Oh No! Not the moving temperature gauge!

[lauriescott]

Well guys, after 11 months and 24 days, it has happened! The dreaded head crack! If I can get my head (sic!) round the technicalities, I'll try to attach a pic of the head, showing the underside and the dreadful pitting around the valves and seatings. My mechanic reckons this has been going on for some time, probably caused by the head cracking between the cylinders some time ago and water infiltrating and reacting with the metal.

Anyway, since it has been done, new head, gaskets, thermostat, rad cap etc etc, I now have abslolutely NO BLACK SMOKE. I don't want to worry anyone, but if you still have black smoke, get your head checked before it lets you down miles from home!

[SparX]

Is that the water temperature that moves ?
is that the first clue your head is cracked ?

My temp gauge on my Oil moves a little , it setles on the first line on the gauge , but then when I accelerate , it moves towards the half way mark , then settles down again .

Should I be worried ?

I get a plume of White smoke when starting from cold , then a little black puff , but then its clear once the engine is warm.

Heres hoping its ok

SparX

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94' SSR-X

[Guest]

Well guys, after 11 months and 24 days, it has happened! The dreaded head crack! If I can get my head (sic!) round the technicalities, I'll try to attach a pic of the head, showing the underside and the dreadful pitting around the valves and seatings. My mechanic reckons this has been going on for some time, probably caused by the head cracking between the cylinders some time ago and water infiltrating and reacting with the metal.

Anyway, since it has been done, new head, gaskets, thermostat, rad cap etc etc, I now have abslolutely NO BLACK SMOKE. I don't want to worry anyone, but if you still have black smoke, get your head checked before it lets you down miles from home!

Laurie.

Did your mechanic by any chance replace the injectors at the same time. My Surf still smokes on startup and a light haze on acceleration (nothing drastic) since I did the head. I haven't changed the injectors on mine but I will be doing at some point.

Sorry to hear that the head went, around about the same length of time to when mine and Koi's went (mine about 12 1/2 months). Hope it is all OK now and at least hopefully it will be alright for good now.

Cheers

[Guest]

Is that the water temperature that moves ?
is that the first clue your head is cracked ?

My temp gauge on my Oil moves a little , it setles on the first line on the gauge , but then when I accelerate , it moves towards the half way mark , then settles down again .

Should I be worried ?

I get a plume of White smoke when starting from cold , then a little black puff , but then its clear once the engine is warm.

Heres hoping its ok

SparX

----------------
94' SSR-X

SparX.

Don't worry about the oil gauge moving - it's oil pressure not temp and at idle it should be around the first mark and at revs it should be over half way up the gauge.

Don't worry about the white smoke on starting when cold, most likely condensation build up.

If i's OK when warm, the water temp is OK, you aren't losing water, then you are unlikely to have lost the head. Some of the cars won't smoke white even when the head is gone (Mine and Koi's for instance), first sign was overheating caused by water being pumped out of the cooling system into the overflow tank and then out of the cap therfore lowereing the water level and causing it to overheat.

It's very easy to become paranoid with the stories about these cars. You'll know if your head is gone and short of doing the flush, good coolant, new rad cap and thermostat there is little you can do to stop it happening if it's gonna. The best way to set your mind at rest is to have a pressure or gas test on the coolant. If it's OK after that then the head is OK and you can get on with life. Regular maintenance is the key then to make sure that it's life is as long as possible.

Cheers

[Dunno]

Hi Sparx & Laurie.

That is the Oil Pressure Gauge NOT Temperature and it should read 1/4 on tick over and increase to just over half under normal driving conditions.

As to the smoke I dont think that that is a problem but I am sure someone with more experience will confirm (or correct me).

Sorry to hear about your woes Laurie but I am pleased to hear you are back Surfing the Island again. I trust the bank manager is not TOO upset!! Just out of interest who did you get to do the work or did you do it yourself?.

Hope to see you about soon.

Take care All

Paul

[SparX]

Phew .. that put my mind at rest .

I did a full oil change at the weekend , thinking that maybe the oil had gone bad or something. Well at least I have nice new oil in her now.

Cheers Guys and gals

SparX
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'94 SSR-X
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[lauriescott]

Mechanic...

Paul, I used Fred Jupe Motors in Newport - in the phone book - He has serviced all my cars while I've been on the island - BMW320i, Montego 2Litre (yuuukkkkhhh), Volvo740GLE, BMW525i and now the big green smokin' machine!! Prices very good, react time brilliant (recovered Tuesday, head delivered Wednesday, out on Thursday lunchtime). Can't say fairer than that!

[lauriescott]

No Andy, I didn't replace the injectors as well. I think if I did my bank manager would have had a total sense of humour failure! I got a quote for £98 each from the cheap parts place in Birmingham and £132 each from Toyota! They can be refurbished at Lucas outlets. Apparently on the mainland this takes 48hrs, but weeks on the Island as they get sent away somewhere else to be done!

[Dunno]

Hi Laurie,

Yeah I know Fred from my days in the motor trade always came across to me as a very genuine and honest type of guy.

Hopefully I wont have to worry about heads (touch wood) as mine was done about 6 months before I bought mine.

Take care see you around!

Paul