Technical Head Gasket Faliure? Compression and Symptoms Inside :)

[rallycinq]

Just found a great thread in the Punto section here that really ties in with my results. Funny coolant, funny smell, loss of water, but not much oil mayo. Makes me feel happy to see it also mentions no is most common and that there will probably be no carbon left on that piston.

The head wasn't ready today, so hopefully it will be ready tomorrow

To tide myself over i'm going to clean the block tonight, just the mating surface really and possibly the pistons, but is it really worth cleaning the carbon off, or just leaving it on there? If I do clean it off, anything to look out for?

Kristian

If you are going to clean the block and/or the pistons, have vacuum cleaner handy to get rid of all the bits. You don't want them down the sides of the pistons.

Cheers

D

 

[randomizered]

Yep, if i was that's exactly what i'd do

Makes me wonder where all the carbon from piston 1 went lol, out the exhaust valve? Lets hope so!

Can i turn the crank to move the pistons with the head off to i can clean each piston head, and visibly inspect the linings? I presume so, as long as i can return it to tdc.

Kristian

 

[arc]

you can, but beware of oil - you'll be turning the oil pump as well!

 

[randomizered]

Yeah, I thought so, save the garage floor, I'll drain the sump before i turn.

Cheers guys!

K

 

[HIGHLANDFIAT]

Yep, I'm getting the valve seals done by him, and also the cam seal. He said He could have got the whole gasket kit, including the cam seal for £25 for me, with an hour or two!

thought ur 1st price was expensive i got the head gasket etc for £30

 

[randomizered]

SPent all last night trying to clean up the block!

I used a combination of isopropyl alcohol, petrol, gunk and a dremel wire brush attachment.

It was a real pita and still doesn't look nice and shiny, but the deposits are gone, so hopefully i will get a nice seal.

I was going to clean up the pistons, but it is too much effort, especially when they will on get carbonised again!

Head is now back, but not torqued up yet.

30Nm in order first, then 90 degrees in order, then a further 90 degrees in order, thats the general idea correct?

Cheers,

Kristian

 

[col7104]

A blade from a stanley knife works great for scraping those deposits off

Yes I do believe that is the correct tightening procedure. Check the Punto section sticky for the tightening order.

 

[J333EVO]

Why not use a gasket remover like
http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/products.php?cat=Gasket Removers
or http://www.ur-motoring.co.uk/acatalog/Maintenance_sprays.html
or http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HERMETITE-GAS...ryZ72201QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

take a bit of the hard work out of removing old gaskets

 

[arc]

i used redex injector cleaner

 

[balidey]

A blade from a stanley knife works great for scraping those deposits off

I don't like the idea of a metal scraper, i tend to use bits of formica, the stuff that they make work top laminates from. Its sturdey enough to scrape, but not mark the metal surfaces

 

[col7104]

Never thought of using that stuff! Can see how it would work better though. I find you can do it with the blade, but carefully and yes it can mark it if you get the angle of attack wrong!

 

[randomizered]

Cheers guys, but its not the actual gasket itself i was trying to remove, that lifted off with no problems at all.

Around the pistons there was build up of carbon, there was also caked on oil on the top and generally lots of crap that didn't look like gasket at all, but was making the surface lumpy running my finger over it.

I guess maybe as it had blown for possibly a few thousand before it catastrophically failed, it may have been leaking slowly and causing this rubbish on the head.

I have cleaned it all off now, so to touch it feels smooth. It just isn't a nice clean metal colour like the newly skimmed head.

Fingers crossed its enough as it going back on tonight. If it blows again or doesn't seal properly, i'll get the block skimmed as well. But I'm hoping it will be fine

Kristian

 

[col7104]

Looks count for nothing Just as long as it's smooth and true. You can use all the techniques we posted above to get rid of that general crap that's caked on

 

[randomizered]

Well, that's enough for tonight A bit cold now lol


Got the head back on, rocker cover, new thermo fitted, coil packs on, exhaust re-fitted (a real ball breaker again )

Took out the water pump, and although i have gasket sealant (some blue stuff) its not what haynes says to use, or what was on there before, so that put a hold on carrying on tonight.

I rebuilt the tb and inlet manifold with the new seals, and gave it a good old clean.

For the weekend I have left; refit pump, replace tensioner, cam belt, various covers replace, inlet manifold, wiring, alternator belt, wheel lining, wheel, fluids and then HOPEFULLY a test and it all works

Still a long road ahead, but getting there slowly

Kristian

 

[randomizered]

Well, I rebuilt it all today, wired plumbed etc.

It fires fine and seems to idle ok, but the Engine Warning light (looks like yellow engine) stays on permanently.

I believe if its permanently on it means there is a sensor fault. Is it safe to drive in this state though?

I'll fiddle with the sensors tomorrow and hopefully resolve the problem, else I'll have to get the codes read Which sensor can cuase this? I guess either lambda, crank and cam sensors, temperature sensor. That about it right?


Cheers peeps,


Kristian

 

[SkinzCinqSporting]

I'd hazard a guess at either lambda or temperature sensor?

 

[randomizered]

Well, f**k me!

I was going to do a phoenic (or however you spell it) calibration to see if it would sort the light out.....as SOON as I released the handbrake, the light went out, and hasn't come on since

I have only done about 10 miles tonight, but all seemed OK, so fingers crossed its fixed.

I need to service it now for the 2nd. I got some iridium plugs today off the net, oil change tomo, replace the rear bump stop that broken, and general tidy up and hopefully it'll pass

I have lost an injector spring clip though, so will be chasing fiat up tomorrow. Should only cost a pound or so


Other than that, it all seems good at the moment Lets hope it stas that way.

Sure feels good to be back in the seat again. Been pushbiking, and panda 100hp/pg 1.9 td ing it this last week, and nothing compares

Kristian

 

[randomizered]

Well, the news is not so good, maybe im not cut out to be a home mechanic lol.

Went to do the oil and filter tonight, after doing approximatly 20 miles since the gasket was done.

Got underneath and there's oil over the sump ...followed it up, its on the water pump outlet pipe and over the front of the block, nice an dshiny on all the old crap oil that's built up there over the years.

It was leaking from the gasket :bang:

I took off the rocker cover, and re-torqued all the bolts to a much higher torque, and used de-greasant to clean up all oil traces, dirty and new, from around the gasket.

Will have to run it tomorrow and see if its still leaking! If so, its going to a garage, I'm not going through all of that again

Anyone else had similar problems before or am i just fated/unlucky

Kristian

 

[col7104]

Blue hylomar/silicone gasket maker is your friend

Smear a small amount on both sides of a new gasket, give it a bit more on the two semi circular ends as this is where they like to leak from, refit and tighten the bolts. Done mine this way and not a single peep of oil....yet

 

[randomizered]

Are you referring to the cam cover gasket?

I'm on about the head gasket Don't think i should be using gasket seal on there, plus it hours of work to do so lol

Kristian