Help Steaming Head

Hi all

I have had a good weekend i thought until this morning. I replaced the head gasket on my 2003 freelander 1.8 because i found some specks of oil in the coolant res so i thought it would be better to be safe and change the head gasket whilst i had a spare weekend.

So i changed it started it up yesterday evening and ran it out for about 20miles, the temp was ok and the engine appeared fine. This morning i have driven it to work (40-50miles) stopped at the garage by work to hear a noise from the engine. upon investigation there is steam leaking from the right hand side of the cylinder head... What is confusing me is that the temp gauge is half way reading correct, what has happened? what have i done wrong? can anyone help me please?

Rob

Side-show-bob said:

Hi all

I have had a good weekend i thought until this morning. I replaced the head gasket on my 2003 freelander 1.8 because i found some specks of oil in the coolant res so i thought it would be better to be safe and change the head gasket whilst i had a spare weekend.

So i changed it started it up yesterday evening and ran it out for about 20miles, the temp was ok and the engine appeared fine. This morning i have driven it to work (40-50miles) stopped at the garage by work to hear a noise from the engine. upon investigation there is steam leaking from the right hand side of the cylinder head... What is confusing me is that the temp gauge is half way reading correct, what has happened? what have i done wrong? can anyone help me please?
Rob

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Is the steam coming from the bottom of the head (where you fitted the new gasket)?

Need more info......

Did you only replace the gasket (new MLS Gasket and shim) or replace head bolts, oil rail, flush water and oil system?

Without knowing what you've done in full detail your gonna get lots of crap from peeps.

Another handy thing would be did the car over heat originally?

ok sorry more info:

when i bought it 3 weeks ago i was told it had a new HG 3000mile ago.
It had not overheated in the 3 weeks i have had it it was the oil in the expansion tank that worried me.

The steam is comming from the right hand side of the engine where the head meets the block so where my new gasket is, when the engine is off it is a slow drip of water then turns to steam when the car is running.

It had a standard HG on and i have replaced it with a MLS gasket and shim, and used new bolts, i havent replaced the rail, and i flushed the coolant system but not the oil it is going to have an oil change on Thursday (i ran out of time on sunday). I did have trouble bleeding the air from the coolant i could only find one bleed on the heater hose i couldn't find the one on the right of the engine. It had the thermostat modification all ready so i havent done that.

OK good info.

If as you say the head was done only 3000 miles ago, I'm amaz that it had a old style gasket fitted, I'd think you may have been lied to about the head being done.

Anyhow, back to the issue now. Air issue, the engine needs to be nice and hot go for a drive and get the temp up and your blowers on full (hot), just make sure you've got OK water level first. turn off engine and remove bleed valve completley from the hose that runs into the cabin (two of them, top one has valve) once the air gets around the water should shoot out from the hole, allow it to run out for a little bit longer just to make sure no more air and put valve back on. Top water back up via tank.

If water is still coming from side of head, check bolts as they may be wrong tention.

My own conern is the MLS gasket is recomended for use on skimmed heads, as the shim counts for the shaved alloy, you may not be getting the correct tention needed.

Sorry to ask but where did you get your parts from? What was the cost? Cheap parts can be trouble, head bolts dont tighten correctly and can snap, it's always best to use the best, or costs are worse in the long run.

No problem with the questions, i am really anoyed as i have done loads of Discos and not had a problem..

I used FAI gaskets and FAI bolts they should have been about £145 before my discount.

I tightened the head up to 20Nm then did the 180 and then the 180 again as stated in both the Rave and the document supplied with the gasket set. Do you think i will be able to tighten it down again say anothe 90deg or would you strip it and replace the gaskets again?

Side-show-bob said:

No problem with the questions, i am really anoyed as i have done loads of Discos and not had a problem..

I used FAI gaskets and FAI bolts they should have been about £145 before my discount.

I tightened the head up to 20Nm then did the 180 and then the 180 again as stated in both the Rave and the document supplied with the gasket set. Do you think i will be able to tighten it down again say anothe 90deg or would you strip it and replace the gaskets again?

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If you've used good parts and took it down to 20Nm in stages then you should have been OK.

Try the air, I've never used Rave but I know alot of peeps on here refer to it all the time.

If the air doesn't fix it, your going to have to remove the head again I'd recommend you have it tested and skimmed, sorry more money but it really is the best thing for the MLS gasket.

I guess the gasket could be faulty but it wouldn't be my first call....

Side-show-bob said:

No problem with the questions, i am really anoyed as i have done loads of Discos and not had a problem..

I used FAI gaskets and FAI bolts they should have been about £145 before my discount.

I tightened the head up to 20Nm then did the 180 and then the 180 again as stated in both the Rave and the document supplied with the gasket set. Do you think i will be able to tighten it down again say anothe 90deg or would you strip it and replace the gaskets again?

Click to expand...

No option given where it's leaking but to do it again. Check the liner heights. Have the head checked. Skim if necessary and there is enough thickness, otherwise it will be scrap. Bin the bolts they shouldn't be retightened or reused.

When you say the right hand side of the engine - is it near the back, if so just wondering if it could be the inlet manifold gasket or can you definitely see the leak from the head to block joint?

Chaser said:

Check the liner heights. Have the head checked. Skim if necessary and there is enough thickness, otherwise it will be scrap. Bin the bolts they shouldn't be retightened or reused.

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As the bolts haven't even done 100 miles I'd say they'd be fine to reuse. Had they been on for a period I'd have changed them but a day, nope measure them to see if all the same and if so reuse.

In all fairness Chaser is right in what he's saying chuck and renew, but others dont and as mentioned they've only heated up twice!

OK OK It's only right for me to ask, SSBob, did you crank the engine over whilst the head was off? Old joke!

Have you had a look since your earlier post?

Any news on this????