This could be the end for me
22 June 2011, 08:44 PM
#1
This could be the end for me
Following on from my previous post about higher than normal temperatures with my coolant, i think i might have to admit defeat 
I've purchased a new hi-flow thermostat from advanced automotive developments as rally fan 555 kindly advised and i'm dropping the coolant and fitting it in the next couple of days.
I'll then refill it as per various guides on scoobynet and PRAY
that all is ok.
BUT !! today whilst checking over it i've noticed some things.
engine warms up to just over half
heaters produce nice warm air
top hose hot but not scalding
bottom hose COLD
when running with radiator cap off champagne type bubbles are flowing in the reservoir
but soon disapear.
Looking at various web pages it boils(no pun intended) down to head gasket failure.
My problem is you have'nt seen me for a while as i've been altering it.
New Apex coilovers all round,New Godspeed grooved discs and pads and i've got waiting to go on P1 wheels in Fiat graphite anthracite,new Falken 912 tyres,New STI scoop and WRC grill once i paint them.
All this has left me a little low on funds.
SO, once i do the stat and refill,if it's still not right i'll get a pressure/sniff test done. if it's gone do i get rid as is, or park it up for a while and save for the job????????????????????????????
And then how much would roughly comp gaskets,head skim,arp bolts and probably shell bearings cost.?
I feel like scrapping it at the moment
Where's my skateboard ?
I've purchased a new hi-flow thermostat from advanced automotive developments as rally fan 555 kindly advised and i'm dropping the coolant and fitting it in the next couple of days.
I'll then refill it as per various guides on scoobynet and PRAY
that all is ok.BUT !! today whilst checking over it i've noticed some things.
engine warms up to just over half
heaters produce nice warm air
top hose hot but not scalding
bottom hose COLD
when running with radiator cap off champagne type bubbles are flowing in the reservoir
but soon disapear.Looking at various web pages it boils(no pun intended) down to head gasket failure.
My problem is you have'nt seen me for a while as i've been altering it.
New Apex coilovers all round,New Godspeed grooved discs and pads and i've got waiting to go on P1 wheels in Fiat graphite anthracite,new Falken 912 tyres,New STI scoop and WRC grill once i paint them.
All this has left me a little low on funds.
SO, once i do the stat and refill,if it's still not right i'll get a pressure/sniff test done. if it's gone do i get rid as is, or park it up for a while and save for the job????????????????????????????
And then how much would roughly comp gaskets,head skim,arp bolts and probably shell bearings cost.?
I feel like scrapping it at the moment
Where's my skateboard ?
22 June 2011, 09:17 PM
#2
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hot and cold
Long shot, but is the water pump functioning 100%, had this problem years ago with a 2.3 litre Vauxhall Magnum. Don't like the sound of the bubbles though! Strange for a flat four to suffer a warped head, I had a TVR with a Triumph 2.5 litre six cylinder engine, long and thin block and head, Now that warped! But everything was iron, not aluminium with pressed in liners.
Maybe source a thicker head gasket?
How about flushing the rad to see if there is a blockage?
Always look for the cheap solutions before ripping things apart!
I once worked for a company where little was good about the equipment, so a cup of tea and plan B was always the way forward.
Maybe source a thicker head gasket?
How about flushing the rad to see if there is a blockage?
Always look for the cheap solutions before ripping things apart!
I once worked for a company where little was good about the equipment, so a cup of tea and plan B was always the way forward.
22 June 2011, 09:29 PM
#3
Cheers Slugmeister, but i forgot to say the top of the plastic radiator cracked by the top hose last winter as i noticed the temp going up and steam coming from the scoop.
So i limped home and ordered and fitted a new radiator
Since then it's creaped up to this point
So i limped home and ordered and fitted a new radiator
Since then it's creaped up to this point
Fingers crossed for you !!!
22 June 2011, 10:07 PM
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Marc, does the problem happen when keeping off boost? My HG failure was only evident when the car was driven on boost and got worse very quickly.
I hope it really is a simple and easy repair for you, as I know from first hand experience what the opposite entails.
I hope it really is a simple and easy repair for you, as I know from first hand experience what the opposite entails.
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22 June 2011, 10:34 PM
#8
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Boiling with cap off isn't neccessarily down to a head gasket failure. Without the cap on, the system is not pressurised, therefore if it reaches 100*c then it'll bubble.
If it's only occured since a change of rad, perhaps it's an airlock
If it's only occured since a change of rad, perhaps it's an airlock
22 June 2011, 10:38 PM
#9
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Hi Flow thermostat!
The mist is clearing, more remeberances from the long past. I once had a thermostat that never closed, so water temperature never got too hot and the bottom hose was cold. maybe high flow means it seldom closes and that could be the issue!
Now that would be a cheap fix!
Now that would be a cheap fix!
23 June 2011, 11:57 AM
#11
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I have a high flow stat, These have wholes drilled through the plate that permently allows water to go through, meaning the temp is more controlled instead of a wallop of cold water to a hot engine, only down side it takes for ever for the temp gauge to move
23 June 2011, 04:42 PM
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Dont give up Marc. I was in the same situation last year. Keep your eyes peeled and there are some bargains to be had. Get in touch with Matt at Poleposition on here. He has a breaking company in the Midlands. 07785 942237 will work out a lot cheaper than the repairs
24 June 2011, 04:38 PM
#15
Well,today was filled with mixed emotions,
Removed the old thermostat and tested along with the new one in a pan of boiled water,both opened - Bah! hoped it would be a stuck stat.
Fitted the new one and refilled coolant,ran engine with heaters on and temp slowly came back up to half. Poo !
Let the engine run for a while and bottom hose became warm, so that removes the thought i had of an airlock i think.
let it run with the cap off,when it revs the water fills with tiny bubbles and when revs drop off the coolant rises over the top before settling back down once at idle.
put the cap back on and tested again,nothing coming out of the overflow into the reservoir tank
after around 10-15 mins the fans came on and temp came back down from just over half back down to half. Not once did it get near three quarters.
So i think i've disspelled any airlock thoughts but head gasket failure looks more and more obvious.
I'm next going to get somebody to do a sniff test or pressurise each cylinder to see if air is getting into the water jacket that way.
BOLLOCKS !!!!!!!!!!
Good news is i fitted the wifes fiesta ST with new uprated brakes as well today and that's much better. hate to say it but Fords good.Subaru Bad!! (naughty subaru )
So it runs fine,no loss of power,not loosing oil. In fact all is well apart from the temp sits on the half way??
Removed the old thermostat and tested along with the new one in a pan of boiled water,both opened - Bah! hoped it would be a stuck stat.
Fitted the new one and refilled coolant,ran engine with heaters on and temp slowly came back up to half. Poo !
Let the engine run for a while and bottom hose became warm, so that removes the thought i had of an airlock i think.
let it run with the cap off,when it revs the water fills with tiny bubbles and when revs drop off the coolant rises over the top before settling back down once at idle.
put the cap back on and tested again,nothing coming out of the overflow into the reservoir tank
after around 10-15 mins the fans came on and temp came back down from just over half back down to half. Not once did it get near three quarters.
So i think i've disspelled any airlock thoughts but head gasket failure looks more and more obvious.
I'm next going to get somebody to do a sniff test or pressurise each cylinder to see if air is getting into the water jacket that way.
BOLLOCKS !!!!!!!!!!
Good news is i fitted the wifes fiesta ST with new uprated brakes as well today and that's much better. hate to say it but Fords good.Subaru Bad!! (naughty subaru )
So it runs fine,no loss of power,not loosing oil. In fact all is well apart from the temp sits on the half way??
All my cars past and present have sat with the needle half way when warmed up.
24 June 2011, 05:57 PM
#18
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The bubbles you are seeing are probably coming from the water returning from the turbo. It doesn't return under water but pours out of the return pipe back in to the header tank. Creating bubbles.
To get a true reading you will need the cap on and allow the system to become pressurized.
Like Ty has already said does it loose water when you drive it under boost??
To get a true reading you will need the cap on and allow the system to become pressurized.
Like Ty has already said does it loose water when you drive it under boost??
24 June 2011, 06:52 PM
#19
The bubbles you are seeing are probably coming from the water returning from the turbo. It doesn't return under water but pours out of the return pipe back in to the header tank. Creating bubbles.
To get a true reading you will need the cap on and allow the system to become pressurized.
Like Ty has already said does it loose water when you drive it under boost??
To get a true reading you will need the cap on and allow the system to become pressurized.
Like Ty has already said does it loose water when you drive it under boost??
Hi Dyl,
No mate,it does'nt loose a drop,no white smoke from the exhaust,no oil in the coolant reservoir,no milky oil on the dipstick or oil cap.
Thanks though for clearing up the bubbles thing i've seen too many youtube videos showing it that all relate to head gasket problems (damn internet)
It all comes back to the end of last year when the top of my rad cracked by the top hose and the temp shot up.for a while now the temp has been at half way.
This worries me but am i just messing with my head !
24 June 2011, 08:36 PM
#22
Thank you very much guys for the responses, i think i will get a test done just to confirm one way or the other.
Other than that i'm going to just enjoy it as you said but keep a beady eye on it.
One other thing though is, if i ran the car without a thermostat at all would that create any other problems other than not getting any heat into the engine or the car for ages ?
Other than that i'm going to just enjoy it as you said but keep a beady eye on it.
One other thing though is, if i ran the car without a thermostat at all would that create any other problems other than not getting any heat into the engine or the car for ages ?
24 June 2011, 09:52 PM
#25
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The thermostat allows the engine to reach operating temps a lot quicker than if one weren't fitted, you could of course run with out a 'stat but they are there to serve a purpose.
24 June 2011, 10:37 PM
#26
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When I had a Renault 5 GT turbo a popular mod was to either drill a hole in the outer edge of the stat, to let some water through earlier or remove it in the Summer months - the blighters used to run very hot, there never seemed to be a downside to running statless, only putting it back in for the winter as it was bloody cold in the car !!LOL. Though as Ty said, operating temps are important to get things running right and some don't recommend a statless Scoob......
29 June 2011, 10:24 AM
#27
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my Blob when warm always sits at halfway, it rises very slightly in traffic and the fans cut in but goes back to half way or just under....think youll find thats the norm
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