EFFECTS OF A FAILED OR "BLOWN" HEAD GASKET

THE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET WILL LEAD TO OVERHEATING PROBLEMS, BOILING UP AND PRESSURISATION OF THE COOLING SYSTEM THAT CAN LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE RADIATOR, HOSES OR EVEN THE EXPANSION TANK CAN EXPLODE, OIL AND WATER CONTAMINATION, CRACK TO APPEAR W ITHIN THE CYLINDER HEAD, POOR PERFORMANCE, UNEVEN RUNNING AND EVENTUAL CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IF USED FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD A OVERHEAT TEMPERATURE.

WHAT ARE THE TELL TALE SIGNS?

BY FOLLOWING THIS PROCEDURE YOU W ILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY A FAILED HEAD GASKET. 1. OPEN THE BONNET AND W HITH THE ENGINE COLD CHECK THE COOLANT LEVEL AND COLOUR. IT SHOULD BE AT THE NORMAL LEVEL AND THE COOLANT SHOULD BE EITHER CLEAR OR BLUE OR GREEN COLOURED BY THE ANTI FREEZE, IT SHOULD STILL BE CLEAN AND CLEAR, THE INTERIOR OF THE EXPANSION TANK OR RADIATOR SHOULD ALSO BE CLEAN WITHOUT ANY SIGNS OF A SOAPY THICK CREAMY DEPOSIT. IF THERE IS A THICK CREAMY SCUM THEN THIS IS A GOOD INDICATION OF W ATER AND OIL CONTAMINATION AND THE MOST COMMON CAUSE IS HEAD GASKET FAILURE OR A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. IF ALL IS AS IT SHOULD BE MOVE ONTO CHECK 2.

2. TAKE OUT THE OIL DIPSTICK, AND LOOK AT THE OIL ATTACHED TO IT IT SHOULD BE CLEAR OR BLACK, IF IT IS A CREAMY COLOUR THEN THIS INDICATES THAT WATER HAS MIXED WITH THE OIL AND THE MOST COMMON CAUSE IS A FAILED HEAD GASKET OR CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. IF THE OIL IS CLEAR OR BLACK MOVE ONTO CHECK LIST 3. 3. REMOVE THE CAP TO THE EXPANSION TANK AND START THE ENGINE, ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RUN UP TO NORMAL TEMPERATURE W ATCHING THAT THE WATER LEVEL REMAINS CONTANT AND IS ROTATING AS IT SHOULD, REPLACE THE CAP TO THE EXPANSION TANK AND LEAVE THE ENGINE RUNNING, IF THE VEHICLE IS FITTED WITH AN ELECTRIC COOLING FAN ALLOW IT TO CYCLE ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN AND MAKE REGULAR CHECK ON THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE IT SHOULD SIT AT NORMAL SWITCH THE INTERIOR HEATER TO HOT AND TURN ON THE INTERIOR FAN THE HEATER SHOULD BLOW WARM OR HOT IF AFTER RUNNING AT NORMAL TEMPERATURE FOR 10 MINS THE GUAGE HAS STAYED AT NORMAL, THE COOLING FAN HAS CYCLED ON AND OFF PROPERLY AND THE INTERIOR HEATER IS STILL BLOW ING HOT ON DEMAND TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND GO TO STEP 4. 4. ALLOW THE ENGINE TO REST FOR A COUPLE OF MINS, THEN WITH GREAT CARE AND WHILE WEARING GLOVES TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE HEAT TRY SQEEZING THE TOP HOSE FROM THE RADIATOR, IF THE HOSE IS SOLID THEN LEAVE A LITTLE LONGER UNTIL YOU CAN SQUEEZE IT A LITTLE THEN SLOWLY REMOVE THE CAP TO THE EXPANSION TANK OR RADIATOR, IF THE GASKET OR CYLINDER HEAD HAS FAILED THERE WILL BE A GREAT GUSHING OF BOILING WATER SO YOU MUST DO THIS CAREFULLY. STAND WELL BACK AND RELEASE THE PRESSURE SLOWLY, IF THERE IS NO GREAT GUSH A SLIGHT HISS, LIKE OPENING A POP BOTTLE IS OK BUT DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO DIP YOUR FINGER IN IT IT IS STILL VERY HOT. NOW CHECK THE OIL AGAIN AND THE COOLANT FOR CLARITY IF THEOIL IS CLEAR AND NOT CREAMY COLOURED AND THE WATER IS CLEAR AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS STABLE AND NORMAL THEN THE LIKELYHOOD IS THAT EVERYTHING HEAD GASKET W ISE IS TICKETY BOO.

THE SHORT VERSION

IF THE OIL IS CREAMY COLOURED AND THERE ARE SOAP LIKE DEPOSITS IN THE ROCKER COVER WALK AWAY. IF THE CAR OVER HEATS FOR NO APPARANT REASON W ALK AWAY IF THE W ATER IS CONTAMINATED WITH OIL OR A SOAPY SUBSTANCE W ALK AWAY

IF THE COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURISES ABNORMALLY WALK AWAY. IF THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT WORK, IF THE CAP IS MISSING OFF THE RADIATOR OR THE EXPANSION TANK, IF THERE ARE SIGNS OF SOAPY DEPOSITS OR EVEN WORSE FRESH WIPE MARKS INSIDE THE OIL FILLER CAP OR EXPANSION TANK, ANY SPLITS IN THE RAIATOR OR EXPANSION TANK THEN W ALK AW AY AS THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT THE GASKET HAS FAILED AND CAUSED THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROBLEMS ABOVE.

CAN IT BE REPAIRED.
THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES, BUT THIS IS NOT A CHEAP JOB, A COMPETENT DIY MECHANIC COULD SAVE THEM SELF THE LABOUR COST BUT MY ADVICE IS GET A RESPECTABLE GARAGE TO DO THE JOB AND GUARANTEE THIER W ORK.

THE REPAIR WILL USUALLY INVOLVE THE PURCHASE OF A GASKET KIT AND CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS AS THESE ARE MADE TO STRETCH AND SHOULD ONLY BE TORQUED DOW N ONCE. THE CYLINDER HEAD WILL NEED TO BE SENT TO A SPECIALIST FOR PRESSURE TESTING AND SKIMMING FLAT TO TAKE OUT ANY WARPS CAUSED BY THE EXESSIVE TEMPERATURES. THE TYPICAL COST OF THIS REPAIR FOR A STANDARD 4 CYLINDER CAR WOULD BE

GASKET KIT AND REPLACEMENT BOLTS 75.00 HEAD TESTING AND SKIMMING 75.00

6 HOURS LABOUR AT 30 = 180.00 CONSUMABLES OIL, FILTER, ANTIFREEZE ETC 40.00 SO A TYPICAL HEAD GASKET FAILURE COULD BA AS LITTLE AS 370.00 PROVIDING THE HEAD HAS NOT CRACKED. IF THE HEAD HAS CRACKED THEN IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE YOU WOULD NEED TO SOURCE AND PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT HEAD. I HOPE THAT AS A PROSPECTIVE BUYER YOU FIND THIS GUIDE USEFUL, YOU CAN USE THE RESULTS OF THIS TEST TO DECIDE WHETHER TO BUY OR NOT OR TO NEGOTIATE A PRICE THAT REFLECTS THE CONDITION, DO NOT RISK DRIVING IT HOME IF YOU CAN POSSIBLY AVOID IT GET IT TOW ED OR RECOVERED TO WHERE THE WORK CAN BE DONE. IF THIS HAS HELPED YOU PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK FOR IT

Vy Year Req (YYLR Qty. YY) CK1,2 (LM7, 99**574660 TUBE PCV,(INCLS 41),(INCL VALVE) 1 LR4) 00 99**554211 STUD IGN COIL BRKT,(HFH,M6X1X18),(03.330) CK1,2 (LM7) 10 00 COIL IGN,(SEE GROUP 02.000 "COIL ASM/IGNITION" FOR 99DETAILED ILLUSTRATED VIEW) (NOT AVAILABLE) 00 BOLT VLV RKR ARM CVR,(PART OF 99**577215 CK1,2 (LM7) 8 9,36),(M6.0X1.0),(W/GROMMET,SLEEVE) 00 99**198949 GROMMET PCV VLV,(PART OF 9) CK1,2 (LM7) 1 00 99**560961 BOLT VLV RKR ARM PIV SUPT,(M8X1.25X52.5) CK1,2 (LM7) 16 00 99**214664 ARM VLV RKR CK1,2 (LM7) 16 00 99**552203 SUPPORT VLV RKR ARM PIV CK1,2 (LM7) 2 00 COVER VLV RKR ARM,(INCLS CK1,2 (LR4, 99**570427 1 L 4,5,10),(INCLS:COVER,GASKET,BOLT,DEFLECTOR,FITTING) LM7) 00 GASKET VLV RKR ARM CVR,(PART OF 9,36),(*KIT1)(NOT 99**560696 CK1,2 (LM7) 2 AVAILABLE) 00 BOLT CYL HD,(HFH,M11X2.0X155,50 THD W/ADHES 99**588291 CK1,2 (LM7) 16 PATCH) 00 BOLT CYL HD,(SHORT),(M11X2.0X100.0-6G THD),(W/ADHES 99**560745 CK1,2 (LM7) 4 PATCH) 00 99**558840 BOLT CYL HD,(SHORT),(M8X1.25X45) CK1,2 (LM7) 10 00 99**578925 HEAD CYL,(INCLS 20,22),(EXC VALVES) CK1,2 (LM7) 2 00 99**166345 KEY VLV STEM CK1,2 (LM7) 32 00 99**166344 CAP VLV SPR CK1,2 (LM7) 16 00 99**589774 SPRING VLV CK1,2 (LM7) 16 00 99**565118 SHIM VLV SPR,(1.0 MM THICK) CK1,2 (LM7) 16 00 99**457652 SEAL KIT EXH VLV STEM OIL,(14.4MM),(INCLS (8) SEALS) CK1,2 (LM7) 1 00 Usage

Key Part No. Description 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

19 **533586 SEAL KIT INT VLV STEM OIL,(INCLS (8) SEALS) 20 21 21 22 23 24 24 GUIDE VLV,(PART OF 14) (NOT AVAILABLE) WIRE SPLG,(7MM DIA, 9.2"LONG),(W/O HEAT SHLD)(IGN **192195 CABLE),(2ND DES) WIRE SPLG,(7MM DIA, 10.5"LONG),(W/O HEAT SHLD)(IGN **192133 CABLE),(1ST DES) PLUG CYL HD CORE HOLE,(PRESS IN CUP),(PART OF **562126 14),(CUP,32.03X7.88X1.27, S30400 SS PER SAE J405.) SPARK PLUG (DO NOT CHANGE SPARK PLUG GAP FROM **571164 .040"),(IRIDIUM) Replaced by: **621258 SENSOR ENG COOL TEMP,(2-WAY MALE),(03.682) **326388 Replaced by: **608814 SENSOR ENG COOL TEMP,(2-WAY MALE) **326388 Replaced by: **608814

CK1,2 (LM7)

9900

9900 99CK1,2 (LM7) 00 99CK1,2 (LM7) 00 CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7, 99LR4) 00 CK1,2 (LR4, LM7, LQ4) CK1,2 (LR4, LM7, LQ4) CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7) 9900 9900 9900 9900 9900 9900 9900

8 8 2 8 1 1 8 8 8 8 4

25 **562954 VALVE EXH,(0.015" O.S.) 25 **563064 VALVE EXH,(STD) 26 **562950 VALVE INT,(0.015"O.S.),(**VPI 1-877-846-8243) (NOT AVAILABLE)

26 **564494 VALVE INT,(STD) 27 **551163 BOLT VLV LFTR GDE,(M6X1.0X19) 28 GASKET CYL HD,(*KIT1) (NOT AVAILABLE)

29 **238852 ROD VLV PUSH 30 **551162 GUIDE VLV LFTR,(ACCOMMODATES 4 VLV LFTRS EACH,WITHOUT SIDE GROOVES)

CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7) CK1,2 (LM7)

31 **122490 LIFTER VLV,(ROLLER) 32 **558081 PIN CYL HD LOC,(1/2 X 5/8 O.D.) 33 **553191 PLUG CYL HD CORE HOLE,(M12X1.5X21),(HEX,SOC) 34 **575742 COVER ENG BLK VALLEY 35 **556932 HOSE PCV COVER VLV RKR ARM,(REPLACES COVER W/ONE BOSS 36 **582224 AREA),(INCLS 4,10),(INCLS:COVER,GASKET,BOLT,DEFLECTOR,FITTING) SEAL OIL FIL TUBE(O RING),(PART OF 38),(27.94MM 37 **100002 I.D.),(SIZE #320) 38 **570623 TUBE OIL FIL,(INCLS 37) SEAL OIL FIL CAP(O RING),(PART OF 40),(27.94MM 39 **100002 I.D.),(SIZE #320),(01.745) 40 **573337 CAP OIL FIL,(SAE 5W30)(NON-VENTED)(SEAL),(INCLS 39) 41 **179136 VALVE PCV,(PART OF 1),(*ALL MAKES) KIT1**457116 GASKET KIT CYL HD,(INCLS 10,28)(EXCEPT:CYL HEAD BOLTS)

9916 00 994 00 9916 00 994 00 991 00 991 00 991 00 9900 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 R

9900 CK1,2 (LM7) 00 CK1,2 (LM7) 00 CK1,2 (LM7) 00 99CK1,2 (LM7) 00 99CK1,2 (LM7) 00