new plugs......

[Billy-No-Money]

ok guys, I decided u were all right and I stopped worryin bout the head and today blanked of the ERG and fitted some new glow plugs for better starting and more efficient fuel combustion. However........
when I took out the last plug (nearest the bulkhead) the thread and seat were wet. It wasnt deisel or oil but looked suspiciously like coolant... ?
The engine was cold and all the other plugs and connectors were bone dry, so now Im wondering how fluid can get onto that part of the plug. If the head were cracked internally, could there be coolant escape to the threaded plug hole or am I barking up the wrong tree? The head gasket is def leaking as a small bubbling of oil is visible at the base of the head directly below the front of the inlet manifold, but im not sure if the oil is coming from there or not as there is also oil on the head around the front lower bolt mounting of the inlet manifold. If the oil was escaping at the head gasket, i cant imagine it travelling four inches UP the head to the inlet.
It started at first turn with the new glowies (Bosch, £7.99 each from the local Romac motorfactors BTW) but still in a huge plume of whitish smoke. And I have a misfire. Its already had a bottle of millers through it so the injectors should be fairly clean. So, gas leak from head gasket + wet glow plug+ oil escape around head gasket and/or inlet manifold+misfire = ? Not panicking but dont want to end up stranded somewhere. What d'you all reckon?
Cheers.

[MattF]

Only way to test the head properly is to have it pressure tested.

Might also be worthwhile checking the glowplug fuse, especially if you left the batteries connected whilst replacing the glowplugs.

[Billy-No-Money]

I want my head testing..

Cheers Matt, did leave the batts on durin plug change but it did fire up on first turn unlike before (several attempts for up to a minute, then really rough running for a few mins till it got warm) so I think they must be workin ok. The misfire aint bad, not noticable when im drivin but just a bit when I rev the engine. Its booked in for timing belt on monday at a general motor engineer, I know the guy n hes ok but not a diesel specialist. Hes gonna do a compression test for me, will that give me an idea on the state of the head? BTW, i took the rocker box of for a quick peek at the valve clearances while i was at it, was suprised at the good condition of the cam, no scoring or wear points. Looks like it was fitted yesterday. But how do you adjust the clearances? couldnt see any adjusters anywhere. Done plenty of petrol pushrod motors but this is first time for me with a deisel. Special tool needed? only got a feeler gauge n a set of spanners lol.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Cheers Matt, did leave the batts on durin plug change but it did fire up on first turn unlike before (several attempts for up to a minute, then really rough running for a few mins till it got warm) so I think they must be workin ok. The misfire aint bad, not noticable when im drivin but just a bit when I rev the engine. Its booked in for timing belt on monday at a general motor engineer, I know the guy n hes ok but not a diesel specialist. Hes gonna do a compression test for me, will that give me an idea on the state of the head? BTW, i took the rocker box of for a quick peek at the valve clearances while i was at it, was suprised at the good condition of the cam, no scoring or wear points. Looks like it was fitted yesterday. But how do you adjust the clearances? couldnt see any adjusters anywhere. Done plenty of petrol pushrod motors but this is first time for me with a deisel. Special tool needed? only got a feeler gauge n a set of spanners lol.

The valve clearances are adjusted with shims of varying thickness

[Billy-No-Money]

valves

so does the cam have to come off? all i could see below the cam lobes was a little spinny disc thingy with notches in the edge that i could turn with my fingers.

[BUSHWHACKER]

so does the cam have to come off? all i could see below the cam lobes was a little spinny disc thingy with notches in the edge that i could turn with my fingers.

Yep, thats the shims.
You can change them without touching the cam, you just need a special tool.

[Billy-No-Money]

can you shimmy....?

Cheers Bushwacker. Without trawlin through milners site, I presume then that i buy a set of assorted shims (along with the tool) and add/remove as required? where can i find instructions for doin it? the more I think bout it, the more i reckon is worth the £350 for a built head with pre-set clearances and just fit that (or have it fitted if the weather dont dry up)

[MattF]

Why are you wanting to alter the clearances? Was the stutter/misfire there before you changed the plugs?

[Billy-No-Money]

yeah, but worse than now when it had just started. Ran really rough before till it got warm, now its just a little miss now and again when its cold. Like i said, its not even noticable when im drivin, just when i rev it under the bonnnet before it gets nice n warm. Havent checked the clearances, just thought it was a worthwhile exercise while i was under there but changed my mind when saw that it looked nothing like a 1300 mk II escort lol.

[Billy-No-Money]

just been on milners n roughtrax site, couldnt find any mention shims or the tool needed.

[TonyN]

Cheers Bushwacker. Without trawlin through milners site, I presume then that i buy a set of assorted shims (along with the tool) and add/remove as required? where can i find instructions for doin it? the more I think bout it, the more i reckon is worth the £350 for a built head with pre-set clearances and just fit that (or have it fitted if the weather dont dry up)

Its not as easy as that, see this thread.....

http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/forums/sh...ighlight=shims

post 4 in particular.

You can only get the shims from Toyota.

[plumb bob]

I don't normally worry about valve clearances unless I can Hear them "ticking".













.

[Billy-No-Money]

Cheers for that thread Tony. and I can see why plumbbob dont bother unless their rattling .Ummm.... think Ill give it a miss. They certainly dont tick or rattle unduly. Still, might ask the mechanic on monday to give them a quick check.

[MattF]

Cheers for that thread Tony. and I can see why plumbbob dont bother unless their rattling .Ummm.... think Ill give it a miss. They certainly dont tick or rattle unduly. Still, might ask the mechanic on monday to give them a quick check.

These engines are generally somewhat noisy when cold, I believe, so I wouldn't worry. As to the misfire type thing, I would be more inclined to suspect an injector.