Freelander 1 Tiny bit of mayo...

Pluribus · Mar 15, 2020

I was topping up coolant and oil just now and saw a tiny smear of mayo in the oil cap.

Can I do something now to mitigate hgf, or is it fecked?

I definitely can't afford to get the head skimmed. Can I get away in the short term with just replacing the gasket itself?

Henry_b · Mar 15, 2020

The head warps in the event of an Overheat, in my case the K series FL1 i had was fine with just a new headgasket

You could do a sniff test to narrow it down..

What kind of driving are you doing?

Pluribus · Mar 15, 2020

Henry_b said:
The head warps in the event of an Overheat, in my case the K series FL1 i had was fine with just a new headgasket

You could do a sniff test to narrow it down..

What kind of driving are you doing?

I work from home, so it's like the typical old lady "once a week to the shops and back". Up hill all the way there, down hill all the way back. I like to think I'm a sensible - if boring - driver.

I think I've driven her maybe a dozen times this year...

kermit_rr · Mar 15, 2020

I would be asking, why do you need to top up the coolant? Where is it going? I think you know.

You can't fix a head gasket, only replace and make sure head and block are flat

guineafowl21 · Mar 15, 2020

Pluribus said:
I work from home, so it's like the typical old lady "once a week to the shops and back". Up hill all the way there, down hill all the way back. I like to think I'm a sensible - if boring - driver.

I think I've driven her maybe a dozen times this year...

In that case it could be just condensation in the engine.

Tenebreaux · Mar 15, 2020

guineafowl21 said:
In that case it could be just condensation in the engine.

Beat me to it.

kermit_rr · Mar 15, 2020

Tenebreaux said:
Beat me to it.

Could well be if it's only a bit, still need to know why the coolant needed topping up though

Pluribus · Mar 15, 2020

kermit_rr said:
Could well be if it's only a bit, still need to know why the coolant needed topping up though

I drained the coolant when changing the inlet manifold a couple of weeks ago. Refilled it at the time, bled it as per Haynes, and drove it about 10 miles since then.

She's always had a slow leak as I top her up once a month or so, but only a small amount.

I do need a replacement expansion tank as it has the typical cracks around the neck, but that's a job for another day.

Henry_b · Mar 15, 2020

lack of use = condensation.

take it for a good run.

Jayridium · Mar 15, 2020

I agree with the others, if you are worried about it do a sniffer test, but I'm presuming you aren't seeing any of the other signs of a head gasket, like drastic overheating, over pressurisation of the coolant system bubbling up etc, so its most likely fine.

Pluribus · Mar 15, 2020

Jayridium said:
I agree with the others, if you are worried about it do a sniffer test, but I'm presuming you aren't seeing any of the other signs of a head gasket, like drastic overheating, over pressurisation of the coolant system bubbling up etc, so its most likely fine.

No, nothing like that.

Nodge68 · Mar 15, 2020

guineafowl21 said:
In that case it could be just condensation in the engine.

If it only does short trips, then condensation is more likely than a HG. Do you know where the coolant is going? The inlet manifold seal is known to let coolant into the engine. This can give similar symptoms of a failing HG, but isn't so difficult to fix. If the HG elastopolymer has started to de-laminate, then coolant can get into the coolant, but unless the engine has overheated, a simple HG replacement should restore it to working condition, providing the liners and head are in spec.

Pluribus · Mar 15, 2020

Nodge68 said:
If it only does short trips, then condensation is more likely than a HG. Do you know where the coolant is going? The inlet manifold seal is known to let coolant into the engine. This can give similar symptoms of a failing HG, but isn't so difficult to fix. If the HG elastopolymer has started to de-laminate, then coolant can get into the coolant, but unless the engine has overheated, a simple HG replacement should restore it to working condition, providing the liners and head are in spec.

I changed the inlet manifold a few weeks ago, adding a new inlet manifold gasket when I refitted it. The manifold itself was brand new.

I don't know where the leak is yet. I need to jack her up as I can't see a leak from the top.

How do I know if the liners are in spec?

Nodge68 · Mar 15, 2020

Pluribus said:
I don't know where the leak is yet. I need to jack her up as I can't see a leak from the top.

There are only 1/2 a dozen joints where coolant can leak from on the 1.8.

Pluribus said:
How do I know if the liners are in spec?

You take the head off and measure them. It's not difficult, needing just a straight edge and feeler gauges.

Alibro · Mar 15, 2020

Have you checked the dipstick for mayo? If not the HG is probably OK. The K series is known to loose coolant from the water pump so worth checking there.

Pluribus · Mar 15, 2020

Alibro said:
Have you checked the dipstick for mayo? If not the HG is probably OK. The K series is known to loose coolant from the water pump so worth checking there.

Definitely no mayo on the dipstick. Check the oil in her regularly, so would have seen it by now.

Freelander 1 Tiny bit of mayo...

Pluribus

Active Member

Henry_b

Think outside, no box required.

Pluribus

Active Member

kermit_rr

Very

guineafowl21

Well-Known Member

Tenebreaux

Well-Known Member

kermit_rr

Very

Pluribus

Active Member

Henry_b

Think outside, no box required.

Jayridium

Well-Known Member

Pluribus

Active Member

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Pluribus

Active Member

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Alibro

Well-Known Member

Pluribus

Active Member

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