skoosh

Hi all, car was diagnosed with a head-gasket on the way out, booked it in tomorrow and bought all the kit from APi including new cambelt etc etc...

Problem is, cars hasn't shown any signs this week at all of head gasket problems, no leaks, no overheating, no bubbles in the overflow bottle and very little sign of it losing coolant. Admittedly, I've driven her under 3k now for a little over 3 weeks, totally off boost and only short journeys.

Can a head gasket be that intermittant in manifesting a leak or other fault.................?

Should I just get it done now I've bought the parts and have peace of mind?

Thanx.
Si.

ticky

Get it done.

FB Tuning

iTrader: (30)

Prior to doing the work, there's a couple of things you could try....

compression test all 4 cylinders - If one of the readings is significantly low it could indicate a problem.

Get the coolant system pressure tested - This is more often done to check for coolant leaks, but could also relate to a head gasket problem.

Get a sample of your coolant checked for combustion gases - Any decent garage will be able to do this for you.

If you do all three of these checks, it should help you diagnose if you have a headgasket problem - No use spending the money if you don't need to, IMO

skoosh

Cheers for replies guys and thanx for pm ticky.

Had a coolant system pressure check and it's holding at correct pressure. I went out on a scooby meet that also involved brisk driving, got to the destination and lost all collant due to an internal seal on t/stat breaking, it's lost coolant ever since and after t/stat changed.

Also noticed, after an extended run at low speed but upto temp that there are alot of air bubbles present in o/f bottle so all signs point to head gasket especially after the meet.

Think I'll get the work done to be sure.

Si.

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

We have a car here for ' head gasket failure ' - losing water, bubbles in the header tank / overflow reservoir tempo gauge going north on boost etc. etc.


Got it in bits, head gaskets are fine. Although the engine has got VERY HOT at sometime. We'll pressure test the heads and block to be sure and then we'll know more.

However, The water pump pulley that drives off the back of the cambelt [ IE the non toothed side ] is blue with heat and in our opinion the belt has been loose and slipping. The water pump has at some time stalled and hey presto! overheating,

That doesn't explain the water loss or bubbles of course but may help some others with a similar phenomenon.

Good Luck all !

David APi Engines / APi Impreza
www.apiengines.com

tweenierob

David, out of interest how do you determine if the head gaskets have been blowing when using the OE. gaskets? Lesson time for me...

I know that usually you can see marks but never seem to find a trace on OE. gaskets.

Rob

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

Rob, we'd be expecting to see deterioration of the composite material - it goes quite loose compared to the compacted original.

Separation of the composite from the steel compression/fire ring.

AND, obviously the sealing marks on the head and block where the composite fits, usually there is an unsealed area that has mysteriously become clean.

Lastly, experience. We do see so many engines a week, a month , a year.

David APi Engines/APi Impreza
www.apiengines.com

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

PS Never seen a 'blown' steel laminate gasket on STi cars. Or UK99 on come to that.

ST AYE

If a head gasket is leaking into the coolant (as it almost certainly would be on a scoob), it can be confirmed buy using an exhaust gas probe at your freindly mot testing station. The presence of hydrocarbons in the header tank means leaking head gasket.