[Mk2] [Turbo] Been told my Head could be cracked ? Need confirmation please!

[misterT]

Hi all,

Been having a few problems with my temp gauge. You know the old "fluctuating problem". (yo yo needle)

I've changed the Gauge sensor, the thermostate, the coolant and bled the system but its still the same.

"Most" of the time the air from the heater blows cold, even with the engine warm, which i pressumed meant there was still air in the system, so i bled it again, but no joy.

However, sometimes the heater will actually work fine. (On the odd occasion.)

Yesterday, within 10mins of starting her up, the temp gauge shot right up to the top (past the H!!) and a kind of constant groaning noise appeared! Then, the expansion tank spewed coolant everywhere.

Once she had cooled down, i topped up the coolant (2 litres) and bled it again, and now she's running fine. Heaters are ok, temp gauge hasn't moved.

I do however, hear a gurgling noise once the engine is turned off.

Finally, today i took her to a local garage and the bloke told me that the coolant system seems to be working fine, rad ok, pump is working, etc, so it must be a problem with either the head gasket, or worse, the head has cracked.

He didn't attempt to charge or anything, just free advice, although he did ask me if i wanted to sell my car!!!

What the hell is going on?

Does this sound like your run of the mill HG prob?

I've got no yogurt in my oil, and cant find anywhere that does a sniffer test!

Can i buy a sniffer test kit? Any ideas where from?

Any help at all would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Dean.

[Dale_V]

mine did this, i had cracked the block on the water side under the water pump

[misterT]

mine did this, i had cracked the block on the water side under the water pump

Did it pee oil out everywhere?

Mine does use a bit of oil, but doesn't leave pudlles or anything.

[Dale_V]

mine did this, i had cracked the block on the water side under the water pump

Did it pee oil out everywhere?

Mine does use a bit of oil, but doesn't leave pudlles or anything.

nope mine was on the block and just peed loads of water, especially on higher revs

is your oil leak linked to your problems, or is it just a minor leak?

if it does turn out that your head has gone, i have a 1993 rev2 NA head, that will fit your turbo (its the same head/part) , you just put your cams in...

[misterT]

mine did this, i had cracked the block on the water side under the water pump

Did it pee oil out everywhere?

Mine does use a bit of oil, but doesn't leave pudlles or anything.

nope mine was on the block and just peed loads of water, especially on higher revs

is your oil leak linked to your problems, or is it just a minor leak?

if it does turn out that your head has gone, i have a 1993 rev2 NA head, that will fit your turbo (its the same head/part) , you just put your cams in...

Yea, of course..... water.

It's not a bad oil leak, just a few drops really, now and then.

Don't think its connected, but i couldn't be sure.

I'll bear the head offer in mind, thanks Dale, just trying to get some confirmation before i start taking half the engine out.

[Dale_V]

Did it pee oil out everywhere?

Mine does use a bit of oil, but doesn't leave pudlles or anything.

nope mine was on the block and just peed loads of water, especially on higher revs

is your oil leak linked to your problems, or is it just a minor leak?

if it does turn out that your head has gone, i have a 1993 rev2 NA head, that will fit your turbo (its the same head/part) , you just put your cams in...

Yea, of course..... water.

It's not a bad oil leak, just a few drops really, now and then.

Don't think its connected, but i couldn't be sure.

I'll bear the head offer in mind, thanks Dale, just trying to get some confirmation before i start taking half the engine out.

best thing to do is clean the oil up real good, and then when it does leak you can see where its coming from , but id say that this has NOTHING to do with your problems

are you losing water other than when it was pressurised and it spewed it out? it could just be that they system wasnt bled properly creating air locks and causing pressure..

i would just see how it goes, check the water before you go on a run, and then after, once it cools down

[misterT]

Yea, i'll keep an eye on it, i know they can be a bu88er to bleed properly, maybe i've only just got all the air out.

It doesn't seem to use any water, a bit of oil but nothing to shout about, thats why i'm a bit confused.

I mean, what started it all off ? The car was fine for months then suddenly the temp gauge was all over the place.

I've changed all the simple stuff and its been the same, apart from today when it seemed fine.

Somethings not right, i just want to find out what it is so i can get in there and fix it. Even if it is the Head or HG

[mcoppen]

Well my temp gauge moves randomly every now and again, but probably once a month rarely. Isn't using any worrying amounts water or oil. Got me worried now to. Haven't had any water explosions or groaning though and car runs fine. Must be a way of testing if the block is cracked or not? Will a compression test do it?

[misterT]

Well my temp gauge moves randomly every now and again, but probably once a month rarely. Isn't using any worrying amounts water or oil. Got me worried now to. Haven't had any water explosions or groaning though and car runs fine. Must be a way of testing if the block is cracked or not? Will a compression test do it?

I think it depends.

If there is a crack, when the engine is cold and the crack is not under pressure, the chambers "may" still hold compression. But, the crack will expand under pressure. (but.. i'm no expert)

I think the best thing is a sniffer test - testing the coolant for carbon monoxide, but i cant find anywhere that does it.

Annoying and confusing to say the least.

[mcoppen]

Indeed. As you say would rather know for sure, and fix it if it is, or find out what it is if not. I have yet to change coolant/sensors yet, as it so infrequently does it.

[misterT]

Indeed. As you say would rather know for sure, and fix it if it is, or find out what it is if not. I have yet to change coolant/sensors yet, as it so infrequently does it.

Doesn't sound like you have anything to worry about mate, if its that infrequent.

As Dale said, just keep an eye on it, if it seems ok.....

It's just confusing for me at the mo, mines all over the place! Shoots up the top, then down again, then up...... then spews water everywhere, then suddenly it seems ok... oh, has it fixed itself?

[mcoppen]

Yeah its worse not knowing. Know exactly what you mean. Detracts from the whole enjoyment of the car wondering if its fixed or if its just about to do it again. Well best of luck fixing it. Hope you get it resolved quickly, and its not to expensive to fix.

[Caribbean_Blue]

Sad to say it but I would have to agree with the garage cracked head sounds about right from what you have said?

Did it over heat all of a sudden? Have you noticed any power loss before hand??

I think you need to get the head changed which obviously isn't a small job. Soz mate what a pain. Have you asked advice from say Rogue for instance?

[Zippy]

From the original post, it sounds like there was air in the system.
Also sounds like you didnt get it out properly. did u use the two pipes, one on the heater matrix and one on the radiator?

it does sound like you've got the air out now. I'd keep a close eye on it for the time being. Carry some coolant around with you and top up before every journey. This will give you an idea of the amount of coolant you're going thru (if any)

obviously keep an eye out for leaks on the ground and around the car.

and good luck

[Slarty]

I very much doubt it's a cracked head, on an almost standard powered car.

Sounds a bit like a BHG to me. Especially the "gurgling" you can hear when the engine is turned off.

The HG "usually" fails between the coolant jacket and the combustion chambers so you're over pressurising the coolant system hence the noise and the erratic temperature readings.

Might be worth getting a sniffer test done on the coolant mate

[misterT]

Sad to say it but I would have to agree with the garage cracked head sounds about right from what you have said?

Did it over heat all of a sudden? Have you noticed any power loss before hand??

I think you need to get the head changed which obviously isn't a small job. Soz mate what a pain. Have you asked advice from say Rogue for instance?

Since the needle started going awol i havn't really booted it, so wouldn't really notice any power loss.

The only time i have noticed power loss, the engine management light came on and the code was Knock Sensor AND Distributor. Was running like an old dog! After i reset the ECU, it's never come back and runs fine.

Although, every now and then the Knock sensor code comes back? Even though a while back i fitted a GM Sensor. Sometimes it'll come on, other times it won't, probably just needs a clean up. (but thats another problem )

Zippy - Yes i did use the 2 hoses, and bled it as it says in the manual, but i suppose there's always a chance i didn't get all the air out... untill now. (hopefully)

Slarty - Hey mate, havn't seen your 2 about lately? Cheers for the advice, i've been phoning round local garages for a sniffer, but the only place that does it is MrT - £60 But from previous experience i really dont trust them with my baby.

Today, again, its been running fine, no problems at all, needle like a rock just below half way. I'm hoping it was just an air lock in the coolant system, but think i'll get the sniffer done just to be sure.... if i can find somewhere that does it!

Thanks for all the replies. Anyone got a sniffer testing kit ???

[bobhatton]

I had the same problem on my Rev1 and Rev2 when the heater stopped working. It was a leak in the pipe work up to the heater but not enough to see pools of water under the car. Link out the two pipes on the engine and see it that stops the problem.

Bob

[misterT]

Right, a quick update on this, i done a sniffer test (big thanks to Andy aka SubCulture ) and i "think" it came out ok.

Done the test twice, once at the expansion tank, managed to suck out all the air with no colour change at all -

Then once at the filler cap - It just kept sucking out coolant??? Tryed it a few times and the same result. ?? Any ideas ??

I had the same problem on my Rev1 and Rev2 when the heater stopped working. It was a leak in the pipe work up to the heater but not enough to see pools of water under the car. Link out the two pipes on the engine and see it that stops the problem.

Bob

Thanks Bob,

Yep, i've had that problem too, i presume you mean the two really long heater pipes ? That run on top of the petrol tank ? From engine to frunk? I changed these a while back for rubber heater hose, so they should be fine.

Still a bit lost really. Car still hasn't overheated again since, heaters have been fine, but... On my way home from Andys i lost ALL boost!

Everytime i hit any boost - practically dies, feels like there's no petrol in her, engine management light flashes on - then off, no power at all, she stays running but i can only drive without boost.

Is this related? Or do i have another problem?

[Chr15py]

Car gargling after a drive isn't necassarily a problem. The turbo is water cooled so if you turn it off after a drive, the water flash boils in the turbo and pops/gargles at you. Sounds almost like the sound pop-corn makes in the microwave - just nowhere as loud.
I heard this from a respected tuner on here so I have absolutely no reason to doubt that!

You may have all the air out now but there is a chance the damage might have already been done. Doesn't matter if your car is standard or not, the pressure required to make the coolent p1$$ out of the cap is emmence...still may have damaged the HG or block anyway. Good luck though.
Chris

[misterT]

Car gargling after a drive isn't necassarily a problem. The turbo is water cooled so if you turn it off after a drive, the water flash boils in the turbo and pops/gargles at you. Sounds almost like the sound pop-corn makes in the microwave - just nowhere as loud.
I heard this from a respected tuner on here so I have absolutely no reason to doubt that!

You may have all the air out now but there is a chance the damage might have already been done. Doesn't matter if your car is standard or not, the pressure required to make the coolent p1$$ out of the cap is emmence...still may have damaged the HG or block anyway. Good luck though.
Chris

Yea, thanks Chris. I completely agree mate, somethings not right in there, and when it seems like one problem is sorted another appears and it seems they're all linked.

Think i'm gonna bite the bullet and go for it... Engine out!!

I know its possible to change the HG with the engine in, but sod it, its got to be a lot easier and roomy with it out. Plus, gives me a chance to ckeck everything over properly.

May as well do some other stuff while its out too, flywheel, clutch, etc.

the shopping list begins.......