very confused head gasket ok??????????
31 May 2008, 03:27 PM
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very confused head gasket ok??????????
On the advice of several experts I have taken the engine out of my car and taken the heads off expecting to find a blown cylinder head gasket, what I have found is what appears to be a perfect pair of head gaskets!
The car has standard head bolts with sti gaskets, could the head have lifted?
Or is it a cracked cylinder head?
It cant be anything else as we have tested water pump etc but the water system still pressurises under boost!
Please point me in the right direction guy's before I shoot myself!
James
The car has standard head bolts with sti gaskets, could the head have lifted?
Or is it a cracked cylinder head?
It cant be anything else as we have tested water pump etc but the water system still pressurises under boost!
Please point me in the right direction guy's before I shoot myself!
James
31 May 2008, 05:12 PM
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On the advice of several experts I have taken the engine out of my car and taken the heads off expecting to find a blown cylinder head gasket, what I have found is what appears to be a perfect pair of head gaskets!
The car has standard head bolts with sti gaskets, could the head have lifted?
Or is it a cracked cylinder head?
It cant be anything else as we have tested water pump etc but the water system still pressurises under boost!
Please point me in the right direction guy's before I shoot myself!
James
The car has standard head bolts with sti gaskets, could the head have lifted?
Or is it a cracked cylinder head?
It cant be anything else as we have tested water pump etc but the water system still pressurises under boost!
Please point me in the right direction guy's before I shoot myself!
James
31 May 2008, 06:32 PM
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So I decided I would do it as it's not that big a job and I have the time.
The problem is I see no sign of a problem with either of the gaskets.
I can only think it's a crack in the head, so im going to get them tested and go from there. I was hoping a so called "expert" could confirm I am going down the right path that's all. Also I think the gaskets can fail but still look ok
but I dont know for sure so that's why I was asking.
Call me synical but it seems to me the so called experts are more than happy to help out if they think they will get something out of you once they see they not going to the information dry's up!
I thought the whole point of a forum was for enthusiasts to help each other out when and if they can?
I used to belong to an Integrale forum and that was excellent everyone always helped each out and supported each other not like this place!
)
31 May 2008, 06:48 PM
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Waterpump has been checked compression test etc etc etc
Everyone said HG but they appear ok, but apparently they can look ok but if the head has lifted at some point it stretches the bolts causing same symptoms (i think)!
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31 May 2008, 07:08 PM
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31 May 2008, 07:42 PM
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hi, first post here,i had exactly this problem with my my97 wrx,all the usual checks found nothing,andy at AWD did all top end seals and gaskets,around a grand all in,never lost any coolant since,top job.there were no signs of gasket damage,they diagnosed what i thought head lift/stretched bolts.
hope this helps,cheers.
hope this helps,cheers.
31 May 2008, 10:14 PM
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just because there are not any obvious signs on the gaskets does not mean there at fault, have the heads pressure tested/crack tested, checked for distortion, check the block faces for distortion + ensure they are spotless and dry before assembly - like wise with the heads, use good quality head gaskets and bolts ensuring you very lightly grease the bolt threads and around the washer face on the bolts with preferably a moly based grease if no grease is supplied with the new bolts, ensure the bolts are torqued up in the correct sequence to the correct setting. O forgot to mention give the bores an extremely good inspection for cracks
01 June 2008, 12:05 AM
#11
I have spoken to 2 mate and they all said head gasket and quoted a grand to do it!
So I decided I would do it as it's not that big a job and I have the time.
The problem is I see no sign of a problem with either of the gaskets.
I can only think it's a crack in the head, so im going to get them tested and go from there. I was hoping a so called "expert" could confirm I am going down the right path that's all. Also I think the gaskets can fail but still look ok
but I dont know for sure so that's why I was asking.
Call me synical but it seems to me the so called experts are more than happy to help out if they think they will get something out of you once they see they not going to the information dry's up!
I thought the whole point of a forum was for enthusiasts to help each other out when and if they can?
I used to belong to an Integrale forum and that was excellent everyone always helped each out and supported each other not like this place!
So I decided I would do it as it's not that big a job and I have the time.
The problem is I see no sign of a problem with either of the gaskets.
I can only think it's a crack in the head, so im going to get them tested and go from there. I was hoping a so called "expert" could confirm I am going down the right path that's all. Also I think the gaskets can fail but still look ok
but I dont know for sure so that's why I was asking.
Call me synical but it seems to me the so called experts are more than happy to help out if they think they will get something out of you once they see they not going to the information dry's up!
I thought the whole point of a forum was for enthusiasts to help each other out when and if they can?
I used to belong to an Integrale forum and that was excellent everyone always helped each out and supported each other not like this place!
what he said
..whish i could help mate,pics of gaskets could help tho...good idea to get heads checked to
01 June 2008, 12:05 PM
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looks like a possible burn on one of them!
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...es250t/189.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...es250t/188.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...es250t/187.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...es250t/186.jpg
maybe this will help?
01 June 2008, 03:24 PM
#13
It looks almost like the head gasket is slightly damaged though between the cylinder area and water way? Especially when you can see what looks like a burn mark.
Can you check the head isn't warped in that area maybe? Possibly not got the seal in that area it should have.
Were the heads skimmed?
Can you check the head isn't warped in that area maybe? Possibly not got the seal in that area it should have.
Were the heads skimmed?
01 June 2008, 04:09 PM
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It looks almost like the head gasket is slightly damaged though between the cylinder area and water way? Especially when you can see what looks like a burn mark.
Can you check the head isn't warped in that area maybe? Possibly not got the seal in that area it should have.
Were the heads skimmed?
Can you check the head isn't warped in that area maybe? Possibly not got the seal in that area it should have.
Were the heads skimmed?
so stripped it to find they look ok, having said that on closed inspection it does to appear to be blown from cylinder to waterway but it was underneath the gasket!
01 June 2008, 04:22 PM
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The affected are both sides of same gasket
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...t/DSC00402.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...t/DSC00401.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...t/DSC00402.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w...t/DSC00401.jpg
01 June 2008, 07:49 PM
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just because there are not any obvious signs on the gaskets does not mean there at fault, have the heads pressure tested/crack tested, checked for distortion, check the block faces for distortion + ensure they are spotless and dry before assembly - like wise with the heads, use good quality head gaskets and bolts ensuring you very lightly grease the bolt threads and around the washer face on the bolts with preferably a moly based grease if no grease is supplied with the new bolts, ensure the bolts are torqued up in the correct sequence to the correct setting. O forgot to mention give the bores an extremely good inspection for cracks
always kind of thought detonation could stretch head bolts too, as it seems to cause alot of damage to the other end.sorry to go on.
cheers
01 June 2008, 07:59 PM
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i agree,the stretch in the bolts is the problem.once the gap between the head and block faces has increased the gasket doesn't need to be breached to cause pressurisation, it just cant physically seal the bigger gap (when on boost generally) and the combustion pressure is released over or under it into the cooling system,this then causes hot spots which may cause warping compounding the problem.
always kind of thought detonation could stretch head bolts too, as it seems to cause alot of damage to the other end.sorry to go on.
cheers
always kind of thought detonation could stretch head bolts too, as it seems to cause alot of damage to the other end.sorry to go on.
cheers
02 June 2008, 07:12 AM
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From my limited understanding if the car overboosts to a very high boost figure the standard bolts stretch and the lifts away from the block, once this has happend the bolts have stretched and wont maintain the pressure in the cylinder, then compression gases get in the waterway and pressurise the water system giving symptoms of head gasket failure!
I think thats it but stand to be corrected!
I think thats it but stand to be corrected!
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