heads and head gaskets

[paulm123]

hi just joined forum.I am very interested in buying a surf but can anyone tell me about the trouble with heads and headgaskets.

[Morr]

hi just joined forum.I am very interested in buying a surf but can anyone tell me about the trouble with heads and headgaskets.

If you use the search feature you'll find plenty of info regarding this, best to read the info already posted rather than have it all rehashed yet again, if after searching and reading you still have unanswered questions, then ask away.

[JimSuperSix]

When I bought my Surf it had none of the usual signs of a blown gasket - no mayo in the oil, no steam etc..., and I only took it for a test drive on flat ground. The overflow problem appeared later after a long uphill run followed by an immediate stop in a car park - coolant was flooding out of the expansion tank's overflow, and the tank was full of visibly bubbling boiling water. This was the only sign, and it only happened once - apart from this the vehicle ran faultlessly. However, upon removing the head it had 3 lovely great cracks on all bar cylinder 1, and so needed a new head (which came from Stevo + advice).

I suggest taking any potential buy for a run up a hill a few times to get it nice and hot, then stop and see if anything is dripping out (ie. the head is cracked and leaking exhaust gases into the waterways). Just peering into the oil filler doesn't seem to be enough.

I'm sure the experts here can advise you of other and better ways to check a potential purchase.

[marky]

HEADGASKETS dont seam to go on the 2.4 Engine, No mayonnaise in the water or filler cap. Once expansion bottle overflows the first thing to do is replace the Thermostat & Rad cap if it still does it after this it is possible that your head has cracked.

[Djandco]

I thought the best way was to either,
A) Take the rad cap off while the engine is COOL! and run the little bleeder for a bit, if the water falls out it is either being pressurised by a cracked head or, the car is upside down.
B) Ask nicely for proof of the head being done, paperwork etc
C) get the chunky 3l version, cos these lucky ba, sorry, people dont seem to have this problem.

Either way, if the whatsit does hit the fan, Stevo is there to save the day.
I love this guy.
Now can I have my car back stevo?

[carbonman]

My head went after nearly a year... 2.4..
It overheated all of a sudden one day for no apparent reason.. well thats what I thought anyway.
Biggest symptoms were running the engine with the rad cap off, it would just constantly bubble water out the top.
Also would heat up super quick underload then boil.
I think mine had gone pretty majorly however....

I got a new head and got it fitted by a top mechanic all in cost me about a grand.

The way I see it is thats the last big spend i will have to do on the truck hopefully...

Every vehicle i have ever come accross has its "things" that always seem to go wrong.
What you save with one you'll loose with another!

I thought the best way was to either,
A) Take the rad cap off while the engine is COOL! and run the little bleeder for a bit, if the water falls out it is either being pressurised by a cracked head or, the car is upside down.
B) Ask nicely for proof of the head being done, paperwork etc
C) get the chunky 3l version, cos these lucky ba, sorry, people dont seem to have this problem.

Either way, if the whatsit does hit the fan, Stevo is there to save the day.
I love this guy.
Now can I have my car back stevo?