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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:	Cars in the UK
Notice:	Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:	COMICS::SHELLEYELD

Created:	Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2584
Total number of notes:	63384

1370.0. "Head Gasket Trouble???" by MACNAS::BMULQUEEN () Tue Feb 26 1991 11:00

    Moderator, please move if an appropriate topic already exists.
    
    Anyway, to the point. I was driving my '65 Austin A40 farina last
    Sunday. The engine was running beautifully all day over a 60 mile
    stretch when all of a sudden.....Whoosh bang!!!!!! I opened the bonnet
    and saw steam rising from under the rocker cover. I'd only topped up
    the radiator the previous day and everything seemed in order.
    
    The oil seemed to be free of moisture and the engine started again
    after a couple of hours. The pressure blew one of the frost plugs.
    
    Have I got a blown head gasket on my hands or will a new frost plug get
    me on the road for a short while?
    
    Billy

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1370.1	Not enough A/Freeze ?	KERNEL::SHELLEYR		`Tue Feb 26 1991 11:12`	6
	I've had a couple of cars with a blown head gasket problem. A sure sign is if you get clouds of white vapour out of the exhaust and a lack of heat in the car. Also white "froth" on the dip stick. - Roy
1370.2	Maybe not so bad.....	HOO78C::DUINHOVEN	GOT ANOTHER JOB TOO	`Tue Feb 26 1991 12:56`	5
	Years ago I had a similar problem, whith my MK 1 Cortina. This was caused by a rusty frost seal in the engine creating a leak. They can be replaced.... Hans
1370.3		CRATE::RUTTER	Rut The Nut	`Tue Feb 26 1991 14:24`	6
	� This was caused by a rusty frost seal in the engine creating a leak. ^^^^^^^^^^ 'Scuse me, what's a 'frost seal' ? J.R.
1370.4	See note 1362	HOO78C::DUINHOVEN	GOT ANOTHER JOB TOO	`Tue Feb 26 1991 15:27`	3
	Re .-1: Please read stories in note 1362 Morris Minor. Hans
1370.5		SHIPS::ALFORD_J	Ice a speciality	`Tue Feb 26 1991 15:55`	6
	It's not advisable to run an engine with a blown headgasket... Oil in your water is annoying... Water in your oil can be fatal - to your engine !
1370.6	Think this is right	LARVAE::HUTCHINGS_P	Nice Computers Don't Go Down	`Tue Feb 26 1991 17:07`	12
	re: .3 A core plug A round (aluminium???) piece of metal pushed into a hole in the block/head designed to "blow" in the event of the waterways in the block freezing up..in theory should stop the block/head cracking..... unless the panel proves me wrong Paul
1370.7	I hadn't heard the other term before	CRATE::RUTTER	Rut The Nut	`Tue Feb 26 1991 17:16`	7
	Re. What's a frost seal ? � A core plug Ah, now I know what you mean. J.R.
1370.8	CORE PLUGS	HUGS::AND_KISSES	Nashua girls are more fun...	`Tue Feb 26 1991 17:44`	4
	I thought the main reason for having core plugs was to fill in the holes left by the casting/machining process? Any benefit they give in preventing frost damage is secondary...
1370.9	:-)	VOGON::MITCHELLE	Beware of the green meanie	`Wed Feb 27 1991 10:03`	6
	>>Any benefit they give in preventing frost damage is secondary... ...and should not be relyed upon. Antifreeze is available for preventing the water system from solidifying....
1370.11		CRATE::RUTTER	Rut The Nut	`Wed Feb 27 1991 11:22`	15
	Re .9 and .9 I had never considered that these items were ever intended to 'help' in the case of frozen waterways. That is why I did not recognise the term 'frost seal'. It just so happens that if the coolant freezes and expands enough, then these core plugs tend to be pushed out. So, instead of running with liquid cooling, the engine becomes [inefficiently] air-cooled. Is this why I saw so may cars stuck on the hard shoulder in the recent spell of very heavy frosts ? If not, how else does the cold affect engines (that have already started, reaching the motorway before breaking down) ? J.R.
1370.12	one suggestion	VOGON::MITCHELLE	Beware of the green meanie	`Wed Feb 27 1991 12:47`	3
	If the 'peripherals' are frozen, then the engine may start, but as the water 'melts', it may leak out of split hoses.....
1370.13	Ice - Ice	HOO78C::DUINHOVEN	GOT ANOTHER JOB TOO	`Wed Feb 27 1991 14:34`	13
	Other reasons why cars stop during a cold period: Driving too fast: fast driven cars may suffer of the "chill factor" effect especially on the radiator part. If you drive a car, when frost is -15 C, Chill factor may result into a frozen radiator. Ice particals in the fuel system. Frozen carbs. Don't know, what may happen with injection cars. My BX TGI had no trouble in the recent frost of -17 C, but starting took a bit longer. Frozen air vent of the fuel tank, may result into an imploded tank. Hans
1370.14	As I was Saying.........	MACNAS::BMULQUEEN		`Mon Mar 04 1991 10:24`	11
	'scuse folks, but what happened to my base note. 1370.0 seems to have vanished and the rest of the replies have strayed from my original query. My core plug popped out while the engine was HOT not cold which confused me. Also the steam rising from under the rocker cover looked fairly ominous. Now can anyone tell me the cause???????? Billy
1370.15	Teach you to ask us to do something :-)	UKCSSE::RDAVIES	I can't tryp for nots	`Mon Mar 04 1991 12:55`	4
	You asked a mod to move it! (wasn't me) anyway, it's all back in sequence now..... Richard
1370.16		LAOIS::DOODY		`Mon Apr 15 1991 18:09`	10
	BILLY, I only saw your note today... Sounds like a stuck thermostat to me!!!!!! Cheers, Brian.
1370.17	V6 head gasket trouble	EEMELI::JMANNINEN		`Tue Apr 23 1991 14:34`	9
	Hello, folks! I know I have trouble with a head gasket, yes. Only problem is that the engine is a V6. Has anybody any idea how to find out which head has the leaking gasket?? It would be nice to open the right one. I know that if open one, the problem is with just the other one; mr. Murphy is always there... - Jyri -
1370.18		CHEFS::CLEMENTSD	So much to do...so little time	`Tue Apr 23 1991 14:36`	1
	How about testing the compression for each pot?
1370.19		NCEIS1::CHEVAUX	Patrick Chevaux, Nice, 828-6995	`Wed Apr 24 1991 17:17`	3
	.17� -< V6 head gasket trouble >- Change both !
1370.20	Heads dead.	REPAIR::ATKINS		`Fri Jun 05 1992 15:57`	8
	My head gasket is on the way out on my Astra.Will I notice any performance difference,until I get it done?(next thursday) Just a minor quiery! Andy.....Mines a V nothing.
1370.21		KERNEL::SHELLEYR	I only _work_ in outer space	`Mon Jun 08 1992 13:11`	8
	On the occasions when the head gasket has gone on my previous cars (Renaults), there were clouds of steam from the exhaust and the the engine temperature went up. If the engine overheats the head will warp which leads to a costly repair. Roy
1370.22	Dinnertime!	REPAIR::ATKINS		`Tue Jun 09 1992 08:51`	8
	The cost of the repair will be shouldered by A.C.Barnes as the car is under warranty. Good eh! Andy....
1370.23		PLAYER::BROWNL	It won't rain for long...	`Tue Jun 09 1992 13:11`	5
	RE: -1 Not if you are proven to have been negligent... Laurie.
1370.24	Swindle??	REPAIR::ATKINS		`Wed Jun 10 1992 12:27`	8
	Me negligent! Never!!!!!! Andy...6500 rmp,per change.
1370.25		PLAYER::BROWNL	It won't rain for long...	`Wed Jun 10 1992 12:54`	6
	RE: -1 You would be if you continued to drive the car when you knew the head gasket was U/S! Laurie.
1370.26	MMMmmmmmmmmm!!!!	REPAIR::ATKINS		`Wed Jun 10 1992 14:14`	12
	RE-1 Would that apply if the garage know about the problem,and i'm booked in at the nearest available time i.e next thursday.? Just curious! Andy...The head gasket hasn't gone yet but there is a small amount of fresh oil around the head.