head? its driving me mad

[amethyst]

Morning all,

my 3.0 surf kzn130 has been starting a bit lumpy for a while (not all the time) and puffing the odd white smoke out, losing water and oil, but running fine apart from that. It pulls ok up hills etc...

the thing is the other day i had right trouble starting it, and while trying to start it loads of white smoke followed by black / blue smoke followed by white smoke came out and plenty of it. I looked under the hood and the i could not see any water in the rad but there was foam, the coolant bottle was bubbling too, so i proceeded to put in water and topped up the oil and tried again, it started ok this time.

After reading on the forum it kinda leads to the head or head gasket, but my concern is it started ok this morning but with a little white smoke and have now booked in for a head replacement, could it not be that?

any help or advice is appreciated guys

[stormforce]

It is sounding very much like the head by the explanation you gave.You seem to of caught it early before it went completely

[amethyst]

okey dokey cheers buddy, but the confusing thig today is there seems to be no water in the oil, just a slight film under the cap.. its a good job i love my surf lol......

booked in with stevo next week now for head replacement lets hope its that as scary money to pay out for it...

[amethyst]

Ok i have another question ....

Its starting fine again no white smoke / no water in the oil (that i can see under cap or on dipstick) no foaming in rad but coolant bottle is bubbling.

I have noticed something new though.....

on the pipe that leads from the turbo? there is oil leak mark that wasnt there before has anyone ideas if this could be the problem and not a head prob?





This is confusing as hell as i dont want to be paying out over a grand for a new head if its not.... can anyone help?

Stu

[charvell]

best thing to do mate is let stevo test it, at the same time show him what you have found and get his expert opinion, once the head has been tested you will know for sure insted of just guesing. you point that you make about the coolent bottle bubbling still sounds like the head has a problem but as i said a test will confirm this

[amethyst]

Sadly it was the Head a couple of lovley big cracks in it...
just goes to show though...

Water does not always mix with the oil, and it might start ok some days.

Stevo's garage did me proud though took it there for 8.30am.. they had tested it and got the head off by 11.30 and was driving home if not a little gingerly (and pocket a little lighter) at 5.30.... some crazy traffic from stockport to Glossop area, took over 2 hours to do 40 miles...

its settling down nicely with its new head plus new timing belt and oil change...

Nice guys well reccommended...

Stu