Technical Engine seized 20 miles afetr HG change

[rjp996]

Hi,

Head gasket went the other day on my Punto 55s (1.1) – was getting using little water use but none in oil or white smoke etc. Had Head gasket changed by a mechanic, however 20 miles down the road and the engine has seized and stripped the teeth off the cam belt. Have a suspicion that he may have put the gasket in the wrong way around and blocked the oil channels up to the head. Is this possible to do on the Punto 1.1 engine, and secondly is there a way I can check if the gasket is the wrong way round / blocking the oil ways without taking head off – eg can I take off the cam cover and put a wire down the oil way or some such to see if it only goes as far as the head ?? . May have just been unlucky, but something tells me something like gasket is wrong way ? Thanks for any advise.

 

[tinytim]

Is it the top or bottom engine that is seized? ie will the cam pulley and/or the crank pulley turn?
Very careless if HG fitted wrongly as it says on it which way round.
Water always contaminates the engine oil when the HG fails so its wise to change the oil at the same time ( I change the oil again after a few miles to make sure) so if there was still water in the oil this could have caused the engine to seize. If the bottom end is OK just remove the head and it should be obvious if the HG was incorrectly fitted.

 

[rjp996]

Yep, its the head that has seized up. mechanic is saying its because the head had prev overheated, but its all locked solid - Think I am being ripped off, as everything looks burnt inside - looks like oil starvation to me. Unfortunatly he already took to head off and removed the gasket so cant tell if ih put it on the wrong way around (unless there are any tell tail signs on the gasket I shoudl look for).

 

[dave]

he is ripping you off, if there was any thing wrong with the head he should have put it right, checking head is all part of the job. cheap gaskets dont always say what way is up so he has fitted it wrong way, look at where oul way is if there is a raised bit on the gasket in same place when upside down then its a sign he fitted in wrong

 

[varesecrazy]

Is it the top or bottom engine that is seized? ie will the cam pulley and/or the crank pulley turn?
Very careless if HG fitted wrongly as it says on it which way round.
Water always contaminates the engine oil when the HG fails so its wise to change the oil at the same time ( I change the oil again after a few miles to make sure) so if there was still water in the oil this could have caused the engine to seize. If the bottom end is OK just remove the head and it should be obvious if the HG was incorrectly fitted.

Water traces in the oil will cause long-term wear..NOT a seized head in 20 miles,
blocked oilways are the favourite,

YES - it is possible to fit the gasket incorrectly,
you may see "pressure bumps / dimples" in the gasket where an oilway has been covered,

sorry it's not better news,
Charlie

 

[dirtyhands]

got away with an odd one that was well cooked after doing hg and oil and filter was changed due to stink,tell him you want to look at head and block to take pictures,it does sound as if gasket may have been on wrong,now next question how regular was the oil and filter changed,thinking of blocked strainer?
engine should have been noisier with the problem.

 

[fingers99]

Trading standards.