Technical What gasket is this?

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Technical What gasket is this?

Gun_Metal_Grey

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Was working under the bonnet to find leaking oil! Does anyone have any idea of the name of gasket and whether it is a DIY job or not! It seems like everday I find a new prob with my uno turbo mk2 :bang:

I don't seem to be losing water and oil cap hasn't any mayo! I previously noticed oil consumption, but didn't bother examining...

leakingoilsideview6ft.jpg

leakingoiltopvie0gl.jpg
 
Gun_Metal_Grey,

It looks like the head gasket to me going by the pictures. Is it an easy job? Well, depends on your DIY skills. A normal head gasket isn't too difficult to change, though being a turbo you have lots of extra parts to deal with before you get the head off compared with the standard models.

Also, it may be a sign of a warped head. In which case you'd also need to get a machine shop to skim the head else it won't seal flat with a new gasket.

Sometimes a head gasket will just leak a little oil for thousands of miles without really affecting oil consumption. But in general it will only get worse, so best deal with it before it leaves you stranded somewhere.

I've never changed a turbo head gasket myself, so hopefully one of the turbo boys here can offer their experience. Fro$ty? Dunc? Turboned?

Oh, and looking at the second picture again you posted, perhaps it's the intake manifold gasket that's leaking as well? Are you having any problems with the engine running?

Good luck with getting it fixed.

Chas
 
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Thanks guys for the info...

If it was the head gasket wouldn't I be losing water though?
I think it must be the camshaft housing gasket like what dave said.

1986Uno45S: How does the head warp?

Louie Bee: I was looking for a pic like that eveywhere...haynes manual doesn't have pics like that for the turbo! Thanks

Now I have to find a gasket set!
 
Gun_Metal_Grey,

Going by your second picture, the arrow pointing to 'unknown gasket' and the area leaking oil looks more like the head gasket at the back of the engine.

A failed gasket can cause oil to leak out of the engine, and/or leak into the cylinders/ water ways. It can also cause coolant/ water to leak in and/or out of the engine. Or a combination of water AND oil leaks depending on where or how bad the gasket has failed. Therefore it doesn't necessarily mean that a failed gasket will cause water leaks, though that is more common.

Head gaskets can simply fail over time, though a common cause is lack of or insufficient coolant/ antifreeze mixture which allows corrosion to occur. This corrosion can eat away the gasket as well as aluminium parts like the head, which is also why anti-freeze is called a 'corrosion inhibitor' as well as coolant.

It's important to make sure the correct antifreeze mixture is used on engines with aluminium heads, and especially the turbo as it helps the engine to run cooler.

Also, it's best to use distilled of de-ionised water and NOT tap water for the cooling system. Tap water contains many impurities which can spead up corrosion!

A head gasket can also fail if the head 'warps'. This normally occurs if the engine has overheated at some point. The head on the turbo I think is made of aluminium, which warps far more easily than cast iron if the engine overheats. When aluminium overheats, it can distort from it's original shape. On a head this can make the mating surface uneven which then means the head won't seal the gasket properly. To rectify a warped head you have to have it skimmed by a machine shop to make the surface flat again, as well as replacing the gasket.

Also, if the head is incorrectly torqued, this can cause it to warp. See the workshop manuals for the correct torque settings and just as importantly the tightening sequence.

If your car is just leaking a bit of oil, it might be worth trying to re-torque the cylinder head bolts. Sometimes that can cure a small leak, though you would be best advised to keep a close eye on the leak areas afterwards.

I don't know with regards to the turbo engine, but some cylinder heads have 'O' rings to seal some of the oil ways. It might be one of these that has gone.

Lastly, a compression test on all cylinders would be worthwhile as this would give a clue to how bad the headgasket might be if it's at fault. Also check the water level and see if it's contaminated with oil, and check the oil level to see if that has any water contamination. Both of these give indication to possible head gasket failure.

All you can do is go through a sequence of checks to isolate the problem, though there's no reason why any of them should be too difficult with the right manual/ instructions and tools.

Let the board know how you get on.

Chas
 
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Thanks 1986Uno45S for the overview...v.well described :)

I think I will buy a torque wrench and tighten the bolts, clear the oil from the top of exhaust manifold and monitor for 1 week. This problem has escalated, as four years back I noticed a sweat like residue just below the oil cap. A mechanic put it down to the oil cap. I changed seal but problem went on.

I previously used distilled water for cooling system..because a few years back my expansion tank cracked causing the car to overheat. On draining the system I found the coolant was full of dirt. I'm thinking now whether I may have damaged the head at this stage, as the car was running at very high temperatures!

I posted a similar thread on another fiat site, where a person was actually in the process of changing the same gasket as describe here. On removing the camshaft housing is noticed the head was cracked! www.fiatmotorclubgb.com

By the way do I need to buy an Angular Torque Gauge as well!

Thanks again
 
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Thats is a handy site...Only website I've seen that sells selenia motor oil..I use selenia HPX semi syn for my uno!

Louie Bee said:
Your Welcome! Porter manuals are rare!

Head Gasket Set
1.4 Turbo Head Gasket Set £58.28 + Vat on http://www.shop4parts.co.uk - Our sponsors.

Regards All,
 
Howzit, That is your cambox gasket, it is the gasket between your cylindfer head and your cambox, if you buy one buy an original fiat gasket bacause the pirate gasket thickness is normally thicker than the originals which will affect your valve clearances. (y)
 
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