Need some advice (Head Gasket)

  1. L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37
    #1
    Ok people

    Need advice on something that has been troubling me for a while now. Been having a problem where i fill the coolant up but if i drive for a while the turn the car off the coolant will fill up then spill out of the rad cap.

    Another thing is when the coolant stops pouring out and goes down to the min mark i can open the rad bleed valve and the water will rise??

    Bled system and it still happened so only thing i could think of was head gasket so i stripped engine down to have a look. Turned out gasket looked shot but noticed small grooves in the surface of the bottom end where the gasket has crimped. Iv tried to clean it up. Ill try post some pics.

    Question is could this be causing the problem iv been having.

    http://s699.photobucket.com/user/moo...677-1.jpg.html
    http://s699.photobucket.com/user/moo...10677.jpg.html
    http://s699.photobucket.com/user/moo...photo.jpg.html
    http://s699.photobucket.com/user/moo...tml?sort=3&o=0

    thanks in advance....
  2. Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2013 Ramsgate Posts: 111
    #2
    When my 306 had similar symptoms it was a cracked head. Possibly that?


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  3. L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37
    #3
    Got head off and cant see any cracks and just been skimmed so don't think its that....

    This is the first time iv had to straddle an engine head in me kitchen lol to dark out side.
  4. Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2013 Ramsgate Posts: 111
    #4
    Only way to tell is get it all back together and see what happens. Cracks in the head aren't always visible bud lol.

    Can't tell about the bits you've shown in the picture though.


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  5. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Apr 2013 Jarrow Posts: 4022 2003 Icelandic Grey 16v VTR 1991 Daihatsu GTti
    #5
    When you were bleeding the system did you use a header tank on the expansion bottle? Bit obvious but I've got to ask.
  6. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2003 Scotland Posts: 3380
    #6
    firstly the gasket is notthe current spec --should be MLS ,has been since 1999 from factory
    get head skimmed to get rid of marks
    could it be your rad is not holding pressure --sounds like it--replace cap
  7. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182
    #7
    sounds like it wasnt bled properly to be honest.
    Now the head is off, get it refaced and refit with a new gasket and go from there.
    odd what has happened around the water ways mind you, looks like its gone a bit soft? Dont think it should make too much difference though
  8. L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37
    #8
    I thought it might be the rad cap to so I just replaced the whole rad tbh and it still happened.

    Head has been skimmed but still want to try get rid of all the marks on the bottom end surface, will check head for cracks just to make sure. Just to check should I have a look at the pump, looks pretty new but the state the water was in might be fooked.

    To add I didn't use header tank but could an airlock really cause that amount of pressure in the rad, like I said if you open the rad bleed valve water fills the expansion tank back up????

    Pissin me off now lol
  9. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Apr 2013 Jarrow Posts: 4022 2003 Icelandic Grey 16v VTR 1991 Daihatsu GTti
    #9
    Any air will gather and when air gets hot it rapidly expands. I think it could cause it given the right heat.
  10. L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37
    #10
    Could explain why it only really happens when the VTS gets up to operating temp, cleaned up block surface and piston tops today. Will order head gasket tomorrow with new bolts and see how i go. Probz rebuild Thursday..... Fingers crossed she will stop pissing coolant all over ma drive.

    Will have to order header tank as well just to be sure

    Thanks for help people will update as soon as shes up ad running..
  11. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182
    #11
    just use a pop bottle instead
  12. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Apr 2013 Jarrow Posts: 4022 2003 Icelandic Grey 16v VTR 1991 Daihatsu GTti
    #12
    Pop bottle for the win.
  13. L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37
    #13
    LOL does that actually work Fook it worth a try at least if I saves me few quid....
  14. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182
    #14
    Yes it works
  15. L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37
    #15
    What you make of this, forgot to post......





    Looks like water is getting between ports not normal surely...
  16. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182
    #16
    How deep are the indents in it?
  17. L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37
    #17
    No indents just stains, there was indents in the block but I managed to get most of them out. the marks on the head are just like water mark.
  18. Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 579
    #18
    How did you get the indents out of the block face??
  19. L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37
    #19
    Flat block of wood and some wet n dry lol Had I checked and its still nice n flat but wont find out if its done the job until I bolt it back together. Not getting hope up tho
  20. Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Posts: 579
    #20
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Moorzy1990 View Post
    Flat block of wood and some wet n dry lol Had I checked and its still nice n flat but wont find out if its done the job until I bolt it back together. Not getting hope up tho
    No I wouldn't get my hopes up that it is smooth either!!
  21. L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37
    #21
    Ok all back together and runs fine lol for now......

    Bin for a drive and hasn't leaked yet so might be in the clear, give it a few days and we'll see what the crack is. Thanks for all the help people and turns out pop bottle is ftw

    Fingers crossed
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  22. Newbie Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 5
    #22
    You put a head back on looking like that if it was skimmed properly then those marks would not be there if you have tried to cut corners by doing yourself then it is not skimmed and if its been bubbling then the heads likely to be warped.

    Secondly why has no one mentioned checking the thermostat first and foremost thing if a problem is happening once up to temp then there's a high chance of it sticking and not opening and that then causing the boil over and excess pressure.
  23. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182
    #23
    did you check the head with a flat edge and feeler gauges?
    If its on a torqued down with no issues so far you should be alright
  24. L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37
    #24
    Its already had a new water pump, thermostat and rad.....

    If it goes again probs just get rid of it or get donor engine, well see how it goes.
  25. Newbie Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 5
    #25
    I had same problem with mine when I bought it but that's coz it was noshed and because of that had an oil leak too but I had it skimmed new gasket bolt and done oil seals while there and never had a prob since its not worth cutting corners over the price of a skim as if you have to do the job again its gonna cost your more than a skim
  26. L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37
    #26
    The pictures of the head I posted were before I got it skimmed those marks were gone after it had been done. I was just wondering what caused them?

    Like I said no problems yet but just gonna keep my eye on it, as long as it doesn't over heat I should be ok.....