Captain Cavemen

Captain Cavemen

Member
All, so the head gasket is gone. Mayonnaise in the rocker cover and the water level is dropping. I will do a compression test as a recheck but if there is anything else I should do, please say.
Questions:
Do I try and lift the head and slide a new gasket in, or strip it all off and do it properly?
Composite or copper gasket?
The head is original and not hardened but hasn’t ever missed a beat and has had additive in (owned since the days of 4*). Do I take the opportunity to send it to Turners for hardened valve seats etc I could do without spending the money and it only does 2-3,000 miles a year. Currently 90,000 on the clock.
Lastly, I know there are issues with the studs for the manifolds. Any suggestions for stud removal? I don’t have a heat option.

Any obvious pitfalls, do say. I have been spraying the head bolts with penetrating oil when passing. Hope it helps.

All suggestions gratefully received.
 
Head off, I remove as much as I can, makes lifting the thing easier. New gaskets all round. Composite gasket.
Up to you on turners heads, I fitted the head from a 2.5 on mine.

Assume exhaust studs are poor, if inexpensive, get anyway.
 
There is no sliding any thing in. Head off, clean the surfaces of block and head, composite gasket. Follow correct torque down method. Head can be remove with manifolds on but more weight. Plumbers blow lamp is a good small heat source. Some good videos on the you tube
 
Thanks all. Time to go into buying mode again. The basis are fine (full head gasket set + the bits known like the exhaust studds) are there any parts you might not think to buy when doing a head gasket swap? There is nothing more irritating than getting half way through a job than having to stop and wait for a minor part.
 
I done mine last year as the valve stems were goosed. Ended up putting on a composite gasket and replacing some bushes on the cam shaft but all in all was a great experience.

Even done a de-coke at the same time which all the pistons needed.

Have fun
 
Just so you know there are some core plugs in the head under the rocker shaft that can leak. Handly I found this out after I changed the head gasket!
 
Turners do quality head gasket sets def replace valve stem seals, I would also strip the valves and springs, rockers check for any damage and lap them in, inspect head for damage/ cracks etc and order parts once
 
brilliant thanks all. Anaconda, that note on core plugs is a good one. I have lived in fear of several on the back of the engine going since I changed the bulkhead. So far so good. I’ll let you know how things go once I have found an engine crane, compression tester and so on!

The list goes on.
 
Dear all,
So having been convinced I had a blown head gasket. As a last check I have done a compression test and whilst it was a DIY tester (sealey) so not perfect, it did show all the cylinders at about 100psi so I doubt the gasket is the problem.

The oil level is normal so any leaking is minimal volume. The water level drop in the rad is limited to about 1litre.

There is a fair amount of emulsion in the rocker cover but it’s hard to see through the oil filler - image attached.

Could it be a series of coincidental occurrences. Possible thought process: Cold running engine causing condensation and emulsion build up and also a pinhole leak in the rad I can’t see.

How do I test this? Any other suggestions?

Otherwise the engine seems to be fine.
 

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I think it is still head gasket issue, not a leak between cylinders but a leak from a waterway to say a pushrod access hole and then the sump. Possible it is being helped along by a small pressure leak from a cylinder tracking its way across the block/head joint.
Whatever there is a lot of water getting in there, droplets can be seen all over the place along with the mayo and the cause needs to be found. You say rad drop is just a liter but has this happened more than once?
 
tottot said:
I think it is still head gasket issue, not a leak between cylinders but a leak from a waterway to say a pushrod access hole and then the sump. Possible it is being helped along by a small pressure leak from a cylinder tracking its way across the block/head joint.
Whatever there is a lot of water getting in there and the cause needs to be found. You say rad drop is just a liter but has this happened more than once?
Click to expand...
Tottot, I have topped the rad up a bit but also been on a few runs (20-30miles) which will have heated things up. I think I have put in about 2 litres over the last 12-18 months. Not a lot but enough. Difficult to judge as I have been progressively working round the system changing hoses which had started to perish.
 
Have you taken the rocker cover off and checked the core plugs?
I was convinced ours was from short journeys etc. Once the rocker cover was off the underside was like looking at a margerine tub.
Take the rocker cover off, clean all the gunk off and run it without the rocker cover on and observe the core plugs for leaking. If you have antifreeze in it then you should see it relatively easily, only needs a small leak.
I wish I had known that before taking the head off.
 
Anaconda thanks for the tip. The rocker cover has been a historical spurs of leaks so it’s well and truly bonded to the head. I will start with cutting it off (I have a new gasket already) cleaning up and will look for leaks. Thanks all.
 
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