General possible HG faliure

[sei-abarth]

I think my head gasket has gone,
here are the symptoms.
1.missfire on start up (sounds like its runing on 3 cylinders 4 about 4 secs
2.jerking during full throttle accelration usally in 4th or 5th (even when engine is warm.
3.lossing water no visable leaks
4.oil on threads of one spark plug (all were recently changed)
5.small loss of power.
is this just a HG or is it more.i recently fitted an new rad thermostat.

 

[fingers99]

First sensible step is either a compression test or a coolant pressurisation test. It could be HG, but the tests will tell you if it is or not.

 

[sei-abarth]

cheers roughly how much do they cost 2 have done at a garage,or how much is it to buy the compression tester.

 

[GoBe]

cheers roughly how much do they cost 2 have done at a garage,or how much is it to buy the compression tester.

Budget for 1 hour of labour from a garage or pick up a screw in tester (forget about the push om type) for about 20£.

 

[fordcosworth]

we would noramaly charge around 35-40 quid for a compression and coolant pressure test mate,

 

[sei-abarth]

cheers, the hg has gone on clyinder number 1 silght crack just by the water jackets. not sure on weather head needs skimmin now :bang:

 

[fordcosworth]

cheers, the hg has gone on clyinder number 1 silght crack just by the water jackets. not sure on weather head needs skimmin now :bang:

welcome to the fiat engines worst problem haha, mine went at 32,000 and they seem to always go in exactly the same place!!
i had mine skimmed on the N/A cinq for the higher compression side of things and i got it skimmed for 30 quid while the head was off.
have the head checked proffesionally they will most likely pressure test the head and tell you if it needs skimming!

 

[fingers99]

I'd have them give it a light skim just to clean it up anyway. Might as well get them to re-cut the valves while it's off (but it'll need re-shimming afterwards).

 

[sei-abarth]

arr rite cheers for the help, i'll get sum price's,i was lookin at my breather pipes an induction kit and ive noticed, the breathers an my filter has loads of that snotty contaminated oil in them,not sure if thats normal for a blown head gasket, it was just abit worryin, theirs none on the throttle body,any sugestions

 

[fordcosworth]

arr rite cheers for the help, i'll get sum price's,i was lookin at my breather pipes an induction kit and ive noticed, the breathers an my filter has loads of that snotty contaminated oil in them,not sure if thats normal for a blown head gasket, it was just abit worryin, theirs none on the throttle body,any sugestions

yes this is very normal for a blown h/g it can be one of the first signs og one going.it can also come from short journeys too around the filler cap.
make sure its all cleane out when the head is done