2.4L Blown head(yes another) - Just 1 question

[egor1544]

Have blown gasket - like everybody else!!!

Just one question - Are there any differences between original head and a replacement head that can be seen if the head has been removed??

The garage i purchased the car from said the head had been replaced so I want to check this when I replace the gasket!!!

Cheers Jason

[Pika1971]

Another one bites the dust

Sorry to hear that m8, seems far to common these heads going, I have seen quite a few similar stories to yours here, recently replaced head going, thats why I am keen to make sure I get mine done properly, it seems that replacement heads can go quite quickly, there seems to be a chap called Steve that reconditions engines and sells brand new heads...a lot of people recommend him..
Do you know what tests your garage did to determine that the head had gone?

[Pika1971]

Sorry

Sorry dude I didn't read your post properly, and your head hasn't gone...duh
How do you know its just the gasket gone? as I think I am in a similar position...

[Guest]

You can't really tell the difference without measuring, pretty sure that Stevo posted that he had measured old and new and the new ones were a little thicker.

[egor1544]

I think it has gone because - Had an oil leak from the engine that only appeared while engine was running, after investigation it appeared to be coming from head gasket area.

So re-torqued the head bolts to specified in the manual (haynes) -

1 step - 78Nm
2 step - turn 90 degs more
3 step - turn 90 degs more

But i noticed that on the valve cover it says only 78Nm

This stopped the leak.

But after about another 2 weeks i noticed the coolant having oil in it, and also white smoke (alot) when starting up.

Lack of power aswell!

Was going to do a compression test today but also noticed that coolant has been forced out of some of the rubber coolant hoses where they connect to the metal ones!!! Forced out under pressure which I am concluding is due to pressure from the cylinders.

One thing the truck has never over heated and the water level does not change much (but have not checked it for a while!!!!).

Going to talk to my mechanic tomorrow as well.

[Pika1971]

Gasket

Cheers dude, good luck with the comp test.

Sounds like mine might just be the gasket on its way out then, and a new rad cap needed...

[Koi]

Would check what they mean by new, new as in new recon one or new modified one.

[TonyN]

You're not gonna gain much by loosening and retightening the head bolts, undoing them will have probably disturbed the head gasket, and then doing up an already pressed gasket won't seal very well again. You're probably have to have the head off and put a new gasket on it again.

While its off check the block deck is flat and clean to stop the oil leaks.

Old hoses often leak just from the pressure of the cooling system, if it was over pressurised it would lift the rad cap and fill the expansion tank like when the head goes.

I think it has gone because - Had an oil leak from the engine that only appeared while engine was running, after investigation it appeared to be coming from head gasket area.

So re-torqued the head bolts to specified in the manual (haynes) -

1 step - 78Nm
2 step - turn 90 degs more
3 step - turn 90 degs more

But i noticed that on the valve cover it says only 78Nm

This stopped the leak.

But after about another 2 weeks i noticed the coolant having oil in it, and also white smoke (alot) when starting up.

Lack of power aswell!

Was going to do a compression test today but also noticed that coolant has been forced out of some of the rubber coolant hoses where they connect to the metal ones!!! Forced out under pressure which I am concluding is due to pressure from the cylinders.

One thing the truck has never over heated and the water level does not change much (but have not checked it for a while!!!!).

Going to talk to my mechanic tomorrow as well.

[egor1544]

cheers for the help people. Just ordered the parts for gasket change!!!!!!!

Hopefully going to get here by friday for a dirty weekend (in the engine)

Luckly my friend an x mechanic is going to give me a hand!!!!

J