diesel 2 1/4 bad head ?

HI can any body point me in the right direction. I have recently changed the head gasket also had the head skimmed but not pressures tested.
Once the engine was started it seemed to get very hot I checked the radiator hoses the top was very hot the bottom hose was stone cold. I had fitted a new thermostate while it was stripped down I assumed the thermostate not to be working so I removed it. The engine runs fine temp gauge fine but it is using water about 1 litre per journey of 18 miles. There are no visible leaks any where. I checked the thermostate works in some boiling water and tried it back in the engine tonight but still the same problem top hose very hot temp gauge in red and bottom hose stone cold.


Do you think I have a craked head.

Have you got the right thermostat for the engine? Think it should be an 80 degree one but could be wrong...




And I have not sorted out the head, sorry forgot been so busy etc

yes the thermostat is 82 degrees this should be fine.

You don't by any chance have the new head gasket fitted arse over tit, or the wrong one have you?

There are bad combinations that appear to fit but actually block the water passages.

But, assuming not, IS IT BOILING UP, like steam and stuff?

NO.

Don't panic yet.

The top hose should be very hot, and bottom one quite cool if all is working well.

I think your worry is the loss of coolant .... it has to go somewhere ...

If the engine is running well enough, then if it loses a litre in 18 miles it can't be leaking into a cylinder.

My bet is you never got it filled up in the first place.

CharlesY

cheers Charles

I did have some confusion when fitting new head gasket but am pretty sure it was fitted correctly.

As for not being filled completly I have been driving for a few weeks since replacing head gasket and I keep needing to top water up after the 18 mile journey by the same amount.

with the new head gasket do you know what side the metal side goes under the hot spots does this face down or up.

if you do more than 18 miles do use use more water or does it stay at 1lt.?

Once its lost that litre it suddenly starts getting hotter and going into the red on the temp gauge.
It seems to keep losing water. I have just stripped the head off tonight head gasket was fitted correctly no water ways were blocked. I will be borrowing a head and try this on my block to see if this cures it.
If so I will be looking for a replacement head. Thanks

Head gaskets are usually marked TOP on one side, but I can't remember which side they stamp it on. Slob would know.

I want to know what was wrong with this engine. Let us know.

CHarlesY

Have you checked the block for cracks??

My original 2 1/4 had a 2 inch crack behind the starter motor, that lost a small amont of water all the time, took me ages to suss it out...