HELP Sludge in COOLENT & STEAMY EXHAUST

[allnet3722]

Hi All, I have a Lovely 1993 K Reg blue 2.4 auto diesel ssrx, which I have had no problems with untill!!! I put it into a garage to have the timing belt done.

To cut a long story short the belt was changed they also changed the water pump as they said it was leaking, and now I have sludge in my coolent and the heater blows cold air for a good while and air locks have appeared in my cooling systems plus every now and then I get a bit of a steamy exhaust. All of this never used to happen, but I need to get it fixed, My Dad is no mechanic and recons it's the head gasket and I know the 2.4 are prone to this, so knew one day it might happen. I need some help/advice to confirm what I've said above does sound like it's the headgasket? I live in South Wales and if anyone else lives this way and had the same problem who did you take it to or can anyone recommend a specialist for fixing this. And how much of a dent is it going to make in my wallent as i have no Idea!!

I would greatly appreciate any help as my SURF is now off the road as I don't want to warp the head itself by over heating it. HELP HELP HELP


Also is this likey to happen again once it's been fixed ????

Many Thanks Matt SURFLESS

[Koi]

First off you won't warp the head, its cast so will crack. I doubt its just the gasket 9 1/2 times out of ten the head cracks.
All in all it sounds like the garage that done the work have failed to fill up the cooling system correctly.
As a first thing to try, flush cooling system, use a flushing agent to help break down the sludge etc. Fit new rad cap & stat, refill correctly, see burping the cooling system on this forum for details.
If symptons still persist then I think the damage has been done by driving a vehicle with insufficient cooling.

[marky]

As KOI has stated the head gasket is very unlikely to have gone, As the head gasket never seams to go on the 2.4 SURF. Sounds to me they've not bled the cooling system properly resulting in a possible cracked head.

[allnet3722]

Cracked Head

Thanks for the prompt reply, are there any other signs that would indicate a cracked head??

Any Ideas how much this will cost??

any one you would recommend in my area to sort it out ?

I think I will find this hard to prove against the garage unless there is an obvious test that they would fail if asked how to change the coolent on a surf?

Matt

[allnet3722]

Cracked Head

First off you won't warp the head, its cast so will crack. I doubt its just the gasket 9 1/2 times out of ten the head cracks.
All in all it sounds like the garage that done the work have failed to fill up the cooling system correctly.
As a first thing to try, flush cooling system, use a flushing agent to help break down the sludge etc. Fit new rad cap & stat, refill correctly, see burping the cooling system on this forum for details.
If symptons still persist then I think the damage has been done by driving a vehicle with insufficient cooling.

Thanks for the prompt reply, are there any other signs that would indicate a cracked head??

Any Ideas how much this will cost??

any one you would recommend in my area to sort it out ?

I think I will find this hard to prove against the garage unless there is an obvious test that they would fail if asked how to change the coolent on a surf?

Matt

[Koi]

Thanks for the prompt reply, are there any other signs that would indicate a cracked head??

Any Ideas how much this will cost??

any one you would recommend in my area to sort it out ?

I think I will find this hard to prove against the garage unless there is an obvious test that they would fail if asked how to change the coolent on a surf?

Matt

Once your sure the systems full of coolant and no air, from cold take off rad cap and start it up. If it pushes coolant out from here you have a good chance of a cracked head, you may loose a very little coolant but we talking very small amount, if it just continues to come out, trouble.
Only 100% way to test is to get the system pressure tested, Stevo is your man for the heads, either supply only or supply & fit.
See here for his details http://www.yotasurf.co.uk/members_pa...evo/index.html

[allnet3722]

Thanks

Once your sure the systems full of coolant and no air, from cold take off rad cap and start it up. If it pushes coolant out from here you have a good chance of a cracked head, you may loose a very little coolant but we talking very small amount, if it just continues to come out, trouble.
Only 100% way to test is to get the system pressure tested, Stevo is your man for the heads, either supply only or supply & fit.
See here for his details http://www.yotasurf.co.uk/members_pa...evo/index.html

Thanks for all your help, the cooling system pushed coolent into the expansion tank and made it over flow but then stopped. So this could well be a cracked head! I have not driven it since and am having a hard time finding people that know what there doing as most garages don't when it comes to SURF's I need some one fairly local that can do it and if it is a cracked head I'll see about getting any parts from Stevo.

Let me know your thoughts Cheers Matt

[marky]

Dont let anyone tell you its the head gasket & dont buy a recon head as it will go again.

[da SLUG man]

Dont let anyone tell you its the head gasket & dont buy a recon head as it will go again.

don't let anyone worry you that it's "definately" the head either... get it tested and if bad news, take head off and have a look...

[marky]

don't let anyone worry you that it's "definately" the head either... get it tested and if bad news, take head off and have a look...

Replace Thermosat & Rad Cap first

[allnet3722]

Termosate Test / Coolent Flush

Dont let anyone tell you its the head gasket & dont buy a recon head as it will go again.

GARAGE is changing the coolent and termostate today to see how much sluge comes out and if the system can be pressure tested to see if the head has cracked?

if It has gone and I get a new head from stevo is that likely to go again?

Many Thanks to youall for all your help as I would be very stuck without your suggestions.

Cheers Matt will keep you up to date!!

[Koi]

[QUOTE=allnet3722]
if It has gone and I get a new head from stevo is that likely to go again?
[QUOTE]


nope it should last you for many many years to come.