Hope it's not the head gasket

whitto · Dec 21, 2009

Advice please!!!!!!

1999 1.8 Petrol Freelander

Was going fine Saturday night. Wouldn't start yesterday or today. There's been a loss of coolant.

Have checked dipstick and oil filler cap - no mayo like substance

Took off coolant expansion tank cap. Doesn't look as if any oil is in the expansion tank but it does smell of petrol!!!!!!

Could it be failure of the inlet manifold gasket allowing coolant and fuel to mix, or is that just wishful hoping!!!!!!

Any and I mean any advice would be helpful. Bought the car from a dealer 10 days ago and any info which would help me discuss it with them would be an advantage.

Thanks again Chester

The Mad Hat Man · Dec 21, 2009

1) get a sniffer test done to confirm (or not) HGF.
2) take it back and demand a full refund as not fit for purpose and put the money towards a diesel.

howardo · Dec 21, 2009

whitto said:
Advice please!!!!!!

1999 1.8 Petrol Freelander

Was going fine Saturday night. Wouldn't start yesterday or today. There's been a loss of coolant.

Have checked dipstick and oil filler cap - no mayo like substance

Took off coolant expansion tank cap. Doesn't look as if any oil is in the expansion tank but it does smell of petrol!!!!!!

Could it be failure of the inlet manifold gasket allowing coolant and fuel to mix, or is that just wishful hoping!!!!!!

Any and I mean any advice would be helpful. Bought the car from a dealer 10 days ago and any info which would help me discuss it with them would be an advantage.

Thanks again Chester

Atleast its British

Take it back as MHM says, its up to them to sort it out.

chromiumuk · Dec 21, 2009

Sorry but the petrol smell is not good news. Hope you get sorted.

whitto · Dec 21, 2009

Well, had son do a compression test. Result as follws as look at engine left to right

9lb psi 5lb psi 8lb psi 8lb psi

Noted that HT lead on 9lb psi plug is knackered.

He also tapped the fuel cut off switch. Put it all back together and out of interest, turned it over and presto, burst into life. However was missing on the knackered HT lead.

Let it tick over, exhaust seemed good, but noted that temperature guage on instrument panel hadn't moved. Also noted that heater hoses going through bulk head, one hot and one cold. Aware that just had clutch renewed so engine has been out. Wondering if when refilled with coolant just refilled without bleeding causing air lock(s).

So tomorrow, weather permitting, replacing HT leads, plugs and coolant. Hope this works, any comments, will post results. Cheers ALL Chester

s underwood · Dec 21, 2009

dont spend your hard earned cash on repairing it surely this must be down to the dealer get him to come and get it and sort it out

Northern Irelander · Dec 21, 2009

you'll get all the help you need on here, but as it's from a dealer, take it back and get them to sort it, or walk away from it. For a dealer to put out a 1.8 not running soundly, is just shoddy.

Are those pressure reading in bar??? And are they cold readings.

Cylinder 2 seems very low in comparison to the others, an immediate cause for concern, whether that be inlet gasket, hgf or worn piston rings or valves.

cylinder 1 may have more gunk/carbon deposits in the cylinder.

Any coolant with be white and chalky on the spark plugs.

Did you bleed the system after topping up?

whitto · Dec 22, 2009

Thanks Northern Irelander

Plugs were good. Had to do compression test when engine cold. Now got it running, will test when hot. Gonna bleed the system the afternoon

Northern Irelander · Dec 22, 2009

whitto said:
Thanks Northern Irelander

Plugs were good. Had to do compression test when engine cold. Now got it running, will test when hot. Gonna bleed the system the afternoon

Thought they were cold readings.

Doesnt really matter they will all be higher by several bar when hot

cyl 2 is low enough to warrant further investigation, but the dealer should be doing that...............given it's 'that time of year' you could be waiting until new year before they get it checked???

If it does have minor hgf (or valve issue) cyl 2 , it should still start, just idle rough and down slightly on power

Hope it's not the head gasket

whitto

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