Technical 2.4TD Overheating

[al_scott]

Coming home on Thursday evening, it was chucking down with rain. I went through some pretty big puddles.

During my journey I noticed that the fuel injector warning light kept going on and off intermittantly. I decided that this might just be caused by water splashing the engine - it hasn't come on again since.

When I got home I noticed a quiet whistling sound coming from the engine. I looked under the bonnet and found steam coming out of the expansion tank cap.

On Friday, I topped up the water and took the car on a five mile drive - it was OK.

Today, I've been a bit further - about 15 miles. I had the same problem with steam coming out off the expansion tank. I continued my journey home and after a while, the temperature guage began to creep up. When it was nearly at the red, I stopped to fill up with diesel.

After I'd filled up, the temp guage was back to normal. I drove (about 3 miles) and the guage stayed on normal.

What do you think is causing this? Head gasket? Water pump? Something easier to fix?

 

[viper1253]

hi it sounds to me that you may have damaged your engine buy going thought the puddles. diesel engines use compression to work and water doesnt compress so if water has gotten into your air intake you can do lots of damage. (bent valves etc) get a garage to do a compression test and that will tell you if you have damaged your engine.

 

[polecat]

Check your water for oil, sludge or bad egg smell. Xheck your exhaust for blue/white smoke. These are indicators of head gasket failures.

 

[javednazeer]

Hello there, I have a good news for you. I recently had the same problem with my car and I was not in a position to do engine repairs. I did some extensive search on the web and found there are companies in the states that repair head gasket without even removing the head, it quite amazes me, but it is true and they give 2 years unlimited warranty. Well we don't have this kind of service in the UK, so what I did was to try this amazing, yet excellent product that works wonders. It is called K-Seal. It repairs cracks, head gaskets or leaks in the cooling system. So the end product is a car which is return to normal.

I would recommend that you use the K-seal product and then do a complete mini service including oil and filter change. But this time add Ametech Engine restore oil. I will provide you with web info from where you can buy these.

1. http://www.k-seal.co.uk/k-seal.html
2. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QUENTIN-WILSO...582590952QQcategoryZ10408QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Hope this do good to your engine and it has work wonders in previous fiat I have own and I have recently cured one Toyota lucida 2.2 diesel which was steaming badly from the exhaust as well. So definitely some great cost effective savings out there.

Let me know. Thanks.

 

[al_scott]

Thanks for your replies folks. viper1253, the engine seems to run like normal - i.e. no loss of power. Would this happen with a bent valve?

Not sure about K-Seal and Ametech. They sound a bit like snake oil. Anyone else used them?

I did a bit of further investigation on my car yesterday. I waited for the engine to cool down, then started it with the expansion tank cap removed. After a few minutes, there were whisps of smoke/steam coming out of the tank.

I put an empty jam jar upside down on the tank opening. The gas didn't condense (like steam would) so I asssume it is exhaust gas. I think this confims that it's the head gasket or crack in the block.

 

[al_scott]

Been reading a bit more about K-Seal. I might give it a go - it's only £10.

By the way, no sludge etc in the oil. However, I haven't done many miles since the gasket (or whatever else it could be) went.

 

[polecat]

Good luck

Let us know how you get on with the K-Seal.

I'll reserve comment on the Ametech until more users have used it. It sounds too good to be true. I'll put a post up in the main forum to see if anyone else has come across it.

 

[viper1253]

water in the bore may of cracked the block. being the 2.4 it has a lot of low down torque (meaning it will try dam hard to compress the water untill something gives, normaly valves ,block or crank shaft.)

 

[RS Pilot]

The symptoms do sound like a head gasket gone and you're pressurising the coolant system.

When you compress water in a diesel, you're more likely to bend a rod. Bending a valve shouldn't happen as nothing has hit them, bending the crank is very unlikely as you have 6 mains keeping it straight and the block should be ok as you're not running liners.

You could also have broken head fasteners as the head (which does actually move under compression) may have taken them beyond yield when the pistons were trying to compress the water.

Even in the best case scenario (just a head gasket), K seal is unlikely to have an affect on your engine as the head gaskets flame ring will be knackered.

 

[al_scott]

I'm starting to doubt whether I should try K Seal or not.

Even if it does work, I will always be wondering how permanent it will be. Then whilst going on holiday with a car full of kids and their paraphernalia it will fail - leaving be up the creek without a paddle so to speak.

 

[smtvlive]

That post about the additive sounds more like an advert, i think there is a small chance that you could use it to get you car home or to the garage, but i think that getting it done right is better than some additive.

I tried one to sort the head out on a Dolomite sprint all it did was take £10 out my wallet.

Cheers

 

[al_scott]

Anyone know a decent mechanic in the Telford, Stafford, Cannock, Wolverhampton area? The one I normally use is booked up for a week and a half.

 

[javednazeer]

With less than £10 a bottle, its worth a try compared to what you will pay and even though you might not be satisfied.

 

[viper1253]

try bird and yates, cannock its behind the honda garage when i have needed them they have been good. if major work is needed i know a guy that will do it at his home garage for cheap.

 

[Modo]

Hiya,

Had the same problem with smoke in expansion tank and blue smoke from exhaust.

Tried K-Seal (thanks for the info Javednazeer), but it didn't work for me.

Took car to local garage who said Cyl Head Gasket and wanted £650 to do the job. They recon Fiat charge £1100.

Did it myself (£140 for all the bits incl top end gasket kit & Timing belt).

Seems to have cured it, but now have smoke coming from dipstick tube (looks like piston rings )

Oh the joy of fiats

 

[al_scott]

The garage is looking at my car next week. They say that there is a good chance that the head is cracked - pretty expensive!

Does anyone know where I can get a used one? Just thought I'd ask in case I need one.

 

[viper1253]

sorry about the news on the cracked head (i hate when i'm right) just keep looking on ebay for the head or try www.partfinderuk.co.uk

 

[amclpreston]

Hi

I've used K-Seal twice, and it has worked both times.

See http://kalimex.moonfruit.com

Andrew

 

[LASSIE1010]

Have A Couple Of 2.4 Engines Striped
Heads Ok
Small Price If Stuck

 

[BIG G]

I had a 1900 td tempra estate with a similar problem, I flushed out the system then refilled with clean water and ran the engine with the heater full on and the exspansion cap off
which gets rid of any air locks, you know you have cured it when the water starts boiling up in the tank, then drain out enough water to add anti freeze, and you should be ok.