Technical Head gasket blown, balancing options, little money

[Yolanda]

I've used steradent tablets before today in the windscreen washer bottle to get rid of the gunge that builds up and blocks the pump filter when using additives in the water. Clear screen/etc etc. With good results. jrkitching was typing whilst I was posting. I've never herd of using dish washer tablets in the cooling system.

 

[Yolanda]

Slightly off topic, I have used a little bit of brake fluid poured into the cooling system in the good old days too quieten down noisy water pumps.

 

[Keepthe12alive]

Thank you so much for the input!

 

[Keepthe12alive]

Also want to ask because it might keep me up at night – – I’ve been working with my mechanic on this project together, and he seems convinced that we didn’t need to worry about preserving the TDC timing both for the crankshaft and for the camshaft independently

We’ve already bolted the head back on with the new gasket, and now we have to do the timing – – but I know it’s an interference engine, should there be any problem with finding the TC for both the camshaft and the crankshaft together?

 

[Keepthe12alive]

I’m getting scared that I’ll have to pull the head off again

 

[koalar]

Also want to ask because it might keep me up at night – – I’ve been working with my mechanic on this project together, and he seems convinced that we didn’t need to worry about preserving the TDC timing both for the crankshaft and for the camshaft independently

We’ve already bolted the head back on with the new gasket, and now we have to do the timing – – but I know it’s an interference engine, should there be any problem with finding the TC for both the camshaft and the crankshaft together?

There timed with locking tools and all the pistons halfway down

 

[Keepthe12alive]

There timed with locking tools and all the pistons halfway down

Can I do that with the head already on?

 

[Keepthe12alive]

Basically, I put the head back on and neither the camshaft near the crankshaft were locked in place, and I know the camshaft has definitely moved since I took the head off

 

[jrkitching]

Can I do that with the head already on

Of course; you do this when you're changing a timing belt, and no one takes the head off to do that.

But you absolutely must have the correct locking tools for your engine.

 

[Keepthe12alive]

Thank youuuuu

I’ve got the locking tools!!

 

[jrkitching]

I have used a little bit of brake fluid poured into the cooling system in the good old days too quieten down noisy water pumps.

Interesting idea, though I'd have thought antifreeze would have a similar effect, since they're both generally glycol based.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Dishwasher tablets are strongly caustic and most contain sodium hydroxide. This attacks aluminium, so I'd definitely not recommend using this in any engine with aluminium components anywhere in the cooling system. On a Panda, I'd expect this to destroy both the radiator and the heater matrix in short order, especially if run up to temperature, and it won't do the head much good either.

This might work on vehicles with an all-iron engine and a copper cored radiator.

Thanks jrk, glad I've never tried it!

 

[koalar]

Dishwasher tablets are strongly caustic and most contain sodium hydroxide. This attacks aluminium, so I'd definitely not recommend using this in any engine with aluminium components anywhere in the cooling system. On a Panda, I'd expect this to destroy both the radiator and the heater matrix in short order, especially if run up to temperature, and it won't do the head much good either.

This might work on vehicles with an all-iron engine and a copper cored radiator.

I would be overly worried, although I have never tried it

It what garages use to do everyday with k series blown head gaskets, there are full aluminium block, head and radiator

We are talking about a 20g tablet with around 30% alkaline so about 6g in 4.6L

More concentrated, direct in a dishwasher, does a fine job of cleaning aluminium parts

Not my photos

It will strip anodised finishes though

Running plain water, with a blown head gasket will have caused a very acid coolant, not changing the coolant often enough is aften kills the thermostat washer

The fact is been run in plain water probably an indication there already a leak, that needs addressing first, the colour of the coolant, I can almost guarantee it's had k-seal or similar

Burping out is normally associated with air being sucked in and expanding

 

[Keepthe12alive]

Odd question — I am struggling to refit the fuel line back onto the injector rail, and might consider replacing the line and connector — do the fuel lines have to have certain specs?

 

[Keepthe12alive]

I’m thinking I need to replace the tensioner pulley that was fitted on with the water pump about a month ago wondering if it is only a single use item with its quality

In the event it’s not the tensioner pulley, and the timing belt slack is because of the skimmed head, what would my next move be?

 

[jrkitching]

and the timing belt slack is because of the skimmed head

The amount taken off the head when skimming will be miniscule; there should be plenty of adjustment in the tensioner pulley to accomodate this.

What you should replace is the timing belt; the fitting and tensioning procedure is designed to work properly only with a new belt

 

[Keepthe12alive]

The amount taken off the head when skimming will be miniscule; there should be plenty of adjustment in the tensioner pulley to accomodate this.

What you should replace is the timing belt; the fitting and tensioning procedure is designed to work properly only with a new belt

Thank you!! I just had new belts arrive today — thank you

Do you think if I tried the old tensioner with the new belt that would be okay?

 

[Keepthe12alive]

Thank you!! I just had new belts arrive today — thank you

Do you think if I tried the old tensioner with the new belt that would be okay?

Also — if the tensioner was bad, would still using the belt after trying the bad tensioner ruin the belt?

 

[MrMagoo]

Change the tensioner and pump as a matter of course with the cambelt.

 

[Yolanda]

Interesting idea, though I'd have thought antifreeze would have a similar effect, since they're both generally glycol based.

Possibly, I don't know I'm going back a long time when I was an apprentice at a well known Jaguar dealership in Manchester. Bluecol AA and the like were the stuff used in those days. I think the general practice then was to use antifreeze in the winter then drain it out in the spring and just use water. I think I might have done that myself then. I can remember removing XK heads to find the water ports corroded away, as I alluded to in an earlier post.
Going back to the brake fluid in the water bit, it will mix as we all know, as this is why we should change the brake fluid in the braking system every couple of years due to water contamination.