head gasket

[spudd]

not sure but may have a head gasket issue.lost water couple of times not overheated,new rad and hoses.though on 2nd top up top hose quite firm after couple of mins tick over.
anyone done a head gasket on a 2.7 td (96). is it a pig of a job or straight forward. hints and tips welcome.

 

[cncfabs]

not sure but may have a head gasket issue.lost water couple of times not overheated,new rad and hoses.though on 2nd top up top hose quite firm after couple of mins tick over.
anyone done a head gasket on a 2.7 td (96). is it a pig of a job or straight forward. hints and tips welcome.

Never actually done one but had few heads off not to bad as no cam belt to worry about.Ive had a few terranos with pressurised cooling system so its not that uncommon.would get the head pressure tested before refitting in case the head is cracked.Ive got one here at moment if you take the rad cap off you get covered in water

 

[briggie]

solarman 216 ( rick ) has done quite a few head gaskets , hes probably your best bet for advice / tips :thumb2

 

[rustic]

Check your carpet in the foot well, both sides, as the heater matrix may have gone.

If this is the case, then changing the head gasket, will look like an easier job than taking the dashboard out.:augie:augie


TIP...
It is worth carrying a short length of copper pipe, and a couple of jubilee clips, so if you ever find that the matrix has gone, then you can by-pass the heater from under the bonnet, and you can still drive the car.

I did this on a company sierra... Boy was it cold in the car, it was this time of year too...:doh

Don't get stranded this winter.:thumb2

Best regards,

Rustic

 

[solarman216]

two good tests for head gasket failure, first one is garage job as they will have the kit, and this is to test the gas in the water system if it is combustion products then proof of gasket gone, the other does not cost anything and is easy to do but not 100% but close, for this you remove the rad cap and the top up tank cap, make sure there is plenty of water in the top up tank, then with a rag in a plastic bag place this over the rad cap hole and press hard and rev the engine while looking for bubbles in the top up tank, you will always get a few bubbles to start but if they continue for several minutes then chances are the gasket is leaking, if you do a gasket it could be worth having the head pressure tested tested, we have done probably close to a dozen here and only one was a bad head, straightforward job about 6 to 8 hours, Rick

 

[stinka]

Do you take the manifolds off before you remove the head or leave them on until head is on the bench ?

 

[solarman216]

best to remove them, it is a heavy lump and much easier to handle as just the head, another tip is insert two bolts with the heads cut off at opposite corners in order to locate the head positively when lowering it on to the gasket (make sure the bolt holes in the head are clean or dirt may be scraped out only to fall on the nice new gasket), Rick

 

[Kishada]

I found it easiest to remove the inlet so i didn't have to negotiate the fuel pipes, but leave the exhaust manifold with turbo and elbow on.
One of the exhuast manifold bolts under the turbo is nearly impossible to manipulate and added over an hour to the job the first time I did it.
It does weigh a serious amount when it's got all that stuff attached, but i'm only 6'2" and not even 12 stone!
When re-installing, i balanced the assembly on my nudge bar/upper radiator support, climbed in to the engine bay with right foot on air filter support plate, left foot on battery tray and hauled it on from there!

 

[stinka]

Good tips cheers guys

 

[spudd]

Thanks all for hints and tips.im leaning towards headgasket. will try ricks test for bubbles first.then if inconclusive will go for a sniff test.nice and cold out there now for spannerin head.

 

[Kishada]

Oh, I sniffered mine at my work using the MOT emissions rig and got zero hydrocarbons but had definite bubbling which disappeared after I did the headgasket...

Go figure!

 

[spudd]

Well thankfully not the headgasket.twas a knackered rad cap the rubber seal up inside the cap had slipped off.bought a new genuine rad cap and no used a drop since.done 500 odd miles since inc 220 with caravan on the back.

 

[Kamsin]

Well thankfully not the headgasket.twas a knackered rad cap the rubber seal up inside the cap had slipped off.bought a new genuine rad cap and no used a drop since.done 500 odd miles since inc 220 with caravan on the back.

:thumbs Brilliant

A wise old mechanic once told me "Always start with the cheapest stuff first and work your way up" Its good advice but it still don't stop me always thinking the worst when something goes wrong.

Glad you had an easy fix..