure it gets sorted , i have spoke to ian and he will change it for you. I remember you had a 2mm greddy gasket installed on your car. i cant see it being a gasket problem . Try changing the rad cap for a 1.1bar unit and bleeding the cooling system down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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