Is an engine replacement in a 4.6 P38 a complicated job?

kermit_rr · Aug 13, 2023

nigelbb said:
At 150,000 miles my P38 started to overheat & in desperation I used Steel Seal which fixed the problem & lasted 25,000 miles before the head gasket started blowing. I then had V8 Developments rebuild my engine which now runs as sweet as a nut with no overheating & no oil leaks.

If you are contemplating an engine swap you have nothing to lose but using Steel Seal or similar.

Is that another name for stop leak that puts junk into the coolant? Bad idea in my opinion unless it's a get me home attempt. You'll end up with blockages where you don't want them

P38 Monkey · Aug 13, 2023

nigelbb said:
At 150,000 miles my P38 started to overheat & in desperation I used Steel Seal which fixed the problem & lasted 25,000 miles before the head gasket started blowing. I then had V8 Developments rebuild my engine which now runs as sweet as a nut with no overheating & no oil leaks.

If you are contemplating an engine swap you have nothing to lose but using Steel Seal or similar.

This stuff? The reviews on Amazon show around 25% of users had problems with it, or it didn't work for them. But you must be in the 75% that found it fixed the problem, at least for a while.
Also: https://www.v8developments.co.uk - these people? Looks like a very useful operation - thanks for the intro.

P38 Monkey · Aug 13, 2023

kermit_rr said:
Have you got a pressure tester¿ best way to check for leaks with a cold engine or the fan to blow it all away

Like this Silverline one? For £78, seems like a useful kit to have.
Amazon has some cheaper ones with Chinese names, but at least I have heard of (and used) Silverline before...

aj1954 · Aug 13, 2023

nigelbb said:
At 150,000 miles my P38 started to overheat & in desperation I used Steel Seal which fixed the problem & lasted 25,000 miles before the head gasket started blowing. I then had V8 Developments rebuild my engine which now runs as sweet as a nut with no overheating & no oil leaks.

If you are contemplating an engine swap you have nothing to lose but using Steel Seal or similar.

I have used it on the Astra I had, had a leaking head gasket after over heating when a hose clip failed, it never
overheated after replacing the clip but, was losing coolant via the exhaust, followed the instructions to the letter
and, it cured it, still hadn't lost any coolant when I got rid a year later.
Did you still use OAT coolant with it? according to the label, it's only safe with blue antifreeze, can react and
cause blockages with other types, apparently.

Rubberknees · Aug 13, 2023

aj1954 said:
I have used it on the Astra I had, had a leaking head gasket after over heating when a hose clip failed, it never
overheated after replacing the clip but, was losing coolant via the exhaust, followed the instructions to the letter
and, it cured it, still hadn't lost any coolant when I got rid a year later.
Did you still use OAT coolant with it? according to the label, it's only safe with blue antifreeze, can react and
cause blockages with other types, apparently.

That could explain why it didn't work for me years back as car was on red anti freeze

P38 Monkey · Aug 13, 2023

kermit_rr said:
Have you got a pressure tester¿ best way to check for leaks with a cold engine or the fan to blow it all away

On order - thanks for the tip!!

kermit_rr · Aug 13, 2023

P38 Monkey said:
On order - thanks for the tip!!

Hope it's fruitful

P38 Monkey · Aug 14, 2023

kermit_rr said:
Hope it's fruitful

Silverline pressure test kit - fell at the first - the "Land Rover" adapter doesn't fit, nor does any other one in the kit. Back to Amazon it goes. Anyone know of a kit that actually fits a P38?
Also, a question on the header tank level. If I cold-fill to the "Cold Level" mark, when hot it rises a little, to just over the joint that runs round the middle of the header tank - is that normal / correct?

pwood999 · Aug 14, 2023

This kit has on adapter that fits P38 tank.
Amazon product

kermit_rr · Aug 14, 2023

yes it should rise a bit, if i recall
pressure increases, the amount of air is unchanged, therefore it must take less space

Datatek · Aug 14, 2023

P38 Monkey said:
Silverline pressure test kit - fell at the first - the "Land Rover" adapter doesn't fit, nor does any other one in the kit. Back to Amazon it goes. Anyone know of a kit that actually fits a P38?
Also, a question on the header tank level. If I cold-fill to the "Cold Level" mark, when hot it rises a little, to just over the joint that runs round the middle of the header tank - is that normal / correct?

Water expands with heat so some rise is normal, that's why there is an expansion tank.

kermit_rr · Aug 14, 2023

Datatek said:
Water expands with heat so some rise is normal, that's why there is an expansion tank.

water expands when it gets cold anorl

P38 Monkey · Aug 14, 2023

kermit_rr said:
water expands when it gets cold anorl

Funny stuff, water. Expands when above 3C, and also when below 3C, and of course even more when turning solid.
So the top of a frozen lake is floating ice, and the lowest level of water at the bottom of the lake is the densest at +3C. Fortunately this gives fish somewhere to survive, albeit somewhat chilly.
Coolant expands with increasing temperature too, but as the air in the header tank is also under pressure, it acts to push the coolant level down, hence my question. The complexities of the RR cooling system are such that I wanted to know what happens in real life, with all the forces and counter-forces present in the header tank..

P38 Monkey · Aug 14, 2023

pwood999 said:
This kit has on adapter that fits P38 tank.
Amazon product

That looks exactly like the kit I had, but cheaper and with a different maker's name. The green adapter is supposed to fit, but is far too wide in the stem. The pink one nearly fits, but not quite. Have you got one of these kits?

pwood999 · Aug 14, 2023

P38 Monkey said:
That looks exactly like the kit I had, but cheaper and with a different maker's name. The green adapter is supposed to fit, but is far too wide in the stem. The pink one nearly fits, but not quite. Have you got one of these kits?

Yes.

P38 Monkey · Aug 14, 2023

pwood999 said:
Yes.

Looks like you just saved me twenty quid - thank you!

Datatek · Aug 14, 2023

kermit_rr said:
water expands when it gets cold anorl

Only when it freezes.

Grrrrrr · Aug 14, 2023

We found the UV dye in the coolant best. Droplets all over the dip-stick.

Grrrrrr · Aug 14, 2023

V8 developments are very good but there was a hell of a wait last I heard.

kermit_rr · Aug 14, 2023

P38 Monkey said:
Funny stuff, water. Expands when above 3C, and also when below 3C, and of course even more when turning solid.
So the top of a frozen lake is floating ice, and the lowest level of water at the bottom of the lake is the densest at +3C. Fortunately this gives fish somewhere to survive, albeit somewhat chilly.
Coolant expands with increasing temperature too, but as the air in the header tank is also under pressure, it acts to push the coolant level down, hence my question. The complexities of the RR cooling system are such that I wanted to know what happens in real life, with all the forces and counter-forces present in the header tank..

You should know that air compressors easier than water

Is an engine replacement in a 4.6 P38 a complicated job?

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