Does it always overheat with slipped liner/head gasket ?

Hi all,

I have just been diagnosed with a slipped liner, the chap that diagnosed this is a qualified LR technician of 20 years and said he has checked all sensors with a multimeter, changed the coil pack, put new plugs & leads on, done a compression test (2/3 cylinders down, I can't remember which), and plugged it in to his computer and there are no fault codes showing up.

So when I went to collect the car from his house (after a month & £200) it was still running like bag of s**t.(It runs like it's only on 4/5 cylinders and now the cats are rattling) so I drove the 10 mile home (7 of which are a continuous uphill slog) and of course it was a struggle at 30mph max, but I noticed that the temp gauge didn't go above half way at all, and there was no coolant/water loss.

I don't want to disrespect the guy, I just want a 2nd,3rd,4th 5,6,7........ opinion.
It's a 1996 on a P 4.6 hse on LPG and is the same when running on both.
All replies will be gratefully received as ever.

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

I had slipped liners on my p38 last year. It will progressively get worse overtime. My range rover did not over heat all the time even with the liners slipped. I drove it around with the liners slipped for two months with no over heating problems. Then it got really bad and overheated on tick over! I have now put a new block in with flat top liners from Automotive Component Remanufacturing Ltd, skimmed the heads and now it runs like a dream. It's alot of work but definitely worth it!

could be a lot of things .liners sit on a ledge and unless block cracks or piston siezes shouldnt move unless someones fitted short liners (and i do know a firm that did loads and nearly buggered another well know firm )low compression could be a simple hgf between 2 cylinders,cam lobes can get seriously worn does it run worse since he looked at it ,leads on in right order etc

The liners can slip as the original ones are not flanged. Its **** liners they use in the factory...

it could be the cats, blocking up and restricting the exhaust,if they are rattling cut them out and weld a pipe in its place to try it.or source good second hand ones,your going to need them anyway.good luck

Mr Rowland said:

The liners can slip as the original ones are not flanged. Its **** liners they use in the factory...

Click to expand...

there not **** liners at least not the ones ive seen 3.5 v8 use the same liner but 200 thou less in diameter with no flange on top with no slipping,4 cylinder blocks when linered are the same too,liners sit on a ledge in block at the bottom ,there fitted with 3-4 thou interferrence fit

Sorry to hear of your plight, I'm a confirmed 3.5L 'classic' man myself but the engines are essentially the same. A 3.9L I once owned slipped a liner (# 3 if I remember rightly) but continued to drive at all speeds/distances for several weeks without overheating or losing any significant amount of coolant. Finally I couldn't stand the noise any more & replaced the block, which gave the car the dubious reputation of being the most expensive (on upkeep) vehicle I've ever owned

If it's not overpressuring the coolant and not over heating it is unlikely to be a slipped liner. Get a compression test done it maybe a valve or the head gasket blown between two cylinders. Are the plug leads on correclty is an obvious question?

Cheers guys,

I'll check plug leads & have a look at the cats this afternoon,
I've also been told to try the crank sensor although this chap says he's done this, but you never know.

Thanks again.

Hi again,

just a quickie,

Does anybody know of any p38 Gurus in the halifax area ?

I'm getting pretty peed off with the garages that know it all !!!!!
sorry....... know NAFF all.

Cheers.