Euro cruise disaster

I'm sure you already know that the first place to look is the head gasket itself. Even if the gasket itself hasn't failed it mayl show marks where either the block face or head face has had an issue.

You may also find you don't find the cause. You may find you put it all back together, it will run like a sewing machine and you'll never really know the cause.
 
Last edited:
used to use the Dye Pen system on the old M20 small six cylinder heads. They had a habit of cracking if the engine overheated. Overheating on them was caused by viscous coupling failure, and then getting stuck in traffic!

Works well and the crack will be obvious if there is one. Makes a bit of a mess though. Block all the galleries to prevent the sprayed material entering them as you can't exactly wash the block out in a cleaning bath afterwards!
 
hard top said:
If you have a locale friendly threading machine shop, get them to do an MPI on it.
Click to expand...

Aluminium isn't magnetic Mike. Dye Penetration Test should be fine
 
Jack Ratt said:
Aluminium isn't magnetic Mike.
Click to expand...

That was my faux pas for today....:bag:
I would have walked into our workshop and tried to do it....
That would have made the lads laugh.

In my defense, I was the hot shot who got all the work in for the lads....;)
 
hard top said:
That was my faux pas for today....:bag:
I would have walked into our workshop and tried to do it....
That would have made the lads laugh.

In my defense, I was the hot shot who got all the work in for the lads....;)
Click to expand...

I hope the work wasn't MPI-ing Aluminium otherwise they'll all be on the "rock 'n' roll" tomorrow! =))
 
Hey, I was just a sh1t hot contracts manager, just used to take the guys from the oil company's out for lunch, dinner, and a whore house or two. Used to write down the mega bucks orders on the back of a beer mat.

Dye Pen and MPI etc was left to the navvies in the workshop.....:D
 
Glad you have at least found something as it is at least a starting point to getting her back on the road. Lets hope thats all it was. Last time i had a Head Gasket go (XR3I) i also had two slightly bent valves, these looked ok in situ but found them as i had decided to regrind them whilst i had the head off
 
Got home for the weekend yesterday to find that my dye pen kit hadn't turned up. Anyway, armed with a new 1mtr straight edge and feeler gauges I checked the head for flatness and it is indeed a little outside tolerance along both outer edges.

I've checked online for local engine services and then remembered that that I used to work about 200mtrs from Cornwall Engine Services in Redruth, so a quick phone call and a brief chat and they've got the job. They don't open at the weekend and I couldn't get there before they closed at 5pm, so will have to wait until next Friday.
 
Better safe than sorry anyway mate. Hopefully a simple rebuild and you'll be good for another 100,000.


Tony.
 
My cylinder head is going to Cornwall Engine Services tomorrow morning for a skim and proper check, and should get it back next Friday. My vanos seal kit has been delivered so that's another little job I'll do over the weekend. While I'm down west I'll call in Euro Car Parts and get new drive belts, idler pulley, tensioner and water pump. Might as well get the front end sorted while it's in bits.
 
hard top said:
Nice one Ratty old boy, would be good to see the car back over here next year.....:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

That's the plan Mike, lets hope it goes back together ok, but as I've said all along, if it doesn't I'll buy another one
 
hard top said:
No, you will get it sorted...:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Sure will, it's not really a hard job, the hardest part was getting all the bits out of the way to get to the engine.
 
After stripping her heart out I've bonded with her now, so it's for better or for worse =))

@hard top You'll have to organise a guard of honour for when I drive her down the main street in Slenaken =))

The Dutch guys were all genuinely concerned at our predicament
 
Make sure you get plenty of photos we love a good nosey. I'll soon be pulling sam's 2.2 apart to fit new piston rings and valve seals it's using far to much oil.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top